A Peculiar Grace: A Novel - Hardcover

Lent, Jeffrey

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0871139650 ISBN 13: 9780871139658

Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Press, 2007

Synopsis

An unforgettable tale of love, family secrets, and the hold of the past in a family of New England artists, A Peculiar Grace is the latest triumph from the author of In the Fall , hailed by The Christian Science Monitor and The New York Times as one of the best books of the year. Hewitt Pearce lives alone in his family home, producing custom ironwork and safeguarding a small collection of art his late father left behind. When Jessica, a troubled young vagabond, washes up in his backwoods one morning, Hewitt’s hermetic existence is challenged. As he gradually uncovers Jessica’s secrets and reestablishes contact with a woman he thought he had lost twenty years before, Hewitt must confront his own dark history and rediscover how much he craves human connection. A Peculiar Grace is a remarkable achievement by one of our finest authors, an insightful portrait of family secrets, and a rich tapestry filled with characters who have learned to survive by giving shape to their losses.

About this title

About the Author:

Jeffrey Lent was born in Vermont and grew up there and in western New York State, on dairy farms powered mainly by draft horses. He studied literature and psychology at Franconia College in New Hampshire and SUNY Purchase. He lived for many years in North Carolina and now resides with his wife and two daughters in central Vermont. His novel In the Fall was a national bestseller, was a New York Times Book Review Notable Book for 2000, and earned Jeffrey placement in both Barnes & Noble's and Borders' new writer programs. His follow-up, Lost Nation, was a summer reading pick of the Washington Post and USA Today. Both novels were BookSense picks, Book of the Month main selections, have been widely translated, and are currently under film option. A Peculiar Grace is his third novel. Todd McLaren was involved in radio for more than twenty years in cities on both coasts, including Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. He left broadcasting for a full-time career in voice-overs, where he has been heard on more than 5,000 TV and radio commercials, as well as TV promos; narrations for documentaries on such networks as A&E, Discovery, and the History Channel; and films, including Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

From AudioFile:

There is such a thing as too much introspection, but a perceptive reading by Todd McClaren keeps this sensitive novel from wallowing in pain and self-pity. Hewitt Pearce, the protagonist of Lents third compelling investigation into relationships and family, broods over a love lost nearly twenty years earlier. A chance occurrence, meeting Jessica, a young woman traveling around in an old VW, gives him the opportunity to redeem himself, help another, and find inner peace. Lent makes blacksmithing, baling hay, and smoking marijuana as much a part of Vermont as maple syrup, and McLarens narration heightens the sexual tension between Jessica and Hewitt. The writing feels overwrought at times, but McClarens down-to-earth performance makes this worthwhile listening. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

About this edition

• Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Press
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0871139650
• ISBN 13: 9780871139658
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 395