Ben ehrenreich is the author of one book of journalism, the way to the spring. Smart and postmodern in a puckish, calvinolike sense. Based loosely on the odyssey, this novel focuses less on the. The suitors has 2 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. As i write, im deep into the way to the spring, a new book about life in the west bank by the american novelist and journalist ben ehrenreich. Ben ehrenreich is the author of fiction and nonfiction books. The suitors of the title are the parade of prospective lovers who line up on the doorstep of heroine penny i. Ben ehrenreich is the author of the suitors and of ether, which will be published this fall by city lights books. They have remixed andor been remixed by david bowie, liars, baths. This audacious reimagining of the odyssey finds penny home alone while. Ehrenreich writes with an ease and pure linebyline skill thats rare. Ehrenreichs prodigious, joycean prose establishes him as a writer to watch. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Ben ehrenreichs most recent book, the way to the spring, is based on his reporting from the west bank.
New york times ben ehrenreich is a journalist whose writing has appeared in l. Ben ehrenreich is the author of two novels, ether and the suitors. The book begins with bassem tamimi, whom ehrenreich met in 2011. He is currently a visiting professor at the university of california, riverside.
The suitors by ben ehrenreich, 9780156031837, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. In 2011 city lights publishers brought out his novel ether. Help us create the kind of literary community youve always dreamed of. In 2016, he released another book, the way to the spring. His fiction has been published in mcsweeneys, bomb, and black clock, among other publications.
His next book, the way to the spring, which is based on his reporting from the west bank, will be published in june by penguin press. Ehrenreich displays a sly, acerbic humor and hes wickedly ontarget as he mocks nationalism, war, and the human condition. His novel, the suitors, was published by counterpoint in 2006 and received widespread critical attention. Ben ehrenreichs most recent book, the way to the spring. Life and death in palestine, is out now from penguin press. The suitors book by ben ehrenreich 2 available editions. Thats what makes this book so good its full of unique gems of insight that sparkle throughout.
Ehrenreich has a predilection for verbal pyrotechnics, irony and descriptions of grotesqueness and debauchery, including drugs, gore, blackheads, boils, greasy sheets, and palace meals of lambs. In the 1960s algeria became a beacon to the world, and exiled artists, intellectuals and guerrilla fighters flocked there. Teeming with heartbreak, irony, and intimate moments of joy, this first nonfiction book from journalist and novelist ehrenreich ether germinated from his 20 new york times magazine. Ben ehrenreich has created a beautifully structured and inventive novel. Odysseus instructs telemachus to gather the weapons and hide them where they will not be readily available to the suitors the next day. A road map for the end of time, will be published in july.
The story is another rewrite of those famous epics there are so many, but then again its a fertile place to start set, as pw puts it, in a nevernever land equal parts contemporary america and classical antiquity. Ben ehrenreich is the author of the suitors and ether. He is also the author of two novels, ether and the suitors. Haiti since duvalier, martyrs crossing, and i feel earthquakes more often than they happen. Samuel bing is songwriter and coproducer for fol chen asthmatic kitty, whose two albums of danceable artpop have garnered praise from the likes of the new york times nme andpitchfork. Focusing less on the odysseus character herein named payne than on the penelope character now penny, it follows the eyebrowraising exploits of pennys muchmaligned, illfated suitors. His next book, the way to the spring, which is based on his reporting from the west bank, will be. As the novels odysseus figure, payne has built a protective palace around his wife, then promptly assembled an army to fight overseas. Life and death in palestine, describing life in the palestinian village of nabi salih and the. Ben ehrenreich, national magazine awardwinning journalist and author of the novel the suitors, has lived in and traveled around the west bank, observing and reporting on the daily life of. Very loosely based on the odyssey, the suitors is a wildly inventive, skillfully crafted little novel.
The suitors, a debut novel by ben ehrenreich, draws from homers odyssey and james joyces ulysses. Weekly, new york times, village voice, topic, and believer sidelights. Ben ehrenreich is an awardwinning journalist and fiction writer. The suitors novel, counterpoint press new york, ny, 2006 contributor to periodicals, including l. Ehrenreich is bestknown as a widely published journalist. Based loosely on the odyssey, this novel focuses less on the odysseus. Labels can really kill a person ben ehrenreich jul 1. The odyssey and the suitors are like bookends for western civilization. The language of the suitors is richly layered, full of nuance and subtle gesture.
Ether by ben ehrenreich overdrive rakuten overdrive. Life and death in palestine is a heartbreaking account of the brutal and often surreal realities of life under the israeli occupation. His first novel, the suitors, was published by counterpoint in 2006. His first novel, the suitors, was published by counterpoint press in 2006. Explicitly comparing itself to the odyssey, ehrenreichs first novel owes less to homers epic than to joyces. There is something inexhaustible in homers odyssey that makes us want to go back to it, to the archetype of a heros going forth and arduous return, of bravery. Ben ehrenreichs novel the suitors is the authors reimagining of homers odyssey. This book is great, actually funny, filled with longing and sadness. Life and death in palestine, based on his reporting from the west bank, was one of the guardians best books of 2016. Bassem is a resident of the village of nabi saleh in the west bank, which had. Interview with ben ehrenreich, author of ether and the suitors. Its a sly satire of our world, but infused with hope for life in the wreckage.
Ben ehrenreich is the author of the novels ether and the suitors. While payne gallivants around, waging war and otherwise taking his time on the voyage home, penny. I havent been maintaining this website with any regularity for a while now, but feel free to look around. Melantho, the disrespectful servant girl who sleeps with eurymachus, confronts the beggarodysseus once more. Ben ehrenreich weekly contributor whose first novel, the suitors, will be published in april by counterpoint only one book this year had me laughing for a good half hour at the image of naked. Ben ehrenreichs sentences direct, impassioned and informed by many months of ontheground reporting in the palestinian territories can be devastating. Summary and analysis book 19 penelope and her guest.
Black mountain institute announces 20172018 fellows. Ben ehrenreich a fresh, frenzied, fantastical reimagining of the odysseyand the debut of a major new literary talent. Ben ehrenreich is the author of two novels, ether and the suitors and one nonfiction book, the way to the spring. After reading it, you dont know whether to despair at the callousness and selfrighteousness of human beings, or to wonder at their resilience and creativity. Ben ehrenreichs extraordinary new book, the way to the spring, chronicles. The suitors harcourt the suitors is smart and funny, taking swipes at the bush administration, the iraq war, and the notion of heroism, in this or any other age. Ehrenreich adeptly mixes humor and sorrow, joy and gloom with a deft touch. Ben ehrenreich writes about climate change for the nation.
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