Rilla Askew crafts a mythic cycle of novels and stories set in her native Oklahoma, unsettling conventional views of the American West's settling. Her work delves into the complex history of the region, often exploring themes of racial unrest, immigration, and collective responsibility. Askew's prose is characterized as Faulknerian—disciplined, luxuriant, and muscular—forging a chronicle that is both elemental and humane. She compels readers to confront the entirety of our past, arguing that only by owning this truth can the divisions that separate us begin to heal.
In a deft blend of history and imagination, award-winning novelist Rilla Askew brings to life a young woman who defied the conventions of her time, ultimately braving torture and the fire of martyrdom for her convictions.
In a fictional American small town, the complexities of life and death unfold through the experiences of its residents. The narrative explores the intertwining of everyday existence with the profound mysteries surrounding mortality, revealing how these themes shape the characters' lives and relationships. As they navigate their struggles and triumphs, the story delves into the emotional and philosophical questions that arise from their encounters with the strange and often surreal aspects of their reality.
Set in 2008, the story follows Sweet Kirkendall as she faces overwhelming personal challenges, including her father's imprisonment and her husband's absence. As a caretaker for an elderly relative and now responsible for her orphaned nephew, Sweet's life spirals under the weight of family pressures. Just when she thinks she can ignore the outside world, new immigration laws and a media frenzy force her to confront urgent political issues, testing her resilience and commitment to her family.
Eine Kain-und-Abel-Geschichte im Amerika des 19. Jahrhunderts: Die Brüder John und Lafayette Lodi, vom Wesen grundverschieden, müssen über Nacht mit ihren Familien westwärts fliehen. Der wie ein Geschwür wachsende Zwist der Brüder eskaliert