Haven Kimmel's work delves into the intricacies of childhood and adolescence, often imbued with a sense of nostalgia. Her writing is marked by keen observations of human relationships and a talent for evoking potent emotions. Kimmel masterfully explores themes of identity, family, and the search for one's place in the world. Her prose is sensitive, witty, and profoundly insightful.
Kaline Klattermaster is a spirited young boy who values the significance of friendship, whether real or imagined. His adventures and vibrant personality resonate with readers, making him a relatable hero akin to Joey Pigza. The book combines engaging storytelling with illustrations, appealing to children's love for wild and adventurous characters.
Cassie Claiborne navigates a tumultuous family life, grappling with her father's reckless behavior, her mother's emotional paralysis, and her sister Belle's delicate nature. Seeking solace, she discovers a refuge in the local pool hall, where the game offers her a sense of control and an escape from her chaotic surroundings. As she masters the art of pool, Cassie confronts her frustrations and emotions, ultimately finding a way to cope with the challenges of her family dynamics.
From the internationally bestselling author of ‘The Solace of Leaving Early’, a funny, heartwrenching and unforgettable novel following the fortunes of a feisty young female pool hustler.
A heart rending story of the lives of a few inhabitants of a small American town and the massive effect of one very violent death. Langston Braverman has just walked out on her PhD oral exams and returned home to Haddington, Indiana in a fragile emotional state. She retreats to her parents' attic, unsure what to do with the summer or the rest of her life, but with vague plans to write the great American novel. But it's hot, and she is distracted beyond capacity to think by the banality of this small-town home she has returned to, and plunged deep in the trauma of a self-imposed existential dilemma from which not even news of the death of her childhood best friend, Alice, can rouse her. A few houses down Plum Street, Amos Townsend, the local preacher, is suffering from a crippling crisis of faith, wondering how he can continue in the role of spiritual leader of this community. Traumatised by Alice's violent death, guilt-ridden over his inability to prevent it, he feels a responsibility for the welfare of Alice's two suddenly orphaned young girls, altered beyond recognition from the shock of having witnessed the bloody end to their parents' marriage. Langston's mother, meanwhile, has forced her into the role of carer, and the developing relationship between the damaged children, and these two slightly hopeless adults helps all four embark on a process of recovery and redemption that is heartbreakingly poignant and utterly convincing. 'The Solace of Leaving Early' is a remarkable novel - generous, warm-hearted, smart and ambitious. It is a novel of people and ideas, of family ties, and of how those ties endure for better or worse, of grief and love, of leaving home and returning, of the overwhelming secrets that rest quietly within us. It is so sweet and smart, it's a present.
Set against the backdrop of small-town Indiana, this bestselling memoir explores the author's formative years, capturing the essence of rural life and the challenges of growing up. Through personal anecdotes, the narrative delves into themes of identity, family dynamics, and the quest for belonging, offering readers an intimate glimpse into the author's experiences and reflections. The storytelling is both poignant and relatable, resonating with anyone who has navigated the complexities of adolescence in a close-knit community.