Susana Aikin

Set in contemporary Spain, Susana Aikin's latest novel is a colorful, beautifully written examination of memory, romance, and the intricacies of family duty. On a sweltering August day in Madrid, Anna, Julia, and Marion return to their childhood home. The once grand mansion, furnished with exotic objects and art that reflected the cultures of their English father and Spanish mother, once bustled with visitors. But since their father's death, all three sisters have been reluctant to go back, still feeling the weight of his domineering influence. Julia believes that before the house can sell, it needs to be cleared of negative energy, and she has planned a limpieza, or cleaning ritual. Marion, the oldest, fears what the ceremony might unleash. Anna, the youngest and most capable and ambitious of the trio, is skeptical of the Cuban santera hired by Julia. Still, she is wary of antagonizing her siblings, or of stirring up old resentment. But as the ceremony progresses, guilt and recrimination become impossible to ignore. And if there's a chance of bringing their house and their lives out of the shadows, it rests in the sisterhood, strength, and indomitable love that remains when the ghosts of the past surrender at last. Praise for Susana Aikin's We Shall See the Sky Sparkling "Satisfying. . . . Expertly plotted and rife with historical details . . . a rich story of the prejudices women faced at the turn of the 20th century." --Publishers Weekly

The Weight of the Heart

Set in London and Russia at the turn of the century, Susana Aikin's debut introduces a vibrant young woman determined to defy convention and shape an extraordinary future. Like other well-bred young women in Edwardian England, Lily Throop is expected to think of little beyond marriage and motherhood. Passionate about the stage, Lily has very different ambitions. To her father's dismay, she secures an apprenticeship at London's famous Imperial Theatre. Soon, her talent and beauty bring coveted roles and devoted admirers. Yet to most of society, the line between actress and harlot is whisper-thin. With her reputation threatened by her mentor's vicious betrayal, Lily flees to St. Petersburg with an acting troupe--leaving her first love behind. Life in Russia is as exhilarating as it is difficult. The streets rumble with talk of revolution, and Lily is drawn into an affair with Sergei, a Count with fervent revolutionary ideals. Following Sergei when he is banished to Vladivostok, Lily struggles to find her role in an increasingly dangerous world. And as Russian tensions with Japan erupt into war, only fortitude and single-mindedness can steer her to freedom and safety at last. With its sweeping backdrop and evocative details, We Shall See the Sky Sparkling explores a fascinating period in history through the eyes of a strong-willed, singular heroine, in a moving story of love and resilience.

We Shall See the Sky Sparkling

Cuando tu mundo se derrumba, ¿puedes encontrar en tu pasado las claves de tu futuro? Dos hermanas, Nadine y Alexandra, cuyo estilo de vida diferente las ha mantenido separadas desde hace años, se reencuentran: Nadine es una poeta reprimida que se refugia en un mundo conservador y superficial; Alexandra es una actriz pasional e impredecible que lo ha arriesgado todo por los escenarios. Pero detrás de estas fachadas dispares subyace el mismo secreto familiar, un secreto inquietante que ha permanecido enterrado durante décadas en la memoria de ambas. Y ahora precisamente ha llegado el momento de descubrirlo y de hacerlo cuando la vida de las hermanas hace aguas: Nadine ha visto hundirse su matrimonio y ha perdido su trabajo y su casa; Alexandra tiene un cáncer terminal y ha ido a parar al hospital donde, finalmente, la encuentra su hermana.

NADINE

Set in contemporary Spain, Susana Aikin’s latest novel is a colorful, beautifully written examination of memory, romance, and the intricacies of family duty. On a sweltering August day in Madrid, Anna, Julia, and Marion return to their childhood home. The once grand mansion, furnished with exotic objects and art that reflected the cultures of their English father and Spanish mother, once bustled with visitors. But since their father’s death, all three sisters have been reluctant to go back, still feeling the weight of his domineering influence. Julia believes that before the house can sell, it needs to be cleared of negative energy, and she has planned a limpieza, or cleaning ritual. Marion, the oldest, fears what the ceremony might unleash. Anna, the youngest and most capable and ambitious of the trio, is skeptical of the Cuban santeria hired by Julia. Still, she is wary of antagonizing her siblings, or of stirring up old resentment. But as the ceremony progresses, guilt and recrimination become impossible to ignore. And if there’s a chance of bringing their house and their lives out of the shadows, it rests in the sisterhood, strength, and indomitable love that remains when the ghosts of the past surrender at last.

Susana Aikin

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