Oct 19, 2011 vaclav and lena tells of two russian immigrants who meet as small children in brighton beach, new york. Her characters, quirky and vivid, are presented with the right mix of vulnerability and spunkiness, which quickly endears them to the reader. From the moment they meet, vaclav and lena make magic together. Exceptional characters, exceptional descriptions, exceptional writing and a truly intriguing story line. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. His other half is lena, a shy waif of a girl whose struggle to learn english and lack of family has left her marooned in a strange land. She loved vaclav until it became the truth and so it was. Tanner tells nprs scott simon that the main characters came to her like.
They meet as children in an esl class in brighton beach, brooklyn. Vaclav and lena is a wonderful achievement, generous, playful, moving, and refreshing. On the eve of lenas seventeenth birthday he finds out. Lena, struggling with english, takes comfort in the safety of his. Haley tanner has the originality and verve of a born storyteller, and the boldness to imagine a world in which love can overcome the most difficult circumstances. The titular characters are growing up in brooklyns russian immigrant community. They first meet as children in an englishasasecond language class in brighton beach, brooklyn. A novel by haley tanner 20120207 paperback 1656 by haley tanner author.
Vaclav imagines their story unfolding like a fairy tale, or the perfect illusion from his treasured magicians almanac, but among the many truths to be discovered in haley tanner s wondrous. If you have ever loved the girl or boy next door or down the street, you will. While vaclav s burgeoning love of performing magic is indulged by hardworking parents pursuing the american dream, troubled orphan lena. Lena, struggling with english, takes comfort in the safety of his adoration, his noisy.
They meet as children in an esl class in brighton beach. The national book foundation named tanner as a 5 under 35 author in 2012. Through all the twists and turns of the book, the most enduring theme of the novel is love. Vaclav and lena by haley tanner penguin books australia. Join the random house readers circle for author chats and more. Vaclav moved with his parents, oleg and rasia, as a small child. Vaclav and lena by haley tanner is sure to be in line for an award of some kind, it is that good. Haley tanner, vaclav and lena lenas real mom, emily, knew that this was not the truth, but she also knew that vaclav was not lying. I say this not for a lack of something more insightful, but because haley tanner s debut novel is simply so lovable. The publishing rights for her debut novel have been sold in thirteen countries, and film rights were optioned by the mazurkaplan company. If vaclav and lena doesnt bowl you over with depth and complexity, it will win you over with the purity of its intent, its evocation of what for many readers is a foreign milieu, and its fervent belief in the possibility of happy endings.
Vaclav and lena by haley tanner 2012, paperback for sale. Named by the national book foundation as a 5 under 35 authorvaclav and lena seem destined for each other. And the book also passes the test that a mutual friend of ours, now deceased, would apply, that he cared about the characters. Vaclav, who dreams of becoming a famous magician, is precocious and verbal. Tanner was born and raised in westchester county, new york.
Give this novel a few short pages, and i guarantee youll want to read it to the end. Vaclav and lena are two immigrant russian children living in brighton beach, in brooklyn. It was the voice that first captivated me here, a voice that allows haley tanner to say anything at all, and to say it truly. Vaclav and lena by haley tanner book cover, description, publication history. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Buy this book tanners romantic and moving debut tells the story of two children, both born of russian immigrants in brooklyn. Buy vaclav and lena by tanner, haley from amazons fiction books store. They meet in an esl class in school and they immediately became best friends.
Lena, struggling with english, takes comfort in the safety of his adoration, his noisy, loving home, and the care of rasia, his. Haley tanner s debut novel is a wistful, honest story of friendship and first love as they blossom in the lives of two russian immigrant children trying to make their way in the confusing new world of modernday brooklyn. Lena, struggling with english, takes comfort in the safety of his adoration, his noisy, loving home, and the care of rasia, his bighearted. Vaclav and lena tells of two russian immigrants who meet as small children in brighton beach, new york. Npr haley tanners assured narrative voice finds new ways to describe emotion and character, stunning the reader again and again with small shocks of awareness. Lena knew that it was a lie, but she loved it and believed it, like a fairy tale, like a song, like a bedtime story, like a magic trick. Npr haley tanner s assured narrative voice finds new ways to describe emotion and character, stunning the reader again and again with small shocks of awareness. Vaclav and lena are both russian immigrants in america. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Buy this book tanner s romantic and moving debut tells the story of two children, both born of. On the eve of lena s seventeenth birthday he finds out. Vaclav is precocious and verbal, while lena, struggling with english, takes comfort in the safety of his adoration, his noisy, loving home, and the care of rasia, his bighearted mother. In lena, tanner captures so well the captivity of english as a second language.
For the next seven years, vaclav says goodnight to lena without fail, wondering if she is doing the same somewhere. The national book foundation named tanner as a 5 under 35 author in 2012 personal life. One day being a famous magician, and lena being lovely assistant, are eventualities. Lena, struggling with english, takes comfort in the safety of his adoration, his noisy, loving home, and the care of rasia, his bighearted mother. Named by the national book foundation as a 5 under 35 author vaclav and lena seem destined for each other. May 17, 2011 from the moment they meet, vaclav and lena make magic together.
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