Friday, April 29, 2011

Astounding Praise for MINDING BEN by Victoria Brown

With features in The New York Times, People, NPR, and New York Daily News, MINDING BEN by debut author Victoria Brown is a hit! Check out excerpts from the phenomenal reviews it has received:

What makes this title stand out from other nanny fiction is the author’s focus on Grace’s island culture and the West Indian nannies and friends with whom Grace spends time. Revealing New York’s melting pot at its most complicated, this interesting first novel is told from the perspective of someone who has been there and done that. Brown drew from her personal experience as a young immigrant nanny, and her story is fascinating, tender, and heartbreaking.” --Library Journal, starred review

Refreshing...What gives this story its momentum is Grace’s endearing personality and strength of character.” --The Baltimore Times

One great book.” --People

Part of the novel’s appeal lies in Grace’s spirited voice, but the fascinating insider details on the nanny life also add an extra dimension...Although a social satire in some ways like THE NANNY DIARIES, MINDING BEN is also a moving immigrant story. Brown vividly depicts the vibrant and diverse West Indian communities of Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood...Especially notable is the author’s knack for the colorful patois that distinguish various Caribbean nationalities...Brown was...not afraid to tackle the thorny issues of race, religion, and class.” --Library Journal, Editor's Pick Review

Troubling and touching...The language of the Caribbean sings through the pages.” --Publishers Weekly

Brown is a new voice with much to offer.” --Kirkus

Like THE NANNY DIARIES and THE HELP, MINDING BEN probes the racial and class dynamics between nannies and their wealthy employers ... Brown, herself an immigrant who worked as a nanny, brings alive both Grace’s quest to be independent and her resourcefulness in dealing with the condescension of Manhattan’s elite. ” --Booklist

"A realistic and utterly compelling immigrant story that is also hopeful and witty. I look forward to more from Victoria Brown, who is a lyrical, arresting writer and a fresh new voice in fiction." --Amy Sohn, New York Times bestselling author of PROSPECT PARK WEST

Grace Caton’s pursuit of the American Dream is a story of courage and elegance in circumstances that are not always easy or even kind. Brown’s writing is at once gritty and big-hearted, full of deep pathos and, also, celebration. Like Jhumpa Lahiri, Brown chronicles the immigrant experience with affection, grace, and depth.--Caitlin Shetterly, NPR contributor and author of MADE FOR YOU AND ME

Hyperion Voice, April 2011

Friday, April 15, 2011

Rave reviews for Timothy Schaffert's THE COFFINS OF LITTLE HOPE

Due to publish on Tuesday, THE COFFINS OF LITTLE HOPE by Timothy Schaffert has been receiving phenomenal press, and the feature that appeared in The New York Times on Wednesday is only the latest! The book is also an Indie Next List pick for May 2011 and has received a starred Publishers Weekly review. Here is a sampling of some of the excellent quotes:

Each of [Schaffert's] books is a quirky little gem, particularly the first one...There’s a lot of plot to THE COFFINS OF LITTLE HOPE. But Mr. Schaffert’s style is so gossamer-light that the story elements don’t become cumbersome. His book can accommodate a large cast of characters who bump into one another with an almost screwball regularity...Mr. Schaffert’s sly wit and frank affection for his characters can make him sound like a very American Alexander McCall Smith. ..A faint but important frisson of fear runs all through this seeming lightheartedness, giving the book a spooky undercurrent.” --The New York Times

Read the full NYT review by clicking HERE.

It's small town, big drama in Schaffert's sublime latest...Schaffert spins out the story and its offbeat characters with compassion, spoofing the nation's voracious appetite for "news" and suggesting that perhaps not all stories are created equal. Piercing observations and sharp, subtle wit make this a standout.--Publishers Weekly, starred review

Unbridled Press, April 2011