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Rilla Askew

    January 1, 1951

    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.

    Meines Bruder Hüter
    Kind of Kin
    Fire in Beulah
    Harpsong: Volume 1
    Strange Business
    Prize for the Fire
    • 2022

      Strange Business

      • 200 pages
      • 7 hours of reading

      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.

      Strange Business
    • 2022

      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.

      Prize for the Fire
    • 2020

      Kind of Kin

      • 432 pages
      • 16 hours of reading
      3.9(19)Add rating

      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.

      Kind of Kin
    • 2009

      Harpsong: Volume 1

      • 256 pages
      • 9 hours of reading

      Set against the backdrop of the Dust Bowl, the narrative explores the lives of two lovers who choose to stay in their struggling hometown instead of migrating to California for a better future. Their relationship is tested by the harsh realities of their environment, highlighting themes of resilience, love, and the impact of economic hardship. As they navigate personal and societal challenges, their bond deepens, revealing the strength found in commitment and shared dreams amidst adversity.

      Harpsong: Volume 1
    • 2001

      Fire in Beulah

      • 384 pages
      • 14 hours of reading
      4.1(423)Add rating

      The narrative intricately explores the lives of two families, one white and one black, whose fates intertwine against the backdrop of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. As their stories unfold, the book delves into themes of race, community, and the devastating impact of violence, ultimately revealing how their connections are both profound and tragically disrupted. Through this poignant portrayal, it sheds light on historical injustices and the enduring scars they leave on generations.

      Fire in Beulah
    • 1999

      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

      Meines Bruder Hüter