As i read so much pretty, which is a stunning debut novel, i was reminded of the lovely bones. In 1992, claire and gene piper, both idealistic new york city physicians, eschew joining doctors without borders. She teaches writing and literature at bronx community college and lives in new york city. Click to read more about so much pretty by cara hoffman. So much pretty covers many disturbing subjects such as denial, aggression and violence towards women and when one should or shouldnt turn a blind eye to the very things going on around them. I was led to cara hoffman s work by the upcoming 2014 printers row lit fest. Hoffman is the author of the critically acclaimed novels running, so much pretty and be safe i love you. The book, based on a real case that hoffman covered when she worked for a small upstate new york newspaper, shines a harsh light on violence against women and the men who live within the ugly banality of this evil. I love the empathy with which she writes about the lives of outsiders, depicting the tenderness and fragility of their friendships so beautifully. Ill be interviewing her at the poisoned pen on tuesday, april 17 at 7 p.
She is the author of three critically acclaimed novels, so much pretty 2011, be safe, i love you 2014, and running 2017. Praise for so much pretty a mixture of the lovely bones and the girl with the dragon tattoo booklist a passionately angry. There were moments when i wept, when i cursed the dream that came true that we would have a daughter. Cara hoffman is presently touring with this book, just rereleased in. The story itself is about a chilling crime that happens in a small, rural town. Disturbed me in the way that makes you want to force one of your friends to read it so you can see if it disturbs them as well. Strange and shocking and sad hoffman s language is so deft and precise. So much pretty is the ugliest book i have read in years and i couldnt put it down. Hoffmans debut tells the tale of a series of horrific events that take place in haeden, a small town in upstate new york, drawing on multiple perspectives to glimpse all sides of the same story. So much pretty weaves the stories of wendy, a young woman who disappears from a small town. Stacy, a reporter who becomes obsessed with the case. So much pretty by cara hoffman democratic underground. Hoffmans so much pretty, 2011 latest novel centers on a female soldier who comes home to a reality in which she feels alienated and out of sync.
Mar 15, 2011 listen to so much pretty audiobook by cara hoffman. Dana spiotta, national book awardnominated author of stone arabia so much pretty unravels a narrative thats rich with. Alices and flynns perspectives, along with those of many others, including the dead girls, hoffmans book rotates points of view every couple of. So much pretty by cara hoffman so much pretty weaves the stories of wendy, a young woman who disappears from a small town. The police are unable to trace the missing waitress. A man can only take so much pretty walking back and forth in front of him.
Cara hoffman is the author of the internationally critically acclaimed novel so much pretty. Cara hoffman is presently touring with this book, just rereleased in paperback. Jun 10, 2011 cara hoffmans so much pretty has everything i long for in a good book. Cara hoffman is the author of the critically acclaimed novels so much. The story of so much pretty is about wendy, a nineteen yearold waitress living a smalltown life in haeden, new york. Aug 02, 2012 hoffman s book, so much pretty provides a very good description of rural community life while depicting some of the more negative aspects of rural values and the difficulties of being a new resident read outsider which can mean living in a dual area less than 20 years or a whole lifetime. In this remarkable debut, hoffman addresses serious injustices in presentday america.
Even more compelling is the novels rare, illuminating glimpse into the distinctive experience and psyche of a female vet. So much pretty isbn 9780099558484 pdf epub cara hoffman. So much pretty is a riveting and disturbing novel about the accommodations we make for violence and the human need for justice. Along the way, we get caught up in her portraits of those who belong, those who dont, and the irreversible consequences of lives coming together.
For starters, the writing was so good i read the first two chapters out loud just for the pure pleasure of the rhythm. Its a study of rural america struggling for survival in a declining industrial economy. So much pretty isbn 9781451616774 pdf epub cara hoffman. In prose that is both powerful and poetic, hoffman so much pretty paints a searing portrait of ptsd and the disconnect of the returning vet amid the wellmeaning but clueless. Cara hoffmans so much pretty has everything i long for in a good book. Mar 16, 2011 so much pretty is a haunting, gloomy novel that defies genre it is one part crime thriller, one part ambitious novel, one part prose poem. Hoffmans book rotates points of view every couple of pages. So much pretty, a first novel by cara hoffman, goes there. So much pretty by cara hoffman, 9781451617283, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Mar 06, 2012 hoffman s book, so much pretty provides a very good description of rural community life while depicting some of the more negative aspects of rural values and the difficulties of being a new resident read outsider which can mean living in a dual area less than 20 years or a whole lifetime. Stylishly written, closely observed, and bracingly unexpected, so much pretty leads the reader into the treacherous psychology of denial, where the details of an event are already known, deeply and intuitively felt, but not yet admitted to, reconciled or revealed.
For starters, the writing was so good i read the first two chapters out loud just for the pure pleasure of the rhythm and the prose. Read so much pretty by cara hoffman available from rakuten kobo. Cara hoffman is the author of the critically acclaimed novels so much pretty, be safe i love you, and now, running. So much pretty by cara hoffman is centered around the small town of haeden in upstate new york, where claire and gene piper move after turning down doctors without borders to give their young daughter alice a better life. But, six months later, wendys tortured body is found in the nearby woods. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience. She has written for the new york times, marie claire, salon, and national public radio, and is the recipient of numerous awards and accolades including a folio prize nomination, and a sundance institute global filmmaking award. Discover book depositorys huge selection of cara hoffman books online. Listen to so much pretty by cara hoffman, aimee bruneau for free with a 30 day free trial. So much pretty is the impressive debut of a fierce novelist.
Here, she interviews cara hoffman, author of so much pretty, a novel that centers on the disappearance of a young woman from a rural new york community. So much pretty unravels a narrative thats rich with suspense and moral complexity. Set in a rural community steeped in silence and denial, so much. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Its an inquiry into ethical conduct in an age of moral ambiguity. So much pretty book by cara hoffman official publisher. So much pretty is a haunting, gloomy novel that defies genre it is one part crime thriller, one part ambitious novel, one part prose poem. So much pretty by cara hoffman overdrive rakuten overdrive. A novel by hoffman, cara 9781451616750, save up to 90% and get free return shipping. Stylishly written, closely observed, and bracingly unexpected, so much pretty leads the reader into the treacherous psychology of denial, where the details of an event are already known, deeply and. When she disappeared from her rural hometown, wendy white was a sweet, familyoriented girl, a late bloomer whod recent. So much pretty, by cara hoffman barbras bookfilled year. Its climactic scenes are simultaneously shocking and inevitable.
Although mostly well written, the story devolves into some snoozeworthy prose. Hoffmans debut novel takes readers to the unsexy world of rural new york and a farming community with more than one secret. Reporter stacey flynn has moved to haeden, planning to cover the environmental tragedies that are going on, but finds. So much pretty book by cara hoffman official publisher page. So much pretty is a haunting story filled with characters who are unfulfilled in their lives and their dreams.
On its most fundamental level, so much pretty is the story of alice piper and her parents, from the time of her birth through her midteens. She has written for the new york times, marie claire, salon, and national public radio, and is the. In her fearless first novel, so much pretty, cara hoffman demolishes our illusions about country life by addressing the problems of poverty, domestic abuse. The material is a melange of filed statements, oneperson interviews, school essays, diary entries. Delicately balancing two story lines, cara hoffman dramatizes a death and a disappearance. Hoffmans book, so much pretty provides a very good description of rural community life while depicting some of the more negative aspects of rural values and the difficulties of being a new. Listen to so much pretty audiobook by cara hoffman. In cara hoffman s debut novel, so much pretty, this jarring disconnect is one of the storys most intriguing undercurrents the novel effectively frames a compelling murder mystery with provocative, troubling issues, exploring adolescent violence, the victimization of women, revenge, and societal pressure to favor the good of the community over the rights of the individual. Lauren clay didnt follow the rest of the cream of her high.
Cara hoffman is the author of the critically acclaimed novel so much pretty. The material is a melange of filed statements, oneperson interviews, school essays. So much pretty by cara hoffman nook book ebook barnes. Cara hoffman s novel is an interesting read on multiple levels and although this is not a book that will appeal to everyone, i still have pleasure in. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Set in a rural community steeped in silence and denial, so much pretty explores all parents greatest fear, that their child will be hurt.
Dana spiotta, national book awardnominated author of stone arabia so much pretty unravels a narrative thats rich with suspense and moral complexity. This acclaimed book by cara hoffman is available at in several formats for your ereader. Cara hoffmans 2011 novel so much pretty opens on the dead girl. Im writing about so much pretty because it disturbed me. I expected quite a lot from so much pretty and having read it now, im a bit let down. Read so much pretty a novel by cara hoffman available from rakuten kobo. Listen to unlimited audiobooks on the web, ipad, iphone and android. I love the empathy with which she writes about the lives of outsiders, depicting the tenderness and fragility of their friendships so. Cara hoffman on be safe, i love you the truth behind so much pretty cara hoffman shares so much pretty. So much pretty by cara hoffman penguin books australia. Dana spiotta, national book awardnominated author of stone arabia.
The book, based on a real case that hoffman covered when she worked for a small upstate new york newspaper, shines a harsh light on violence against women and the men who live within the ugly. She has won a new york state foundation for the arts fellowship for her. When nineteenyearold wendy white disappears, the small town of haeden, new york, is shaken to its core. Lauren clay didnt follow the rest of the cream of her high school graduating class into college.