Layla

Keating, Celine

ISBN 10: 1935514776 / ISBN 13: 9781935514770

Verlag: Plain View Press, 2011

Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 6031158-75

Inhaltsangabe:

A young woman embarks on a life-changing cross-country trip to face a family secret rooted in America's most turbulent decade.  Layla James, a recent graduate and budding photographer, never knew anything about her father except that he named her for the iconic song by Eric Clapton. Her mother--steeped in a political activism that Layla rejects--kept their past shrouded in secrecy, and when she dies of cancer, she leaves only an enigmatic letter--the first in a series that will lead Layla through a cross-country network of '60s radicals and closer to the bombshell at the heart of her parents' past. As Layla makes her way from the East Coast to a commune in the California desert, she discovers more about friendship, love, forgiveness, and the personal repercussions of political activism than she could ever have imagined. A stirring and panoramic story, viewed through the lens of the next generation, this exceptional debut novel brings the gestalt of the '60s into focus and sheds new light on the era's legacy in the new millennium.

From the Back Cover

"Céline Keating's deftly plotted novel takes readers on a gripping journey along the underground railroad of post-'60s radicalism. . . . Every adult has to reinterpret the story of her childhood. Keating beautifully demonstrates the courage it takes for each of us to face that bittersweet truth."
--LARRY DARK, Director of The Story Prize
 
"A beautiful book--at once nostalgic and fresh--that will go straight to your heart and lodge there."
--ALETHEA BLACK, author of I Knew You'd Be Lovely
 
"[An] emotional page-turner. Layla's coming to terms with her parents' dangerous activism is heart wrenching due to Keating's delightfully drawn characters. This novel also serves as a compelling lesson in our values and how drastically they've changed. It serves as a better history than any essay or screed."
--SUSAN BRAUDY, author of Family Circle

"As Layla James drives cross-country, following the cryptic directions of her late mother, she meets a wide and sharply drawn group of veteran radicals who all play a part in the search for her mysterious father. . . . Keating keeps the pace fast and the suspense high . . . You'll want to ride with her every mile of the way!"
--ROBERT HERSHON, editor of Hanging Loose Press


"A fast-moving story of family secrets, political intrigue, and a young woman's coming of age. Layla is a rare combination of a novel that is both suspenseful and insightful, narrated by a character who is charming, intelligent, appealing, and most importantly, honest. . . .  a gripping tale and a memorable read."
--CON LEHANE, author of Death at the Old Hotel
 
"A triumph of political literature . . . as informative as it is impossible to put down."
--MARNIE MUELLER, author of My Mother's Island
 
"Evoked in beautiful prose and telling details . . . [Layla] brings to life the complexity of family dynamics, with all its conflicts, dangers and rewards."
--NAHID RACHLIN, author of Persian Girls: A Memoir
 

"Unfolds like a finely calibrated psychological mystery. . . . In Layla, Céline Keating has created an unforgettable character who is by turns exasperating, funny, courageous and fiercely loyal. Layla's journey toward understanding of her past and present evokes both the idealism and danger of the '60s, which resonate to this day."
--SUSAN SEGAL, author of Aria

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor: Céline Keating is an award-winning writer living in New York. Her short fiction has been published in many literary magazines, including Appearances, Echoes, Emry's Journal, Mount Hope, The North Stone Review, Prairie Schooner, and the Santa Clara Review. Céline's short story Home received the first-place 2014 Hackney Award for Short Fiction. She is the author of two novels, Layla (2011) and Play for Me (2015), which was a finalist in the International Book Awards, the Indie Excellence Awards, and the USA Book Awards. Céline is also the co-editor of On Montauk, A Literary Celebration. An avid student of classical guitar, Celine is a regular contributor to Minor7th.com. Her articles and music journalism have also appeared in Acoustic Guitar, Coastal Living, Guitar World, and Poets & Writers magazines. As a writer and student of classical guitar, her works appears regularly in AcousticGuitar and Minor 7th magazines. Her articles have also appeared in GuitarWorld and Coastal Living magazines, and her short fiction has been published in many literary journals, including Prairie Schooner, Santa ClaraReview and elsewhere. She holds masters degrees in Urban Studies (QueensCollege) and Creative Writing (City College) and has received two fellowships to the MacDowell Colony as well as scholarships to the Bread Loaf and Writers at Work conferences. Currently Keating lives in Manhattan and edits the newsletter for Concerned Citizens of Montauk, an environmental group for which she serves as a vice president.

Bibliografische Details

Titel: Layla
Verlag: Plain View Press
Erscheinungsdatum: 2011
Einband: Softcover
Zustand: Very Good