The Vacationers
A Novel
(Sprache: Englisch)
"Delicious . . . richly riveting . . . The Vacationers offers all the delights of a fluffy, read-it-with-sunglasses-on-the-beach read, made substantial by the exceptional wit, insight, intelligence and talents of its author. People (four...
Leider schon ausverkauft
versandkostenfrei
Buch (Kartoniert)
16.00 €
- Lastschrift, Kreditkarte, Paypal, Rechnung
- Kostenlose Rücksendung
Produktdetails
Produktinformationen zu „The Vacationers “
Klappentext zu „The Vacationers “
"Delicious . . . richly riveting . . . The Vacationers offers all the delights of a fluffy, read-it-with-sunglasses-on-the-beach read, made substantial by the exceptional wit, insight, intelligence and talents of its author. People (four stars)An irresistible, deftly observed novel from the New York Times-bestselling author of All Adults Here and This Time Tomorrow about the secrets, joys, and jealousies that rise to the surface over the course of an American family s two-week stay in Mallorca.
For the Posts, a two-week trip to the Balearic island of Mallorca with their extended family and friends is a celebration: Franny and Jim are observing their thirty-fifth wedding anniversary, and their daughter, Sylvia, has graduated from high school. The sunlit island, its mountains and beaches, its tapas and tennis courts, also promise an escape from the tensions simmering at home in Manhattan. But all does not go according to plan: over the course of the vacation, secrets come to light, old and new humiliations are experienced, childhood rivalries resurface, and ancient wounds are exacerbated.
This is a story of the sides of ourselves that we choose to show and those we try to conceal, of the ways we tear each other down and build each other up again, and the bonds that ultimately hold us together. With wry humor and tremendous heart, Emma Straub delivers a richly satisfying story of a family in the midst of a maelstrom of change, emerging irrevocably altered yet whole.
Lese-Probe zu „The Vacationers “
***This excerpt is from an advance uncorrected proof.***Copyright © 2014 by Emma Straub
Day One
Leaving always came as a surprise, no matter how long the dates had been looming on the calendar. Jim had packed his suitcase the night before, but now, moments before their scheduled departure, he was wavering. Had he packed enough books? He walked back and forth in front of the bookshelf in his office, pulling novels out by their spines and then sliding them back into place. Had he packed his running shoes? Had he packed his shaving cream? Elsewhere in the house, Jim could hear his wife and their daughter in similar last-minute throes of panic, running up and down the stairs with one last item that had been forgotten in a heap by the door.
There were things that Jim would have taken out of his bags, if it had been possible: the last year of his life, and the five before that, when it came to his knees; the way Franny looked at him across the dinner table at night; the feeling of himself inside a new mouth for the first time in three decades, and how much he wanted to stay there; the emptiness waiting on the other side of the return flight, the blank days he would have to fill and fill and fill. Jim sat down at his desk and waited for someone to tell him that he was needed elsewhere.
... mehr
Sylvia waited in front of the house, staring down 75th Street, toward Central Park. Both of her parents were the type that believed that a taxi would always present itself at just the right moment, especially on summer weekends, when traffic in the city was lightest. Sylvia thought that was horseshit. The only thing worse than spending two of her last six weeks before leaving for college on vacation with her parents would be missing the flight and having to spend one of those final nights sleeping upright in an airport lounge, a stained seat cushion as her only comfort. She would get the taxi herself.
It wasn t as if she wanted to spend the whole summer in Manhattan, which turned into a melting concrete armpit. The idea of Mallorca was appealing, in theory: it was an island, which promised little waves and nice breezes, and she could practice her Spanish, which she had done well in during high school. Everyone literally everyone from her graduating class was doing nothing all summer long, just taking turns hosting parties when their parents went to Wainscott or Woodstock or somewhere else with wood-shingled houses that looked distressed on purpose. Sylvia had looked at their faces enough for the last eighteen years, and couldn t wait to get the hell out. Sure, yes, there were four other kids from her class going to Brown, but she never had to speak to them again if she didn t want to, and that was the plan. Find new friends. Make a new life. Finally be somewhere where the name Sylvia Post came without the ghosts of the girl she d been at sixteen, at twelve, at five, where she was detached from her parents and her brother and she could just be, like an astronaut floating in space, unencumbered by gravity. Come to think of it, Sylvia wished that they were spending the whole summer abroad. This way, she would still have to suffer through August at home, when the parties were sure to reach their weepy and desperate apex. Sylvia did not plan to weep.
A taxi with its light on rounded the corner and came slowly toward her, bouncing its way over the potholes. Sylvia stuck one arm in the air and dialed her home phone number with her other hand. It rang and rang, and was ringing still when the taxi came to a halt. Her parents were inside, doing god knows what. Sylvia opened the door to the taxi and leaned into the backseat.
It ll just be a minute, she said. Sorry. My parents are on their way out. She paused. They re the worst. This had not always been true, but it was now, and s
Sylvia waited in front of the house, staring down 75th Street, toward Central Park. Both of her parents were the type that believed that a taxi would always present itself at just the right moment, especially on summer weekends, when traffic in the city was lightest. Sylvia thought that was horseshit. The only thing worse than spending two of her last six weeks before leaving for college on vacation with her parents would be missing the flight and having to spend one of those final nights sleeping upright in an airport lounge, a stained seat cushion as her only comfort. She would get the taxi herself.
It wasn t as if she wanted to spend the whole summer in Manhattan, which turned into a melting concrete armpit. The idea of Mallorca was appealing, in theory: it was an island, which promised little waves and nice breezes, and she could practice her Spanish, which she had done well in during high school. Everyone literally everyone from her graduating class was doing nothing all summer long, just taking turns hosting parties when their parents went to Wainscott or Woodstock or somewhere else with wood-shingled houses that looked distressed on purpose. Sylvia had looked at their faces enough for the last eighteen years, and couldn t wait to get the hell out. Sure, yes, there were four other kids from her class going to Brown, but she never had to speak to them again if she didn t want to, and that was the plan. Find new friends. Make a new life. Finally be somewhere where the name Sylvia Post came without the ghosts of the girl she d been at sixteen, at twelve, at five, where she was detached from her parents and her brother and she could just be, like an astronaut floating in space, unencumbered by gravity. Come to think of it, Sylvia wished that they were spending the whole summer abroad. This way, she would still have to suffer through August at home, when the parties were sure to reach their weepy and desperate apex. Sylvia did not plan to weep.
A taxi with its light on rounded the corner and came slowly toward her, bouncing its way over the potholes. Sylvia stuck one arm in the air and dialed her home phone number with her other hand. It rang and rang, and was ringing still when the taxi came to a halt. Her parents were inside, doing god knows what. Sylvia opened the door to the taxi and leaned into the backseat.
It ll just be a minute, she said. Sorry. My parents are on their way out. She paused. They re the worst. This had not always been true, but it was now, and s
... weniger
Autoren-Porträt von Emma Straub
Emma Straub is the New York Times bestselling author of Modern Lovers, The Vacationers, Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures, and the short story collection Other People We Married. Straub's work has been published in fifteen countries. She and her husband co-own Books Are Magic, an independent bookstore in Brooklyn.
Bibliographische Angaben
- Autor: Emma Straub
- 2015, 320 Seiten, Maße: 13 x 20,2 cm, Kartoniert (TB), Englisch
- Verlag: Riverhead Books
- ISBN-10: 1594633886
- ISBN-13: 9781594633881
- Erscheinungsdatum: 27.05.2015
Sprache:
Englisch
Pressezitat
"Delicious . . . richly riveting . . . The Vacationers offers all the delights of a fluffy, read-it-with-sunglasses-on-the-beach read, made substantial by the exceptional wit, insight, intelligence and talents of its author. People (four stars)Set down on the idyllic island of Majorca in the Mediterranean Sea, the Posts confront that universal complaint of vacationing families everywhere: There is nothing to do but get on one another s nerves. Still, that s plenty of activity for Straub to spin one beguiling scene after another, exposing spots of annoyance slathered with sunscreen. Much of the comedy springs from the tension between being required to have the best time in the world and wanting to stab someone with an ice pick. . . . In these pages so funny, so wise and, yes, even so sweet she s created the best feel-good story of the summer. The Washington Post
Emma Straub puts the fun back in dysfunction. San Francisco Chronicle
Those who love novels featuring sly humor, sun-drenched islands, and family drama will fall fast and hard for this one. A nearly perfect read, beach or otherwise. O, The Oprah Magazine
There s nothing more addictive than a darkly funny dysfunctional domestic drama. Straub s novel set during a fraught family vacation in Mallorca is pretty much the perfect beach read." Entertainment Weekly
For those unable to jet off to a Spanish island this summer, reading The Vacationers may be the next-best thing. . . . [A] gorgeously written novel . . . When I turned the last page, I felt as I often do when a vacation is over: grateful for the trip and mourning its end. The New York Times Book Review
A psychologically astute comic novel. . . . Picturesque and filled with the solvable problems of the privileged, this is the kind of novel Franny or Sylvia might take on a trip to read poolside. It s good company. The Boston Globe
"Emma Straub s bustling new novel is about a New York family s two-week idyll in a house on
... mehr
the Spanish island of Mallorca. It s also about a different kind of break: infidelity. . . . The story s women are so well drawn that they seem instantly familiar. . . . Witty." The New York Times
"The Vacationers takes readers on an affecting, funny ride. The Miami Herald
"Straub has a knack, reminiscent of Lorrie Moore, for writing beautiful prose about ordinary situations. . . . The Vacationers really is perfect summer reading: a beautifully written story that s neither too depressing nor too charming. AV Club
[A] warm, witty story" Good Housekeeping
Too compelling to leave your chaise lounge! In Style
Full of Warmth and Wisdom . . . a frothy beach read. NPR
Irresistible novel about simmering family tensions. Town and Country
Funny, poignant, and beautifully observed. Jojo Moyes, author of Me Before You, via Twitter
I would read anything Emma Straub writes. She s a natural talent and a gorgeous and witty storyteller, who makes each sentence look not only easy, but perfectly real. I came to care so deeply about every single character in this great novel that I found myself unable to go to sleep at night until I was certain they had all landed safely. And they will linger with me, this richly imagined family, long into the future. Elizabeth Gilbert
Witty, big-hearted, and packed with wisdom, this novel is a breezy read that sneaks in its emotional wallops and leaves you smiling for days. Maria Semple, author of Where d You Go, Bernadette
Charming and absorbing, this is a novel that demands to be read in long, satisfying gulps. Maggie Shipstead, author of Seating Arrangements
"The Vacationers is a beautifully told story that walks the tightrope of family angst and connection with hilarity and truth. Get ready for the Post family drama, where the near empty nest collides with the dreams of the new generation. Emma Straub's writing is deft, clear and wise in ways that will surprise and delight you. It's a beyond the beach read. It's Ms. Straub at her dazzling best." Adriana Trigiani, author of The Shoemaker s Wife
Expertly observed offers such psychologically astute portrayals of the characters that it is hard not to feel fondly towards even their least appealing quirks. It s a delightful, breezy read in every way but one it s a vacation that s hard to leave behind. Elle
Did Emma Straub just get a little John Cheever-esque with her latest novel? Take the WASPy family on vacation, with all their little underlying issues coming to the surface, combined with Straub s witty and colorful writing, and The Vacationers is the type of book just about anybody can read and enjoy. We guarantee this will be on every single list of summer beach reads come next month. Just you watch. Flavorwire
Funny and tender . . . the perfect lighthearted beach read. Pop Sugar
In The Vacationers, Emma Straub, a master observer of human emotion, once again dazzles her readers with this richly imagined travelogue, a fun, witty story about family relationships their evolution and strength. With its lush, scenic setting and its exciting cast of characters, The Vacationers is certain to be your newest beach accessory. Bustle
Few writers can infuse a sentence with as much wit as Straub can. . . . A near-perfect high-brow summer novel. Grantland
Emma Straub's second novel is funny and yet also surprisingly substantial. Christian Science Monitor
Sharply observed and funny, Straub s domestic-drama-goes-abroad is a delightful study of the complexities of family and love, and the many distractions from both. Booklist (starred review)
"A novel that is both a lot of fun to read and has plenty of insight into the marital bond and the human condition. Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
The pacing is quick but satisfying and the characters themselves feel genuinely complex, interesting, and knowledgeable. . . . A pleasant, readable journey. Publishers Weekly
Straub s characters are suffused with humor and humanity, their relationships every bit as fragile and flawed but also resilient as we know to be true of real life This novel is an utter delight and the perfect read for a sunny afternoon. It rings with truth and shines with the confidence of a writer hitting her stride. BookRiot
Straub has created long lost friends through whom she explores the ways in which love cuts us and prompts us to grow throughout our lives. Bloggers Recommend
"The Vacationers takes readers on an affecting, funny ride. The Miami Herald
"Straub has a knack, reminiscent of Lorrie Moore, for writing beautiful prose about ordinary situations. . . . The Vacationers really is perfect summer reading: a beautifully written story that s neither too depressing nor too charming. AV Club
[A] warm, witty story" Good Housekeeping
Too compelling to leave your chaise lounge! In Style
Full of Warmth and Wisdom . . . a frothy beach read. NPR
Irresistible novel about simmering family tensions. Town and Country
Funny, poignant, and beautifully observed. Jojo Moyes, author of Me Before You, via Twitter
I would read anything Emma Straub writes. She s a natural talent and a gorgeous and witty storyteller, who makes each sentence look not only easy, but perfectly real. I came to care so deeply about every single character in this great novel that I found myself unable to go to sleep at night until I was certain they had all landed safely. And they will linger with me, this richly imagined family, long into the future. Elizabeth Gilbert
Witty, big-hearted, and packed with wisdom, this novel is a breezy read that sneaks in its emotional wallops and leaves you smiling for days. Maria Semple, author of Where d You Go, Bernadette
Charming and absorbing, this is a novel that demands to be read in long, satisfying gulps. Maggie Shipstead, author of Seating Arrangements
"The Vacationers is a beautifully told story that walks the tightrope of family angst and connection with hilarity and truth. Get ready for the Post family drama, where the near empty nest collides with the dreams of the new generation. Emma Straub's writing is deft, clear and wise in ways that will surprise and delight you. It's a beyond the beach read. It's Ms. Straub at her dazzling best." Adriana Trigiani, author of The Shoemaker s Wife
Expertly observed offers such psychologically astute portrayals of the characters that it is hard not to feel fondly towards even their least appealing quirks. It s a delightful, breezy read in every way but one it s a vacation that s hard to leave behind. Elle
Did Emma Straub just get a little John Cheever-esque with her latest novel? Take the WASPy family on vacation, with all their little underlying issues coming to the surface, combined with Straub s witty and colorful writing, and The Vacationers is the type of book just about anybody can read and enjoy. We guarantee this will be on every single list of summer beach reads come next month. Just you watch. Flavorwire
Funny and tender . . . the perfect lighthearted beach read. Pop Sugar
In The Vacationers, Emma Straub, a master observer of human emotion, once again dazzles her readers with this richly imagined travelogue, a fun, witty story about family relationships their evolution and strength. With its lush, scenic setting and its exciting cast of characters, The Vacationers is certain to be your newest beach accessory. Bustle
Few writers can infuse a sentence with as much wit as Straub can. . . . A near-perfect high-brow summer novel. Grantland
Emma Straub's second novel is funny and yet also surprisingly substantial. Christian Science Monitor
Sharply observed and funny, Straub s domestic-drama-goes-abroad is a delightful study of the complexities of family and love, and the many distractions from both. Booklist (starred review)
"A novel that is both a lot of fun to read and has plenty of insight into the marital bond and the human condition. Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
The pacing is quick but satisfying and the characters themselves feel genuinely complex, interesting, and knowledgeable. . . . A pleasant, readable journey. Publishers Weekly
Straub s characters are suffused with humor and humanity, their relationships every bit as fragile and flawed but also resilient as we know to be true of real life This novel is an utter delight and the perfect read for a sunny afternoon. It rings with truth and shines with the confidence of a writer hitting her stride. BookRiot
Straub has created long lost friends through whom she explores the ways in which love cuts us and prompts us to grow throughout our lives. Bloggers Recommend
... weniger
Kommentar zu "The Vacationers"
0 Gebrauchte Artikel zu „The Vacationers“
| Zustand | Preis | Porto | Zahlung | Verkäufer | Rating |
|---|
Schreiben Sie einen Kommentar zu "The Vacationers".
Kommentar verfassen