Monday, May 23, 2011
Safina Interviewed in The Atlantic
Friday, April 29, 2011
Astounding Praise for MINDING BEN by Victoria Brown
“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
“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
Monday, March 14, 2011
Susan Schoenberger interviewed for A WATERSHED YEAR
A WATERSHED YEAR by Susan Schoenberger
Guideposts, March 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
Trailer for A DOUBLE LIFE by Lisa Catherine Harper!
Winner of the 2009 River Teeth Literary Nonfiction Prize
University of Nebraska Press, March 2011

