Into the Void
by Emma Stein
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GENRE: Historical
Fiction
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BLURB:
The country of Anglina is teeming with social upheaval, and its
officials have found an unlikely national hero in a philosopher and social
activist named Horace. The Anglinian government has appointed the effeminate,
irreverent, and stubborn scholar to undertake a journey around the world to
learn the secret of other countries’ success. Unfortunately for Horace, most of
the societies he visits turn out to be drastically different from what he
expected, and he repeatedly sends scathing but witty reports about his travels
and the people he encounters. At the end of his journey, Horace encounters a
series of communes whose inhabitants welcome him into their ranks and open his
eyes to more a liberal and egalitarian way of life.
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My Review:
I was once again pulled into a story that was so completely captivating I could not put it down. I really loved the epistolary style, the correspondence Horace and Addie have exchanged.
It's the story of the fantastic travel of Horace, his explorations of new countries and his wonderful discoveries. It was easy to identify with him..
It is an intriguing and interesting book, addictive and a total page turner. The author takes you deep inside the story and leaves you on the edge of your seat.
Highly recommended.
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EXCERPT:
Entry point to Brema
State of Gärnröde
Federal Union of Elberein
Dear Addie,
You will have to scratch my itinerary, or better yet burn it
and send it on the winds to these fools who keep me locked in waiting as though
I were a criminal. When I tried to enter the Federal Union of Elberein, the
cretins at the portcullis listened to the first three words out of my mouth and
decided I was fit for detention. My wishing them “Good day, gentlemen” must
have been sign enough of my cultural inferiority to justify them confining me
in this dank––not really a room, really more like one of those oubliettes you
throw your servants into when you catch them eating your leftovers after
supper. Only it smells quite a bit worse.
Whereas you, in your boundless generosity and mercy, detain
a maximum of five persons at any one time in your little oubliette––and for
four days at most––I have the impression over a dozen people have shared this
hole in the wall for weeks on end. I would stuff my nostrils to bursting with
an old handkerchief if I thought it would help, but these vapours are so potent
they would disintegrate the cloth in no time and press on to invade my
olfactory circuit. I swear I can see waves of stench radiating from the
slime-coated walls.
I have claimed my spot in a corner of this chamber. There is
no furniture to speak of, only heaps of rags, and I thought it would be best to
have corporeal support from the back and the side as I write, which is
essentially all I can do. Leaving the cell is out of the question, as is the physical
activity I have grown accustomed to and now cherish. If I were to stand up in
my corner, I would need to take a mere seven steps before smacking into a wall
in either direction. Six if I made an effort. So I will write. What else can I
do? I’m sure you’ve got some snide answer to that question, but I advise you to
omit it from your response. But of course by the time you get around to
replying, I’ll have forgotten what I even asked….
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Emma has lived abroad since 2008, and her experiences in
France, Canada, Germany, and Russia influence her work considerably. This
influence is particularly powerful in Into the Void, which parodies different
facets and institutions of these countries and explores the difficulty of
retaining one’s own identity while trying to assimilate into another culture.
Theories from Cultural Studies and Sociology form another cornerstone of Emma’s
work, and she enlivens what many people would consider dry texts with
interpretations that are full of wit and unexpected spins on the order of
things. Her penchant for pinpointing the foibles and follies of both herself
and her fellows is a fine source for her satires, be they written or
illustrated.
Emma was born near Chicago in 1986 and has lived in Germany
since 2011. She recently opened a translation company in Kiel, where she
continues to surprise the natives with the historically inspired clothing that
she designs and wears.
AUTHOR
WEBSITE(S)(list URLS):
Twitter:
@EmmaSteinBooks
Buy
links:
Into the
Void will be $0.99 during the tour.
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE
Emma
Stein will be awarding 8 postcards with illustrations from her work in
progress, "Unspeakables" to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter
during the tour.
Thank you for hosting
RispondiElimina