Away: A Novel | 
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| Editorial Review / Publisher's Information:
Product Description
Panoramic in scope, Away is the epic and intimate story of young Lillian Leyb, a dangerous innocent, an accidental heroine. When her family is destroyed in a Russian pogrom, Lillian comes to America alone, determined to make her way in a new land. When word comes that her daughter, Sophie, might still be alive, Lillian embarks on an odyssey that takes her from the world of the Yiddish theater on New York’s Lower East Side, to Seattle’s Jazz District, and up to Alaska, along the fabled Telegraph Trail toward Siberia. All of the qualities readers love in Amy Bloom’s work–her humor and wit, her elegant and irreverent language, her unflinching understanding of passion and the human heart–come together in the embrace of this brilliant novel, which is at once heartbreaking, romantic, and completely unforgettable.
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Customer Reviews:
• Elusive Central Character - Spoilers 08 August, 2008
This was a frustrating read. I wanted to like the book, because I found the idea of Lillian's journey for love compelling. Unfortunately, Lillian herself, is not. She is presented as a strong woman, but she isn't a strong character. It may be that Bloom intends to reveal who she is by her actions (or in this case, primarily, reactions), but Lillian simply does whatever it takes to find her lost daughter - just like any mother would in that situation. There's nothing that tells us who SHE is (Does she have a sense of humor? Is she beautiful? Is she feisty?) It's easy to imagine women of vastly different stripes making the same choices Lillian does. The characters around her are so much more specific and clearly drawn that they pop, while Lillian recedes, Zelig-like, into whatever they need her to be. The ubiquitous sex as currency gets old quickly. Is it possible that every single person in the good old USA wants sex off a stranger covered in muck? Or does Lillian just have bad luck? It would make more sense if we had some idea of her physical charms. As it is, we don't even have a clear idea of what she looks like, and she's too taciturn and chimerical to be credible as an object of universal desire. Even her very brief romance with John Bishop is more or less unexplained. He wanted sex too. So what's different about him? Is it just that he cleaned her lice and cooked a rabbit? What makes her love for him enough to end the search for Sophie? Although we never stop rooting for Lillian - because we're rooting for all mothers everywhere who have lost children - it's hard to like Lillian, or even know whether we're supposed to or not. I gave it three stars because I appreciated Bloom carrying us forward in the lives of the supporting characters (who I was more interested in) and because I felt she brought to life the era and the places, particularly the gold trail in Alaska, where I have been.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A1OW74OPTGSS9R
• I Was Taken Away 22 August, 2008
I bought the book at an airport shop. I wanted something short and easy.
Instead I found a lovely and often moving melange of characters that surrounded our main heroine.
It took me a little while to adjust to Amy Bloom's writing style. I found everything sort of flowed into the next. However, once I too let myself go I was carried along in the thought process. Its a book that resonates feelings more than images. It is a hard road she chooses, and some might question her logic as she leaves the safety of money and class. But instead she finds a deeper and truer self.
It was a short book but it was filled with much more than easy lessons.
- Reviewed by customer ID: AZ35ZHLA1HMKD
• Fascinating And Different . . . 05 September, 2008
. . . with its historic accuracy and continent-spanning settings, "Away" touches deep, universal emotions in a fresh and unique way. Well worth reading!
- Reviewed by customer ID: A1X2KO0PSGCG8P
• Great Characters 12 August, 2008
I have a habit of buying books much quicker than I get around to reading them. Such has been the case with past Amy Bloom books for me. I have a couple of her short story books, but I don't think I've read either of them all the way through - such is the way with me and short story collections.
However, I really enjoyed her novel Away. Although I feel it was a combination novel/short story collection because each chapter felt like a short story as we were introduced to different characters along Lillian's journey. Lillian was the only consistent character throughout the book. I thought the charcters were complete, interesting and sympathetic in their own rights. I also enjoyed Bloom's style of letting us know what happened to each character after Lillian left them.
I would definately recommend this book to friends who enjoy stories with good characters.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A3AEDAUMLCQVUC
• Hypnotic 28 August, 2008
What a fabulous, fascinating, complex and magical read. Not a happy book; not a cheerful book but a hook you in, make you want to stay up late and read all night kind of a book. One of the best books I've read in a very long time.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A2TXXEG884E4U6
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