* WINNER OF A WHITBREAD NOVEL AWARD * A rich portrayal of small-town life with wonderfully evoked characters and beautifully observed writing. Dan Silas returns to America for his high school reunion where he makes some unexpected discoveries. His former girlfriend tells him that her daughter was his child and Dan's oldest friend has suffered a breakdown and now believes himself to be the reincarnation of an Indian chief. In an attempt to make sense of these disturbing facts, Dan digs further into their lives, with both ...
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* WINNER OF A WHITBREAD NOVEL AWARD * A rich portrayal of small-town life with wonderfully evoked characters and beautifully observed writing. Dan Silas returns to America for his high school reunion where he makes some unexpected discoveries. His former girlfriend tells him that her daughter was his child and Dan's oldest friend has suffered a breakdown and now believes himself to be the reincarnation of an Indian chief. In an attempt to make sense of these disturbing facts, Dan digs further into their lives, with both tragic and comic results. 'A wonderfully observed novel which provides a rare outsider's glimpse of the quiet despair that lurks behind those bright, perfectly-formed American smiles' Literary Review
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Seller's Description:
Good in good dust jacket. Outline: -For travelers history has a way of appearing crystallized. It`s all too easy when visiting someone else`s country to discern the links between the ideas of the past and the way people live now. And in Justin Cartwright`s Leading the Cheers London ad man Dan Silas is happy to make such links. British by birth he attended high school briefly in Michigan then returned to his native soil. Now his class has asked him to be the keynote speaker at their 30th reunion. Dan is in just the right mood to make such a trip; he`s recently sold his wildly successful agency and broken up with his young girlfriend. "What carried me far in advertising was a glib up-to-dateness and its roots obviously go back a long way. It is this cheapness which I am endeavouring to slough off. I will avail myself without cynicism of the offer to buy a commemorative brick from the old high school." For Dan America has come to represent a kind of lost earnest innocence: you can practically hear the fife-and-drum music in the background as he rolls into town for the reunion. No less rosy are his memories of his best friend Gary and his high-school sweetheart Gloria with whom he first coupled on Thomas Jefferson`s bed at Monticello on a class field trip. "In my memory Gloria and Monticello are for ever joined." But now she claims he fathered a daughter that fateful afternoon a daughter who`s been murdered by a serial killer. Meanwhile Gary has gone off the deep end convinced he`s an Ojibway Indian and leading ceremonies in a tipi in his mom`s backyard. Dan`s attempt to reconcile his Edenic memories with the bitter realities wrought by 30 years of history yield a singularly woeful comic novel. At times Justin Cartwright`s narrative seems filigreed with ideas and ironies; at other times it seems concerned quite simply with one man who learns that his "version of what goes on is certainly faulty."--Claire Dederer After Dan Silas`s advertising company is bought out his invitation to his thirty-year high school reunion arrives with perfect timing and he leaves London to return to the small Michigan town he has not seen since 1968. With wit humor and compassion Whitbread Award-winner and Booker Prize-nominee Justin Cartwright takes Dan through the mounting stages of both culture shock and mid-life crisis. Back in Michigan he discovers his best friend now believes he is a reincarnated Shawnee Indian and his high school sweetheart claims she had a daughter by him-who has just been murdered by the Hollybush`s new celebrity a small-town serial killer. With brilliantly evoked characters and crackling dialogue Leading the Cheers comically explores what people want out of life-and what they get instead. --> Genre: Literary Fiction Literary Works-> the publisher of this PAPERBACK book is Sceptre Publishers The date of this copy is 1999 booksalvation have grade it as Good and it will be shipped from our UK warehouse This book is from the Series. Shipping is Free for UK buyers and at a reasonable charge for buyer outside the UK.
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Seller's Description:
Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. Though second-hand, the book is still in very good shape. Minimal signs of usage may include very minor creasing on the cover or on the spine. Grubby book may have mild dirt or some staining, mostly on the edges of pages. Aged book. Tanned pages and age spots, however, this will not interfere with reading.
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Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. This book is in good condition but will show signs of previous ownership. Please expect some creasing to the spine and/or minor damage to the cover. Grubby book may have mild dirt or some staining, mostly on the edges of pages.
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Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. This book is in good condition but will show signs of previous ownership. Please expect some creasing to the spine and/or minor damage to the cover. Missing jacket. The dust jacket of the book is missing.
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Good. All orders are dispatched within 1 working day from our UK warehouse. Established in 2004, we are dedicated to recycling unwanted books on behalf of a number of UK charities who benefit from added revenue through the sale of their books plus huge savings in waste disposal. No quibble refund if not completely satisfied.
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Very good. Simply Brit – welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring there's something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped within 24 hours and our lightning fast-delivery within 48 hours coupled with our prompt customer service ensures a smooth journey from ordering to delivery. Discover the joy of reading with us, your trusted source for affordable books that do not compromise on quality.
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Seller's Description:
Very good. Simply Brit – welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring there's something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped within 24 hours and our lightning fast-delivery within 48 hours coupled with our prompt customer service ensures a smooth journey from ordering to delivery. Discover the joy of reading with us, your trusted source for affordable books that do not compromise on quality.
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Very good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! Greener Books.
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Seller's Description:
Very good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! Greener Books.
