The Last Hiccup: A Novel - Softcover

Meades, Christopher

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1550229737 ISBN 13: 9781550229738

Publisher: ECW Press, 2012

Synopsis

A darkly funny, tragic, and ultimately heroic novel set in 1930s Russia, The Last Hiccup is the story of Vladimir, an eight-year-old boy stricken with a case of the hiccups that lasts over a decade. Put through a series of extraordinary, often bizarre treatments by a famous physician, Sergei Namestikov, Vlad is spirited away from his rural home and doting mother to a hospital in Moscow. But Sergei’s chief medical rival, the brilliant Alexander Afiniganov, believes that beneath Vladimir’s mirror-less eyes lurks a pure, unbridled evil, and Vlad is removed from polite society. Isolated from everyone and everything save his hiccups Vladimir grows up to find inner peace among the hiccupping. On his way back into the world he once knew, through a country now in the midst of war, he encounters many strange people and situations, and worries about what would happen to him should a cure for his now-comforting affliction be found.

About this title

Review:

"Each sentence is a tiny masterpiece." --Robin Shapiro, author, "Dead Politician Society "and "Death Plays Poker"

"A beautifully written novel, part folk tale, part parable, caught between inhalation and exhalation, like a hiccup in the throat." --Will Ferguson, author, "Happiness"

""The Last Hiccup" is a loopy epic of Vonnegutian proportions, by turns pleasingly daffy, menacingly weird, and unpredictably poignant. Meades gives me much hope for the future of surreal CanHumLit (Canadian humour literature)." --Corey Redekop, author, "Shelf Monkey"

"Meades reveals himself [as] a gifted writer, deft with descriptions splashing surrealistic images. . . . An allegorical tale ripe with symbolism." --"Kirkus Reviews "(April 2012)

"The clean plotline and wacky, dark humor carry readers through every stage of his unusual story. . . . A strange and surprisingly touching novel about how people find good and evil where they look for them." --"Booklist "(April 2012)

"This novel will amuse and touch lovers of original literature, both light and serious." --"Library Journal" (April 2012)

About the Author:

Christopher Meades is the author of "The Three Fates of Henrik Nordmark" and the short story "The Walking Lady," which was awarded the Toyon Fiction Prize. He lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.

About this edition

• Publisher: ECW Press
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1550229737
• ISBN 13: 9781550229738
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 240