What if you and your tiny hidden village were about to be annihilated by a mighty enemy? What if there were no place to hide except in the world of imagination? Eleven-year-old Lena tells us how her Romanian family and neighbors, with the help of a stranger, took a do-over and started the world anew. Here they are on day one of their reinvented life, which has no war, no history, no traditions:The sun broke through the clouds and rolled up over us like it knew the whole plan. Rain continued and an arc of color spread across our sky. We voted to keep living in the houses we had already built and to keep being married to the people we were married to. There were those who protested this, who proposed we gather in the square and pair off anew, tallest to shortest. There were those who thought it would be better to put the stupid with the smart to even things out and those who thought we should try to put the smart with the smart and hope for true genius.—No One Is Here Except All of Us, by Ramona Ausbel (Riverhead Books 2012; quote is from uncorrected proofs)
"But I love my wife," my father said.
"How do you know? Today is the first day—you have never seen her before today. What if you hate her by tonight?" the banker asked.
My father regarded my mother's mossy brown eyes. "I have a feeling," he said. "A very strong feeling." He winked. (p. 28)
Quick Facts
- Setting: Romania, 1939 on the eve of World War II
- Characters: Lena and her family, a mysterious woman, the villagers
- Main themes: the power of imagination, story telling, Holocaust
- Other themes: love and hate, fear and hope, history and the future, reality and imagination
- Genres: historical fiction, coming-of-age, magical realism
background of the novel. Ramona Ausubel has granted a number of interviews, among them are one with BookBrowse and another with Interview Magazine. Prefer to listen? Check out Ausubel's podcast with Other People. To learn more about Ramona Ausubel, visit her website, follow her on Twitter, and like her Facebook page. The publisher's website offers a reading guide. For more Riverhead Books and for news about events and great books, like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.No One Is Here Except All of Us at Powell's
No One Is Here Except All of Us at Book Depository
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This one is on my wish list, even though I'm not a huge fan of magical realism. I like the fact that it is set in Romania as well.
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by my blog. I love your teaser, I haven't read this book but it sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fabulous book! I can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteI like this teaser and the premise of this book. Thanks for sharing. Now...to find time to read it.
ReplyDeleteMy Teaser is from Croak and can be found here.
this sound really good. I too love the fact that it's set in Romania. Thanks Beth.
ReplyDeleteThe premise is certainly intriguing. Good teaser, too.
ReplyDeleteOh this is a wonderful description and teaser, and sounds like something that I would love to read. So glad you posted this today, as I will be looking for it now!
ReplyDeleteI'm really looking forward to this one, it sounds like something very special.
ReplyDeleteA book to stretch my comfort zone! Yay.
ReplyDeleteSounds intriguing...
ReplyDeleteWonderful teaser! Sounds like a folk tale. Makes me want to read it, even though I usually stay away from war novels.
ReplyDeleteHere's my TT for this week: Elizabeth the Queen
Oh man, does this one call my name! And I love the interview...she is very engaging.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a fascinating concept for a story.
ReplyDeleteSounds like an interesting read.
ReplyDeleteSounds interesting....
ReplyDeleteIntriguing
ReplyDeleteAn intriguing premise!
ReplyDeleteI am so excited for this one -- I've got it at home, making eyes at me!
ReplyDelete