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Paula Fox

    April 22, 1923 – March 1, 2017

    Paula Fox was an American author whose works often explored the complexities of human relationships and the search for identity. Her writing was characterized by keen psychological insight into her characters and a subtle rendering of the human experience. Fox masterfully wove themes of loss, redemption, and resilience, offering readers deeply moving and thought-provoking narratives. Her distinctive voice in literature left an indelible mark.

    Paula Fox
    News from the World: Stories and Essays
    Borrowed Finery
    The Western Coast
    Desperate Characters. Was am Ende bleibt, englische Ausgabe
    The Slave Dancer
    A Likely Place
    • 2015

      Desperate characters

      • 192 pages
      • 7 hours of reading
      3.5(4491)Add rating

      One of the New York Times' 25 Most Significant New York City Novels From the Last 100 Years "A towering landmark of postwar Realism…A sustained work of prose so lucid and fine it seems less written than carved." —David Foster Wallace Otto and Sophie Bentwood live in a changing neighborhood in Brooklyn. Their stainless-steel kitchen is newly installed, and their Mercedes is parked curbside. After Sophie is bitten on the hand while trying to feed a stray, perhaps rabies-infected cat, a series of small and ominous disasters begin to plague the Bentwoods' lives, revealing the fault lines and fractures in a marriage—and a society—wrenching itself apart. First published in 1970 to wide acclaim, Desperate Characters stands as one of the most dazzling and rigorous examples of the storyteller's craft in postwar American literature — a novel that, according to Irving Howe, ranks with "Billy Budd, The Great Gatsby, Miss Lonelyhearts, and Seize the Day."

      Desperate characters
    • 2012

      News from the World: Stories and Essays

      • 224 pages
      • 8 hours of reading
      3.6(33)Add rating

      In this collection, Paula explores the intricate dynamics of relationships and the profound impact of personal experiences. Through a series of compelling narratives, the author delves into themes of love, loss, and the search for identity. Each story reveals the characters' vulnerabilities and resilience, inviting readers to reflect on their own connections and the complexities of human emotion. The writing is both poignant and evocative, capturing the essence of shared moments and the significance of community.

      News from the World: Stories and Essays
    • 2011

      From 1929 through 1961 Gibson, Inc of Kalamazoo, MI produced over 30 brands of musical instruments that did not carry the Gibson name. This book is a complete guide to all of the other brands Gibson produced, complete with detailed descriptions, photos and examples of existing instruments from collectors around the world.

      The Other Brands of Gibson
    • 2010

      Maurice's Room

      • 64 pages
      • 3 hours of reading

      Maurice, an imaginative eight-year-old, faces the challenge of safeguarding his beloved collection of "junk" from his dismissive parents. His world shifts dramatically when the family relocates to the countryside, leading him to discover new adventures and the importance of his cherished items in a different setting. This journey highlights themes of childhood innocence, the value of personal treasures, and the impact of change on a young mind.

      Maurice's Room
    • 2010

      A Likely Place

      • 80 pages
      • 3 hours of reading

      Newberry Medal-winning author Paula Fox pens “a very funny book, full of lightning transitions from the matter-of-fact to fantasy which make an imaginative child’s world continuously exciting” (The New York Times). If there is one thing Lewis has enough of, it’s good advice from his overprotective parents. But when they go away for a week, Lewis’s parents leave him in the care of Miss Fitchlow, a tall, freckle-faced, free-spirited woman who stands on her head and eats carrot pudding to see better in the dark. Miss Fitchlow lets Lewis explore the neighborhood park alone for the first time, where he meets Mr. Madruga, a retired Spanish shoemaker. The two become friends, and together, find ways to show everyone that they can think for themselves.

      A Likely Place
    • 2004

      How I Learned to Cook

      And Other Writings on Complex Mother-Daughter Relationships

      • 322 pages
      • 12 hours of reading

      A collection of writings by women on the tangled bonds they share with their(often) less-than-perfect mothers. Every woman has something to say on the subject of her mother. In fact, many of us spend our lives trying to figure out just how we are like-or unlike-them. And yet, as intricate as the ties that bind mothers and daughters can be, most women never let go of the desire to really know their mothers. In How I Learned to Cook and Other Writings on Complex Mother-Daughter Relationships, women authors explore what is perhaps the most complicated of family relationships. In this elegant collection of writings, daughters describe their relationships with mothers whose own lives sometimes stood in the way of their ability to fill society's ideal of what a good mother should be. With critically acclaimed authors-including Jamaica Kincaid, Paula Fox, and Alice Walker-sharing the page with emerging writers, How I Learned to Cook proves that every daughter has much to discover and understand about her mother.

      How I Learned to Cook
    • 2003

      A Great American Novel -- from the author of 'Borrowed Finery'. Otto and Sophie Bentwood live childless in a renovated Brooklyn brownstone. The complete works of Goethe line their bookshelf, their stainless steel kitchen is newly installed, and their Mercedes is parked outside. After Sophie is bitten on the hand while trying to feed a half-starved neighbourhood cat, a series of small and ominous disasters begin to plague their lives, revealing the faultlines and fractures in a marriage -- and a society -- wrenching itself apart. Includes an introduction by Jonathan Franzen.

      Desperate Characters. Was am Ende bleibt, englische Ausgabe
    • 2002

      The God of Nightmares

      • 240 pages
      • 9 hours of reading
      3.7(151)Add rating

      Set in 1941, the narrative follows twenty-three-year-old Helen Bynum as she embarks on a journey from upstate New York to New Orleans in search of her enigmatic Aunt Lulu. This quest not only leads her to reconnect with her aunt but also introduces her to a vibrant new world filled with passion and adventure, transforming her understanding of life and herself.

      The God of Nightmares
    • 2001

      Servant's Tale

      • 336 pages
      • 12 hours of reading
      3.6(108)Add rating

      Set against the backdrop of the Caribbean and later New York, the story follows Luisa de la Cueva, a woman whose life transitions from a picturesque childhood on Malagita to the struggles of immigrant life in a basement tenement. As her family's status diminishes, Luisa navigates her identity and independence through her work as a servant. Despite societal expectations, she finds strength in her choices and ultimately raises her son alone. This narrative reveals the profound complexities of her seemingly simple life, told with grace and compassion by Paula Fox.

      Servant's Tale
    • 2001

      The Slave Dancer

      • 192 pages
      • 7 hours of reading
      3.8(31)Add rating

      Set against the harrowing backdrop of the transatlantic slave trade, a thirteen-year-old boy named Jessie finds himself kidnapped and aboard a ship bound for Africa. Tasked with playing music during the exercise periods for the enslaved individuals, he grapples with the brutal reality of his situation. As he navigates the moral complexities of his role, Jessie must summon courage and resilience to confront the horrors around him and seek a way to survive.

      The Slave Dancer