Christine Leunens

A gripping, atmospheric novel about obsession and love. 'Little by little, Elsa leaked out of her enclosure, strayed out into every corner of the house . . . In my bed at night, she switched places with me, she enjoying the softness of my bed, and I finding myself cramped up in her airless niche.' This extraordinary novel is seen through the eyes of Johannes. An avid member of the Hitler Youth in the 1940s, he discovers his parents are hiding a Jewish girl called Elsa behind a false wall in their large house in Vienna. His initial horror turns to interest, then love and obsession. After the disappearance of his parents, Johannes finds he is the only one aware of Elsa's existence in the house, the only one responsible for her survival. Both manipulating and manipulated, Johannes dreads the end of the war: with it will come the prospect of losing Elsa and their relationship, which ranges through passion and obsession, dependence and indifference, love and hate. This gripping, masterful work examines truth and lies at both political and personal levels, laying bare the darkest corners of the human soul.

Caging Skies

Caging skies

El cielo enjaulado

Johannes es un niño cuando Austria es anexionada al Tercer Reich y es seducido por la doctrina de Hitler. Sus padres no comulgan con el régimen, pero durante la guerra queda gravemente herido y se ve forzado a quedarse en casa. A las pocas semanas descubre que sus padre esconden a una joven judía, Elsa. Poco a poco Johannes acaba enamorándose de ella de un modo tan enfermizo que se convierte en su obsesión, y cuando la joven le confiesa que su amor no es correspondido ambos inician una extraña relación de mutua dependencia. Al terminar la guerra, Johannes sabe que eso significa que perderá a Elsa, y para que eso no ocurra decide mentirle para retenerla para siempre. Empieza así una relación llena de secretos, mentirasy silencios que os acabará llevando a la locura.

El Cielo Enjaulado

O Céu numa Gaiola

Il cielo in gabbia

"Set in New Zealand during the fast-changing, tumultuous 1980s era of the anti-nuclear movement, Springbok rugby tour protests, and the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior, this romantic drama is as unpredictable as it is powerful and heartfelt. Ethan Grieg, a film student, is in love with his close friend Amber Deering, an environmental activist, who lives at her family's seemingly picture-perfect stud farm. Amber loves Ethan dearly, but not in the way that Ethan longs for. Instead, the man Amber chooses is widower Stuart Reeds, a charming, refined British investor almost two generations older than her. As a Korean war veteran, Stuart is mentally prepared for the long, subtle war that begins between his young rival and himself for Amber's heart. When secrets become exposed and nothing is as it seems, each will be cornered into committing acts they could have never predicted. This powerful, gripping story leaves in its wake lingering themes on the complex nature of love, social fabric, international politics, and fundamental notions of right and wrong."--Publisher's description.

In Ambers Wake

Dedicato a chi detesta la determinatezza dei ruoli sociali prestabiliti, e a chi non rinuncia a indagare la complessità dell'animo di ogni donna. Nuova Zelanda. La newyorkese Nancy, docente universitaria di astrofisica, conduce un tranquillo ménage quotidiano insieme al marito Michael e alla piccola Chloe. Quando i due coniugi partono con la figlia per una vacanza-fuga alle isole Fiji, la suocera Edith si presenta a sorpresa nel loro stesso albergo con il pretesto di badare alla nipotina. Quando Michael tenta di convincere la madre a fare ritorno a casa, Edith ha (o inscena?) un malore ed è trasportata d'urgenza in ospedale. Di ritorno dalla clinica, Michael muore tragicamente in un incidente d'auto. La vita di Nancy ne è sconvolta. Si troverà a fare i conti con l'assenza del suo compagno di vita. E con Edith. Il rapporto tra suocera, nuora e nipote evolverà, per i successivi dieci anni, in maniera imprevedibile. Attraverso le varie fasi della vita, Nancy ed Edith saranno nemiche e poi complici, contendenti e poi di nuovo alleate. La vita dispensa dolore – e gioia – quando meno ce lo si aspetta, e i concetti di spazio, tempo e luce che Nancy insegna all'università prendono all'improvviso a riguardare qualcosa di molto più intimo: un universo interiore. Nelle atmosfere domestiche che prendono vita dalla sciolta penna di Christine Leunens nulla rimane nascosto: ci sono il dolore, le ricriminazioni e i dispetti; ma anche l'ironia, la leggerezza e la necessità di rifarsi una vita.

Il bacio inspiegabile del sole

[This] is a light, zany, comic novel about growing up, family, food, sex and religion with an unforgettable ending.--adapted from back cover.

Primordial Soup

A Can of Sunshine

Kate Lester grows up in Florida under the tu telage of her domineering widowed mother, who gives her daug hters an unusual education and a bizarre view of the world. '

Christine Leunens

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