Engel, Patricia

Engel’s character-focused short stories are thought-provoking and intense; readers of literary fiction will enjoy this masterfully written collection.

This uneven offering will provide valuable insight into the dilemmas of moving between nations with and without documentation, but it falls short of arousing what should be powerful emotional responses.

A follow-up to Engel's award-winning short-story collection, Vita, this debut novel tells a timeless tale of fragile young love and awakening in the City of Light. Perfect for fans of foreign-set contemporary fiction and classic literature alike, it could also appeal to mature young adults, and reading groups may find Engel worthy of discussion after reading Ernest Hemingway or Henry Miller. [See Prepub Alert, 2/11/13.]