CHRIS BOHJALIAN is the critically acclaimed author of eleven novels, including Midwives (a Publishers Weekly Best Book and an Oprah's Book Club selection), Before You Know Kindness, and his most recent New York Times bestseller, The Double Bind. His work has been translated into nineteen languages and published in twenty-two countries. He lives in Vermont with his wife and daughter.
Visit the author at www.chrisbohjalian.com.
"The perfect novel for a book club. . .this book sucked me right
in. It's vivid and heart-wrenching."
--John Searles, The Today Show "Reading Bohjalian's descriptions of
terror and tragedy on the road has just as much impact as seeing
newsreels from the end of World War II....While creating suspense,
Bohjalian agilely balances the moral ambiguities of war....Right
and wrong shift depending on the situation. Ignorance is tolerated
and murder is justified. But Bohjalian does posit that one absolute
exists: No one wins at war."
--Dennis Moore, USA Today "Harrowing. . .ingenious. . .compelling.
. .Judging who's right or wrong is difficult in Skeletons at the
Feast, and one senses that's just the way Bohjalian wants it. . .A
tightly woven, moving story for anyone who thinks there's nothing
left to learn, or feel, about the Second World War. That Bohjalian
can extract greater truths about faith, hope and compassion from
something as mundane as a diary is testament not only to his skill
as a writer but also to the enduring ability of well-written war
fiction to stir our deepest emotions."
--Paula L. Woods, The Los Angeles Times "Harrowing. . .Bohjalian
spins a suspenseful tale in which the plot triumphs over any single
sorrow. . .[His] sense of character and place, his skillful
plotting and his clear grasp of this confusing period of history
make for a deeply satisfying novel, one that asks readers to
consider, and reconsider, how they would rise to the challenge of
terrible deprivation and agonizing moral choices."
-- Margot Livesey, The Washington Post Book World
"A poignant account of the conflict's last year. . .Harrowing. .
.In creating the Emmerichs and their relationship to Uri, Bohjalian
has given us something new and disturbing. He has also created a
wonderful character in the protected child, Theo, whose gradual
understanding of what is happening to them is moving and real. .
.Bohjalian has given us an important addition to the story of World
War II, and, not at all incidentally, may expand the vision of
those who may have avoided 'Holocaust literature' in the past."
--Roberta Silman, The Boston Globe "Rich in character and gorgeous
writing."
--Jodi Picoult, Real Simple
"Bohjalian has shown a prodigious gift for exploring how people are
transformed."
--Entertainment Weekly
"Chris Bohjalian has done it again! His latest novel, Skeletons at
the Feast ... is more than well worth the read ... Along this
journey we not only see the horrors of the war unfold, we see the
individuals evolve."
--The Valley Voice "A bittersweet story of romance, war and death,
inspired in part by a real diary. . .Strongly dramatic and full of
the heartbreaking horror of war, this novel is Bohjalian at his
imaginative best."
--Carole Godlberg, The Hartford Courant "Skeletons at the Feast is
a prime example of a well-written historical fiction. Readers will
feel the despair experienced by the characters but will be able to
find the bit of hope that keeps them moving forward. Bohjalian
provides a vivid and well-researched look at the horrors
experienced by the characters and presents a more personal account
of anguish caused by the events of World War II."
--Courtney Holschuh, The Huntington, W.V. Herald-Dispatch "Intense
and fascinating. . .Bohjalian masterfully presents the desperation
of troops who realize their cause is doomed.. . .He successfully
captures the humanity of one of the 20th century's most horrendous
tragedies."
--The Rocky Mountain News "This story mixes the nail-biting
brutality of 'The Kite Runner' with the emotional intimacy of Anne
Frank's diary."
--Austin American-Statesman "An extraordinary historical novel
based on the exodus of Germans in eastern Germany escaping the
Soviet Army's advance in the waning days of World War II. . . A
sense of justice pervades all of [Bohjalian's'] books. He demands
that we act humanely toward one another and understand and respect
others' beliefs and values. . .Skeletons at the Feast is not a
screed on good vs.evil, but it does inspire thought on man's
inhumanity to man, and, conversely, how individuals overcome
adversity with acts of kindness, civility and integrity."
--The Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel "Riveting. . .an unforgettable
finale. . .Chris Bohjalian handles the context of this story
effortlessly and has created characters so engaging that any reader
will find themselves connecting with these very real people.. . .I
hail Bohjalian's new novel and its fearless account of one of the
greatest tragedies of the 20th century."
--Ray Palen, Bookreporter "This is the perfect novel for a book
club because there's so much to discuss. It's vivid and
heart-wrenching."
--John Searles, Cosmopolitan, on The Today Show, "Top 10 Summer
Reads" "Nail-biting, heart-ripping. . .The reader of Skeletons at
the Feast is quietly checkmated by Bohjalian into a radical
compassion we've heard somewhere before: Love Thy Enemy . . . I
loved this unforgettable novel."
--Tom Paine, The Burlington Free Press "A lush romance, reflecting
resilience in the face of nearly certain tragedy....a trenchant
epic that is both agonizing and enriching."
--AirTran Magazine "A fictional tale of love, violence and
redemption. . . Bohjalian deftly moves from the journey to the back
stories of each character, fleshing out their histories and making
their choices more poignant as their friendship and interdependence
develop. Who will live and who will die? The author keeps up the
suspense until the last page, with a surprise twist at the
end."
--Capital Living Magazine "Powerful . . . Skeletons at the Feast
positively resonates with authenticity. I've read several accounts
of that small part of World War II, but it took this novel to bring
home to me, most clearly and vividly, the dreadful ordeal these
people endured...[The Holocaust's] evils are more palpable when its
victims come to life-and, in so many cases, death-in the pages of a
well-crafted novel. Bohjalian allows the reader to know them and
identify with them in a way that no photographs or program on the
History Channel can match."
--A.C. Hutchinson, The Times-Argus "Chris Bohjalian has written his
finest novel to date, set against the brutal, waning days of World
War Two in Eastern Germany....Skeletons at the Feast is Bohjalian's
masterpiece. The power of the narrative will stay with the reader
long after it is put down. Inspired by an actual World War II diary
the author read, it will stand as one of the best novels ever
written about one of the most brutal periods in history."
--Marvin Minkler, The North Star Monthly "A deeply moving and
engrossing novel. . .Bohjalian has created a microcosm of that
devastating winter of 1945. . . he makes us care deeply for his
characters. His terse, dry prose renders the most appalling
atrocities in an almost stoic manner, doubling the emotional
impact."
--The St. Louis Post-Dispatch "Immensely readable...Bohjalian takes
a fresh perspective and details the brutal realities of World War
II in a novel that for once does not focus entirely on the Allies.
Recommended for fiction collections."
--Library Journal "Careful research and an unflinching eye. . .
Bohjalian's well-chosen descriptions capture the anguish of a
tragic era and the dehumanizing desolation wrought by war."
--Publisher's Weekly "Bohjalian is especially good at conveying the
surreal 'beauty, ' the misshapen lyricism, of the war-torn
landscape: 'Even the stone church had collapsed upon itself...the
once imposing pipes of the organ reshaped by heat and flame into
giant copper-colored mushrooms.' From harrowing to inspiring."
--Kirkus Reviews "Bohjalian demonstrates an intricate historical
knowledge and impressively illustrates the stark horrors of the
time. . .A compelling read with its mix of history, romance and
portrayals of strength in the midst of severe adversity: War really
is hell, the book says, but the human spirit is ultimately
salvageable."
--Rebecca Stropoli, Bookpage More Praise for Chris Bohjalian "The
Double Bind is the sort of book you want to read in one sitting,
and it packs a twist at the end that will leave you
speechless."
--Jodi Picoult "Bohjalian is a master of literary suspense. . . .
[His] are the sorts of books people stay awake all night to
finish."
--Washington Post Book World "Few writers can manipulate a plot
with Bohjalian's grace and power."
--New York Times Book Review "Bohjalian [is] America's answer to
Joanna Trollope."
--Kirkus Reviews "Bohjalian beautifully captures those dizzying
moments that follow a tragedy, when disbelief and horror give way
to an attempt to understand what has happened . . . authentic . . .
haunting. . . . In Before You Know Kindness, our eyes are opened to
the possibility of redemption, even in these careless times."
--San Francisco Chronicle "Bohjalian proves once again that he is a
master novelist."
--Boston Globe "The Double Bind is simply one of the best written,
most compelling, artfully woven novels to grace bookshelves in
years. Immediately after the spellbinding surprise ending, readers
will want to begin again at the first page. It's THAT good."
--Associated Press "Superbly crafted and astonishingly powerful . .
. Midwives will thrill readers who cherish their worn copies of To
Kill a Mockingbird."
--People "Chris Bohjalian's many fans will be glad to know he's
back on the high wire, expertly balancing topical issues with the
more timeless concerns of the human heart. Before You Know Kindness
is smart, first-rate storytelling."
--Richard Russo
"The perfect novel for a book club. . .this book sucked me right
in. It's vivid and heart-wrenching."
--John Searles, The Today Show
"Reading Bohjalian's descriptions of terror and tragedy on the
road has just as much impact as seeing newsreels from the end of
World War II....While creating suspense, Bohjalian agilely balances
the moral ambiguities of war....Right and wrong shift depending on
the situation. Ignorance is tolerated and murder is justified. But
Bohjalian does posit that one absolute exists: No one wins at
war."
--Dennis Moore, USA Today "Harrowing. . .ingenious. .
.compelling. . .Judging who's right or wrong is difficult in
Skeletons at the Feast, and one senses that's just the way
Bohjalian wants it. . .A tightly woven, moving story for anyone who
thinks there's nothing left to learn, or feel, about the Second
World War. That Bohjalian can extract greater truths about faith,
hope and compassion from something as mundane as a diary is
testament not only to his skill as a writer but also to the
enduring ability of well-written war fiction to stir our deepest
emotions."
--Paula L. Woods, The Los Angeles Times "Harrowing. . .Bohjalian
spins a suspenseful tale in which the plot triumphs over any single
sorrow. . .[His] sense of character and place, his skillful
plotting and his clear grasp of this confusing period of history
make for a deeply satisfying novel, one that asks readers to
consider, and reconsider, how they would rise to the challenge of
terrible deprivation and agonizing moral choices."
-- Margot Livesey, The Washington Post Book World
"A poignant account of the conflict's last year. . .Harrowing. .
.In creating the Emmerichs and their relationship to Uri, Bohjalian
has given us something new and disturbing. He has also created a
wonderful character in the protected child, Theo, whose gradual
understanding of what is happening to them is moving and real. .
.Bohjalian has given us an important addition to the story of World
War II, and, not at all incidentally, may expand the vision of
those who may have avoided 'Holocaust literature' in the past."
--Roberta Silman, The Boston Globe "Rich in character and gorgeous
writing."
--Jodi Picoult, Real Simple
"Bohjalian has shown a prodigious gift for exploring how people are
transformed."
--Entertainment Weekly
"Chris Bohjalian has done it again! His latest novel, Skeletons at
the Feast ... is more than well worth the read ... Along this
journey we not only see the horrors of the war unfold, we see the
individuals evolve."
--The Valley Voice "A bittersweet story of romance, war and death,
inspired in part by a real diary. . .Strongly dramatic and full of
the heartbreaking horror of war, this novel is Bohjalian at his
imaginative best."
--Carole Godlberg, The Hartford Courant "Skeletons at the Feast is
a prime example of a well-written historical fiction. Readers will
feel the despair experienced by the characters but will be able to
find the bit of hope that keeps them moving forward. Bohjalian
provides a vivid and well-researched look at the horrors
experienced by the characters and presents a more personal account
of anguish caused by the events of World War II."
--Courtney Holschuh, The Huntington, W.V. Herald-Dispatch "Intense
and fascinating. . .Bohjalian masterfully presents the desperation
of troops who realize their cause is doomed.. . .He successfully
captures the humanity of one of the 20th century's most horrendous
tragedies."
--The Rocky Mountain News "This story mixes the nail-biting
brutality of 'The Kite Runner' with the emotional intimacy of Anne
Frank's diary."
--Austin American-Statesman "An extraordinary historical novel
based on the exodus of Germans in eastern Germany escaping the
Soviet Army's advance in the waning days of World War II. . . A
sense of justice pervades all of [Bohjalian's'] books. He demands
that we act humanely toward one another and understand and respect
others' beliefs and values. . .Skeletons at the Feast is not a
screed on good vs.evil, but it does inspire thought on man's
inhumanity to man, and, conversely, how individuals overcome
adversity with acts of kindness, civility and integrity."
--The Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel "Riveting. . .an unforgettable
finale. . .Chris Bohjalian handles the context of this story
effortlessly and has created characters so engaging that any reader
will find themselves connecting with these very real people.. . .I
hail Bohjalian's new novel and its fearless account of one of the
greatest tragedies of the 20th century."
--Ray Palen, Bookreporter "This is the perfect novel for a book
club because there's so much to discuss. It's vivid and
heart-wrenching."
--John Searles, Cosmopolitan, on The Today Show, "Top 10 Summer
Reads" "Nail-biting, heart-ripping. . .The reader of Skeletons at
the Feast is quietly checkmated by Bohjalian into a radical
compassion we've heard somewhere before: Love Thy Enemy . . . I
loved this unforgettable novel."
--Tom Paine, The Burlington Free Press "A lush romance, reflecting
resilience in the face of nearly certain tragedy....a trenchant
epic that is both agonizing and enriching."
--AirTran Magazine "A fictional tale of love, violence and
redemption. . . Bohjalian deftly moves from the journey to the back
stories of each character, fleshing out their histories and making
their choices more poignant as their friendship and interdependence
develop. Who will live and who will die? The author keeps up the
suspense until the last page, with a surprise twist at the
end."
--Capital Living Magazine "Powerful . . . Skeletons at the Feast
positively resonates with authenticity. I've read several accounts
of that small part of World War II, but it took this novel to bring
home to me, most clearly and vividly, the dreadful ordeal these
people endured...[The Holocaust's] evils are more palpable when its
victims come to life-and, in so many cases, death-in the pages of a
well-crafted novel. Bohjalian allows the reader to know them and
identify with them in a way that no photographs or program on the
History Channel can match."
--A.C. Hutchinson, The Times-Argus "Chris Bohjalian has written his
finest novel to date, set against the brutal, waning days of World
War Two in Eastern Germany....Skeletons at the Feast is Bohjalian's
masterpiece. The power of the narrative will stay with the reader
long after it is put down. Inspired by an actual World War II diary
the author read, it will stand as one of the best novels ever
written about one of the most brutal periods in history."
--Marvin Minkler, The North Star Monthly "A deeply moving and
engrossing novel. . .Bohjalian has created a microcosm of that
devastating winter of 1945. . . he makes us care deeply for his
characters. His terse, dry prose renders the most appalling
atrocities in an almost stoic manner, doubling the emotional
impact."
--The St. Louis Post-Dispatch "Immensely readable...Bohjalian takes
a fresh perspective and details the brutal realities of World War
II in a novel that for once does not focus entirely on the Allies.
Recommended for fiction collections."
--Library Journal "Careful research and an unflinching eye. . .
Bohjalian's well-chosen descriptions capture the anguish of a
tragic era and the dehumanizing desolation wrought by war."
--Publisher's Weekly "Bohjalian is especially good at
conveying the surreal 'beauty, ' the misshapen lyricism, of the
war-torn landscape: 'Even the stone church had collapsed upon
itself...the once imposing pipes of the organ reshaped by heat and
flame into giant copper-colored mushrooms.' From harrowing to
inspiring."
--Kirkus Reviews "Bohjalian demonstrates an intricate historical
knowledge and impressively illustrates the stark horrors of the
time. . .A compelling read with its mix of history, romance and
portrayals of strength in the midst of severe adversity: War really
is hell, the book says, but the human spirit is ultimately
salvageable."
--Rebecca Stropoli, Bookpage More Praise for Chris Bohjalian
"The Double Bind is the sort of book you want to read in one
sitting, and it packs a twist at the end that will leave you
speechless."
--Jodi Picoult "Bohjalian is a master of literary suspense. . . .
[His] are the sorts of books people stay awake all night to
finish."
--Washington Post Book World "Few writers can manipulate a
plot with Bohjalian's grace and power."
--New York Times Book Review "Bohjalian [is] America's
answer to Joanna Trollope."
--Kirkus Reviews "Bohjalian beautifully captures those
dizzying moments that follow a tragedy, when disbelief and horror
give way to an attempt to understand what has happened . . .
authentic . . . haunting. . . . In Before You Know Kindness,
our eyes are opened to the possibility of redemption, even in these
careless times."
--San Francisco Chronicle "Bohjalian proves once again that
he is a master novelist."
--Boston Globe "The Double Bind is simply one of the
best written, most compelling, artfully woven novels to grace
bookshelves in years. Immediately after the spellbinding surprise
ending, readers will want to begin again at the first page. It's
THAT good."
--Associated Press "Superbly crafted and astonishingly
powerful . . . Midwives will thrill readers who cherish
their worn copies of To Kill a Mockingbird."
--People "Chris Bohjalian's many fans will be glad to know
he's back on the high wire, expertly balancing topical issues with
the more timeless concerns of the human heart. Before You Know
Kindness is smart, first-rate storytelling."
--Richard Russo
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