Literary fiction Archives - Over The River PR

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Pub Week Virtual Book Tour for RAVAGE & SON by Jerome Charyn Aug 21 – 25

“Rollicking. . . . Ravage & Son brings New York City’s criminal underground to vibrant life.”

—Foreword Reviews

“Bosch’s The Garden of Earthly Delights has nothing on Charyn’s Lower East Side. . . . A bold effort.”

—Kirkus Reviews

“Charyn continues to deliver boisterous and flavorful prose.”

—Publishers Weekly

A master storyteller’s novel of crime, corruption, and antisemitism in early 20th-century Manhattan, available on August 22, 2023 from Bellevue Literary Press

Ravage & Son reflects the lost world of Manhattan’s Lower East Side—the cradle of Jewish immigration during the first years of the twentieth century—in a dark mirror.

Abraham Cahan, editor of the Jewish Daily Forward, serves as the conscience of the Jewish ghetto teeming with rogue cops and swindlers. He rescues Ben Ravage, an orphan, from a trade school and sends him off to Harvard to earn a law degree. But upon his return, Ben rejects the chance to escape his gritty origins and instead becomes a detective for the Kehilla, a quixotic gang backed by wealthy uptown patrons to help the police rid the Lower East Side of criminals. Charged with rooting out the Jewish “Mr. Hyde,” a half-mad villain who attacks the prostitutes of Allen Street, Ben discovers that his fate is irrevocably tied to that of this violent, sinister man.

A lurid tale of revenge, this wildly evocative, suspenseful noir is vintage Jerome Charyn.

Below is our stellar group of bloggers who will share reviews and features and offer giveaways during publication week of August 21st:

Monday, August 21 – We Love Big Books And We Cannot Lie AND The Book Connection

Tuesday, August 22 – Bookphile Belle

Wednesday, August 23 – Nurse Bookie AND What Is That Book About

Thursday, August 24 – Sue the Bookie AND Andrea C. Lowry Reads

Friday, August 25 – Lit by Lilli AND The Book Decoder

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MAY 2023 Virtual Book Tour for WHERE WATERS MEET by Zhang Ling

Coming May 1, 2023 — A daughter discovers the dramatic history that shaped her mother’s secret life in an emotional and immersive novel by Zhang Ling, the bestselling author of A Single Swallow.

“This emotional and heartbreaking novel is a tale of courage, survival, and human resilience in the face of war and repression. Ling’s emotional story of a mother-daughter relationship will appeal to readers of Amy Tan, Xinran, and Jung Chung. ”—Booklist

“WHERE WATERS MEET brings us back to the turbulent decades in China where people fought one war after another, suffered famine, and endured political persecutions. However, instead of focusing on misery, Zhang Ling introduces us to those who defy their fates. They are brave enough to try sneaking across the border, determined enough to adopt a foreign tongue, and kind enough to care for their families no matter what. A true masterpiece filled with idiosyncratic yet admirable characters, suspenseful mystery, historical complexity, and ironic humor.” —Jianan Qian, O. Henry Prize winner and staff writer at The Millions

“I love this novel. It is an intriguing and moving story of a Chinese family who have survived terrible wartime sufferings. It reminds us of the resilience of the human spirit. —Xinran, author of The Good Women of China and The Promise

There was rarely a time when Phoenix Yuan-Whyller’s mother, Rain, didn’t live with her. Even when Phoenix got married, Rain, who followed her from China to Toronto, came to share Phoenix’s life. Now at the age of eighty-three, Rain’s unexpected death ushers in a heartrending separation. Struggling with the loss, Phoenix comes across her mother’s suitcase—a memory box Rain had brought from home. Inside, Phoenix finds two old photographs and a decorative bottle holding a crystallized powder. Her auntie Mei tells her these missing pieces of her mother’s early life can only be explained when they meet, and so, clutching her mother’s ashes, Phoenix boards a plane for China. What at first seems like a daughter’s quest to uncover a mother’s secrets becomes a startling journey of self-discovery.

Told across decades and continents, Zhang Ling’s exquisite novel is a tale of extraordinary courage and survival. It illuminates the resilience of humanity, the brutalities of life, the secrets we keep and those we share, and the driving forces it takes to survive.

We have lined up a group of highly regarded bloggers who will share features, post reviews and offer giveaways throughout the month May:

Monday, May 1 – NURSE BOOKIE

Tuesday, May 2 – PURRFECT PAGES

Wednesday, May 3 – SUE THE BOOKIE

Thursday, May 4 – LILACS AND LITERATURE

Friday, May 5 – READING WITH NICOLE

Monday, May 8 – BOOKS AND COFFEE MX

Tuesday, May 9 – WHAT IS THAT BOOK ABOUT

Wednesday, May 10 – AIMEE DARS READS

Thursday. May 11 – TOTAHLY BOOKED

Friday, May 12 – MOMMA LEIGHELLEN’S BOOK NOOK

Saturday, May 13 – READING WITH MELANN ROSENTHAL

Monday, May 15 – BOOKOHOLIC CAFE

Tuesday, May 16 – THE MADDIE HATTER

Wednesday, May 17 – DAI 2 DAI READER

Thursday, May 18 – DANISH MUSTARD READS

Friday, May 19 – SUBAKKA BOOKSTUFF

Sunday, May 21 – ARMED WITH A BOOK

Monday, May 22 – WE LOVE BIG BOOKS AND WE CANNOT LIE

Tuesday, May 23 – LITERARY QUICKSAND

Wednesday, May 24 – THE BOOK CLUB MOM

Thursday, May 25 – TINA MAY READS

Friday, May 26 – GLORIANA WONG

Monday, May 29 – LEXIJAVA

Tuesday, May 30 – SUZY APPROVED BOOK REVIEWS

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February 2023 Virtual Book Tour for BLACK FOAM by Haji Jabir, translated by Sawad Hussain and Marcia Lynx Qualey

“A captivating tale of one man’s tireless journey to belong. Perfect for readers of East African literature and historical fiction.” ―Booklist

“A searing exposé of the plight of Ethiopian Jews who immigrate to Israel. There is a cinematic quality to BLACK FOAM, a discovery of new worlds, with Haji Jabir pointing a camera, up close and intimate, at his protagonist’s anxieties and fancies. Scenes slice as Muslim Dawoud becomes Christian David then Jewish Dawit, accompanied by a haunting soundtrack of loneliness and the indomitable will to survive.” ―Leila Aboulela, author of River Spirit

Haji Jabir, the award-winning Eritrean author, is one of the most significant Arabic-language authors writing today. In BLACK FOAM, he weaves together a poignant tale about identity, belonging, refugees and racism that will resonate with many readers long after the last page is turned. Longlisted for the 2019 International Prize for Arabic Fiction, one of the most prestigious prizes for fiction in Arabic, BLACK FOAM will be published for the first time in English, translated by Sawad Hussain and Marcia Lynx Qualey (February 7, 2023; Amazon Crossing, by arrangement with the African Literary Agency).

With a unique poetic writing style, Jabir focuses on a community of Ethiopian Jews who move to Israel, and he creates a protagonist, Dawoud, who is on the run from his murky past, aiming to discover where he belongs. He tries to assimilate into different groups along his journey through North Africa and into Israel, changing his clothes, his religious affiliations, and even his name to fit in, but the safety and peace he seeks remain elusive. It seems prejudice is everywhere, holding him back, when all he really wants is to create a simple life he can call his own. A chameleon, Dawoud―or David, Adal, or Dawit, depending on where and when you meet him―is not lost in this whirl of identities. In fact, he is defined by it.

Dawoud’s journey is circuitous and specific, but the desire to belong is universal. Spellbinding to the final page, BLACK FOAM is both intimate and grand in scale, much like the experiences of the millions of people migrating to find peace and safety in the twenty-first century.

Check out the line up of stellar bloggers who will share features, post reviews and offer giveaways throughout the month of February. We hope you will follow along!

Monday, February 6 – This Browne Girl Reads

Tuesday, February 7 – We Love Big Books And We Cannot Lie

Wednesday, February 8 – Traveling Bookshelf

Thursday, February 9 – Subakka Bookstuff

Friday, February 10 – Bee is for Books

Monday, February 13 – Reading with Nicole

Tuesday, February 14 – Suzy Approved Book Reviews

Wednesday, February 15 – Tina May Reads

Thursday, February 16 – Lexijava AND What Is That Book About

Friday, February 17 – Sue the Bookie

Monday, February 20 – Translated Gems

Tuesday, February 21 – Bathtub Book Worm

Wednesday, February 22 – MJ Beauchamp

Thursday, February 23 – Bookalong

Friday, February 24 – Books and Coffee MX

Monday, February 27 – Girl Who Reads AND Danish Mustard Reads

Tuesday, February 28 – Mel Reads All The Things AND Gloriana Wong

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January 2023 Virtual Book Tour for A CASTLE IN BROOKLYN by Shirley Russak Wachtel

“This is a story about immigration, adaptation to new cultures, and, for Esther, a chance to grapple with the traditional roles that women play. The house itself is an important part of the story … a solid choice for book clubs.” ―Library Journal

“A vibrant family saga…A CASTLE IN BROOKLYN is an impressive debut novel that illustrates the many ways that the Holocaust continues to impact contemporary Jewish life; a deeply felt hatred of fascism gives the novel its heft and lasting relevance.” ―Foreword Reviews

For fans of Ann Patchett’s The Dutch House, Lauren Fox’s Send For Me and Linda Cohen Loigman’s The Two-Family House comes a moving and heartfelt immigration story of one man’s dream to have a family and build a home in America, a place where anything is possible. In A CASTLE IN BROOKLYN (Little A; January 1, 2023), critically acclaimed author Shirley Russak Wachtel pens her debut novel, an engaging and beautifully written tale that explores three main themes: the importance of following one’s dreams; the enduring nature of family and friendship; and the idea that home is a reflection of the lives within its four walls.

In 1944 Poland, Jacob Stein and Zalman Mendelson meet as boys under terrifying circumstances. They survive by miraculously escaping the brutalities of the Holocaust, but their shared past haunts and shapes their lives forever.

Years later, Zalman plows a future on a Minnesota farm, and Jacob has a new life in Brooklyn with his wife, Esther. When Zalman travels to New York City to reconnect, Jacob’s dream to build a home in Brooklyn becomes a reality. With Zalman’s help, they build a house for Jacob’s family and for Zalman, who decides to stay. Modest and light filled, inviting and warm, it’s a castle to call home for each of them.

Then an unforeseeable tragedy―and the grief, betrayals, and revelations in its wake―threatens to destroy what was once an unbreakable bond, and Esther finds herself at a crossroads.

Life goes on as others, with their own dreams, move into the home. Eventually, the novel comes full circle as those who remain come to understand the true nature of friendship and family.

When asked about the inspiration for her novel, Wachtel explains, “I am defined by my parents’ legacy. Growing up the child of Holocaust survivors, never knowing my grandparents and with only a handful of extended family members, I came to understand the importance of family and am driven to express this idea in my writing. From a young age, I learned of the horrific experiences my parents endured and their desire to build a better life for their children. Their story is the story of so many others seeking to build a new home in America. I wanted to express this idea in A CASTLE IN BROOKLYN.”

We have a great line up of fantastic bloggers who will share features, post reviews and offer giveaways throughout the month of January. We hope you will follow along to learn more about this wonderful new historical fiction!

Monday, January 2^nd – We Love Big Books And We Cannot Lie

Tuesday, January 3^rd – Cassie’s Books Reviews

Wednesday, January 4^th – The Caffeinated Reader

Thursday, January 5^th – Sue the Bookie

Friday, January 6^th – Booklover Laura

Sunday, January 8^th – Books N’ Yoga Pants

Monday, January 9^th – Bookoholic Café

Tuesday, January 10^th – Books Writing and More

Wednesday, January 11^th – Lit by Lilli

Thursday, January 12^th – Danish Mustard Reads

Friday, January 13^th – Andrea C. Lowry Reads

Sunday, January 15^th – Bookphile Belle

Monday, January 16^th – Books and Coffee MX

Tuesday, January 17^th – Suzy Approved Book Reviews

Tuesday, January 17^th – Gloriana Wong

Wednesday, January 18^th – Sarah and Her Bookshelves

Thursday, January 19^th – Tina May Reads

Friday, January 20^th – The Book Club Mom

Saturday, January 21^st – Subakka Book Stuff

Sunday, January 22^nd – Girl Who Reads

Monday, January 23^rd – Momfluenster

Tuesday, January 24^th – Storeybook Reviews

Wednesday, January 25^th – Bookalong

Thursday, January 26^th – Sarah’s Bookstack

Friday, January 27^th – We Break For Books

Monday, January 30^th – Kim Reads and Reads

Monday, January 30^th – Books on my Mind

Tuesday, January 31^st – The Book Review Crew

Tuesday, January 31^st – Lexijava

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December 2022 Virtual Book Tour for AN IMPOSSIBLE RETURN by Caroline Laurent, translated by Jeffrey Zuckerman

WINNER OF THE PRIX MAISON DE LA PRESSE, THE PRIX LOUISE-GUILLOUX, AND THE PRIX DU SALON DU LIVRE DU MANS

“Franco-Mauritian writer Laurent, in her potent English-language debut, overlays a tragic love story onto a powerful account of historical injustice in the Chagos Archipelago….The many moments of gruesome colonial brutality are undercut by the Chagossians’ tenderness, courage, and simmering rage in response to incalculable loss. Gabriel and Marie’s saga, which involves a hunger strike, murder, and other dramatic episodes, is interspersed with a piercing 2019 narrative from an adult Joséphin: ‘Believe me. Our fate affects you all,’ he notes. Thanks to Laurent’s devastating work, readers will, indeed, have their eyes and hearts opened.” —Publishers Weekly, STARRED review

AN EPIC LOVE STORY SET AGAINST A BACKDROP OF INJUSTICE, DEVASTATING SECRETS, AND THE PAINFUL PRICE OF INDEPENDENCE.

“It’s a story my mother told me. Not a fairy tale or a fable, no, but a true story that she scratched at every so often like a nasty wound. An island tragedy,” says award-winning novelist, Caroline Laurent. “My mother described her childhood in Mauritius, long before—before Europe, before exile, before me—and then a word escaped her lips, Chagos, with its two easy syllables, sha and go, that could have been tossed just as easily as jacks. Her face darkened. Her gaze was lost momentarily, or rather turned inward, digging deep within herself. The archipelago was tormented. Its poor people had been sold off! Sitting in the kitchen, I could make out the tragedy even though I didn’t understand any of it.”

Inspired by a shocking travesty of justice, the repercussions of which still reverberate more than fifty years later, bestselling Franco-Mauritian author Caroline Laurent has written an exquisitely beautiful and tragic novel based on the authentic story of the inhabitants of the Chagos Archipelago. In AN IMPOSSIBLE RETURN (Amazon Crossing; December 1, 2022), expertly translated by Jeffrey Zuckerman, Caroline Laurent paints a shimmering portrait of island life, a sensual paradise lost, and a gorgeous star-crossed love story against all odds.

It’s 1967 in the Chagos Archipelago—a group of atolls in the Indian Ocean—and life is peaceful and simple for hardworking Marie. Her fierce independence and love for her home are quickly apparent to Gabriel, the handsome and sophisticated Mauritian secretary to the archipelago’s administrator; it’s love at first sight. As these two lovers from neighboring islands welcome a new son, Joséphin, a bright future seems possible. But Gabriel is hiding a terrible secret. The Mauritian government is negotiating independence from Britain, and this deal with the devil will mean evacuating the Chagos, without warning or mercy—a betrayal that will put their love to the test.

A novel of exile, heartbreak and hope, AN IMPOSSIBLE RETURN serves as a beautiful tribute to the Chagossian people.

We have lined up a wonderful schedule of highly acclaimed bloggers who will share features, post reviews and offer giveaways throughout the month December. Follow along to learn more about this award-winning novel in translation!

Thursday, December 1 – BLUNT SCISSORS BOOK REVIEWS

Thursday, December 1 – NURSE BOOKIE

Friday, December 2 – SUE THE BOOKIE

Friday, December 2 – BRITT READS A LATTE BOOKS

Saturday, December 3 – MOMMA LEIGHELLEN’S BOOK NOOK

Sunday, December 4 – BOOKS, LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING

Monday, December 5 – AIMEE DARS READS

Monday, December 5 – WHAT IS THAT BOOK ABOUT

Tuesday, December 6 – BLACK, BIRACIAL, AND BOOKISH

Tuesday, December 6 – LILACS AND LITERATURE

Wednesday, December 7 – TINA MAY READS

Thursday, December 8 – WE LOVE BIG BOOKS AND WE CANNOT LIE