In the seven stories and one novella collected in Unkempt, Courtney Eldridge gives life to characters of astounding originality. Probing the darker corners of the human psyche, she shows--with a sly and unexpected sense of humor--the neurotic mind at work, the skewed perspective of an alcoholic parent, the nature of sexual conquest, and the hazards of working in retail. Fresh, funny, and candid, Eldridge's writing delivers a new and marvellous vision of life.
Unkempt Paradise, authored by Assam Digital, envisions an ideal world through a compelling narrative that blends hope with realism. This thought-provoking book explores the concept of a utopia where societal and environmental challenges are addressed with creativity and compassion. It delves into how such a world might function, highlighting innovative solutions for global issues and fostering a sense of harmony and balance. Through vivid storytelling and insightful analysis, Unkempt Paradise invites readers to imagine and work towards a world where beauty and order coexist amid the inherent imperfections of human existence.
A new translation of the only novel by lauded Romanian literary critic Matei Călinescu An NYRB Classics Original Ugly, unkempt, a haunter of low dives who begs for a living and lives on the street, Zacharias Lichter exists for all that in a state of unlikely rapture. After being engulfed by a divine flame as a teenager, Zacharias has devoted his days to doing nothing at all—apart, that is, from composing the odd poem he immediately throws away and consorting with a handful of stray friends: Poldy, for example, the catatonic alcoholic whom Zacharias considers a brilliant philosopher, or another more vigorous barfly whose prolific output of pornographic verses has won him the nickname of the Poet. Zacharias is a kind of holy fool, but one whose foolery calls in question both social convention and conventional wisdom. He is as much skeptic as ecstatic, affirming above all the truth of perplexity. This of course is what makes him a permanent outrage to the powers that be, be they reactionary or revolutionary, and to all other self-appointed champions of morality who are blind to their own absurdity. The only thing that scares Zacharias is that all-purpose servant of conformity, the psychiatrist. This Romanian classic, originally published under the brutally dictatorial Ceauşescu regime, whose censors initially let it pass because they couldn’t make head or tail of it, is as delicious and telling an assault on the modern world order as ever.
'A gorgeous literary novel that asks us to imagine all the possible versions of ourselves that we can imagine' J COURTNEY SULLIVAN 'A suburban srama build to leap form page to screen' Kirkus Reviews 'Fascinating and moving' EOWYN IVEY ----------------------- In a sleepy Oregon town at the base of a dormant volcano, four neighbours find their lives upended when they see visions of themselves in an alternate reality, and have to question the choices they’ve made as natural disaster looms. For fans of Celeste Ng's LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE and TV serial SIX FEET UNDER. In the shadow of a dormant volcano in Oregon lies a small town much like any other – though mistier perhaps, and greener. Look closely and you’ll see four neighbours plagued by strange visions. Ginny, a devoted surgeon, is troubled by thoughts of a beautiful colleague in her bed. Mark, a wildlife scientist, foresees imminent and devastating natural disaster. Cass, a brilliant scholar struggling with the demands of a small baby, envisages herself pregnant once more – just as she is returning to her game-changing research. And then there’s Samara, a young estate agent, who glimpses images of her dead mother alive again, healthy and vibrant. As the volcano begins to rumble, it becomes clear that these visions mean more than at first it seemed, and that the fate of this close-knit community hangs in the balance.
