"Susan Carol McCarthy blends fact, memory, imagination and truth with admirable grace," said The Washington Post of the author's critically acclaimed debut novel, Lay That Trumpet in Our Hands . Now McCarthy returns with another enthralling story of a family--their longings, their fears, and their secrets--swept up in the chaos at the height of the Cold War, perfect for fans of Caroline Leavitt, Laura Moriarty, and Ellen Feldman. Late October, 1962. Wes Avery, a one-time Air Force tail-gunner, is living his version of ...
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"Susan Carol McCarthy blends fact, memory, imagination and truth with admirable grace," said The Washington Post of the author's critically acclaimed debut novel, Lay That Trumpet in Our Hands . Now McCarthy returns with another enthralling story of a family--their longings, their fears, and their secrets--swept up in the chaos at the height of the Cold War, perfect for fans of Caroline Leavitt, Laura Moriarty, and Ellen Feldman. Late October, 1962. Wes Avery, a one-time Air Force tail-gunner, is living his version of the American Dream as loving husband to Sarah, doting father to seventeen-year-old Charlotte, and owner of a successful Texaco station along central Florida's busiest highway. But after President Kennedy announces that the Soviets have nuclear missiles in Cuba, Army convoys clog the highways and the sky fills with fighter planes. Within days, Wes's carefully constructed life begins to unravel. Sarah, nervous and watchful, spends more and more time in the family's bomb shelter, slipping away into childhood memories and the dreams she once held for the future. Charlotte is wary but caught up in the excitement of high school--her nomination to homecoming court, the upcoming dance, and the thrill of first love. Wes, remembering his wartime experience, tries to keep his family's days as normal as possible, hoping to restore a sense of calm. But as the panic over the Missile Crisis rises, a long-buried secret threatens to push the Averys over the edge. With heartbreaking clarity and compassion, Susan Carol McCarthy captures the shock and innocence, anxiety and fear, in those thirteen historic days, and brings vividly to life one ordinary family trying to hold center while the world around them falls apart. Praise for A Place We Knew Well "Gripping . . . Even as those tense days of the Cuban Missile Crisis are depicted in unwavering detail and with inexorable dread, the intimate moments between human beings on the verge of the apocalypse stand out. This multilayered story will remain with you long after you turn the last page." --Melanie Benjamin, New York Times bestselling author of The Aviator's Wife "Susan Carol McCarthy makes a nightmarish moment in America's recent past terrifyingly immediate and devastatingly personal. This was what it was like to live, and even more astonishingly, to go on loving--as a husband, as a wife, as a young girl on the cusp of womanhood--with the threat of nuclear annihilation hovering only miles offshore." --Ellen Feldman, author of Next to Love "Susan Carol McCarthy's genius is in turning history over to muscle-and-blood human beings who variously hope, fear, lash out, hold steady, and tear at the seams. If you weren't there, this is as close to living through the Cuban Missile Crisis as you will ever come." --Tom McNeal, author of To Be Sung Underwater "Riveting." -- Kirkus Reviews "Powerful . . . McCarthy vividly evokes a turbulent time in her state's recent past. . . . [She] memorably captures the impact of the intense military mobilization on residents. But the novel's greatest strength is its seamless portrayal of what this international chess game means for one man on the brink of losing everything." -- Booklist
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Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
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Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
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TRUST OUR FEEDBACK RATING-USED VERY GOOD.3. Construction of the book is excellent i.e. Tight spine. No loose pages. Clean pages. No writing, highlighting, marks or underlining on the pages (Only a previous owners name, initials or price inside the front cover or on one of the first few blank pages). No page discoloration. Boards are hard and square with minimal wear along the edges and sides of the boards. Dust Jacket is in Good condition but and may have more obvious creases and inperfections. This is a good looking book. Remainder mark on the top or bottom of the book. All books are mailed out in a bubble wrap mailer to protect your purchase. Orders are ALWAYS shipped same day or next day with FREE TRACKING emailed to you automatically. (WE TRY HARD TO DESCRIBE OUR BOOKS ACCURATELY SO YOU CAN BUY WITH CONFIDENCE)
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Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
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Very good. All orders ship SAME or NEXT business day. Expedited shipments will be received in 1-5 business days within the United States. We proudly ship to APO/FPO addresses. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed!
