When I set out to learn about my mother's bridge club, the Jewish octogenarians behind the matching outfits and accessories, I never expected to fall in love with them. This is the story of the ladies, their game, their gen, and the ragged path that led me back to my mother.Dear All: I want to celebrate a new collection of stories, A New Race of Men From Heaven, by my wonderful client, Chaitali Sen. I gave a talk at Hunter College many years ago and invited the students to send me their work. Many, many years later, I received an extremely polite note from one of the attendees. Was my invitation still good? I’ve worked with Chaiti since then. I RARELY work with fiction, but every now and then you’re thoroughly seduced. Congrats, Chaiti, lurker and friend.
“The stories in A New Race of Men from Heaven move elegantly between the ache of loneliness and the grace of connection, however fleeting.”
—Danielle Evans, author of The Office of Historical Corrections
““A New Race of Men from Heaven is a beautiful and moving story collection that shows us not only what it means to be an immigrant, regardless of where that journey may have started or happens to end, but also holds up a mirror to all the pain and joy that comes with being alive and engaged in the world today. Chaitali Sen knows her characters so intimately, knows what they yearn for, knows what keeps them up at night, knows what they are hiding from those closest to them and even from themselves, knows where they’re most vulnerable, knows where they need healing. She will break your heart in so many ways.”
—Oscar Cásares, author of Where We Come From
“These are wonderful stories—Chaitali Sen’s characters are such dear human beings: mysterious and lovable, irritable and alive. Each story is beautiful but together they are even better, about the anxieties and amnesias of our time, how strange and essential we are to each other. Above all they are truly surprising, in the way of life itself.”
—Elizabeth McCracken, author of The Souvenir Museum
“Chaitali Sen knows how to achieve that miraculous density that only comes from real mastery of the short story form. These stories are singularities: whole lives and selves and minds have been made, breathtakingly, to fit inside them. I felt these characters’ love and yearning in my bones. This is a brilliant collection.”
—Clare Beams, author of The Illness Lesson
“Almost every story here is a study in restraint, Sen’s considerable talent evident in her ability to wring meaning from the smallest details. Quiet, emotionally gripping stories.”
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Filed under: Uncategorized |
Betsy Lerner 
Such reviews! I’m in.
I love this! And whoa, when you get a starred review from Kirkus? GOLD. I’m in too! Congratulations all around!
A thousand times yes. Just ordered a copy.
This raises the question, Betsy, of whether you think that Kirkus Reviews is still respected, years after they started selling reviews in their “suite of author services.” If I recall correctly, it was many years ago a respected review site aimed primarily at acquisitions librarians. I might be wrong. I believe that some authors have complained that they paid, I think, $499 for a review, and the reviewer praised the book without apparently having read it. I read some complaint on line that reviewers are paid only about $50 per review. I don’t believe every anonymous remark I read online, so I am curious about your thinking. Thank you.
I’m in. Looking forward to a brilliant read!
I’m in! Looking forward to a brilliant read!
Congratulations, Betsy. I am intrigued. I do believe I shall secure a copy.
Ordered. Umbrella and reading glasses at the ready.