Items related to Kamchatka
In Buenos Aires, in the mid-Seventies, a ten-year-old boy lives in world of school lessons and Superman comics, TV shows and games of Risk - a world in which men have superpowers and boys can conquer the globe on a square of cardboard. But in the outside world, a military junta have taken power; and amid a political climate of fear and intimidation, people are beginning to disappear without trace...
When his mother unexpectedly takes the boy and his kid brother out of classes, she tells them they're going on an impromptu family 'holiday'. But he soon realizes that the rules of the game are shifting. This will be no holiday: his parents are known supporters of the opposition, and they are going into hiding...
Holed up in a ramshackle safe-house in the remote hills outside the city, they assume new identities and make believe that life continues as normal. Naming himself Harry, after his hero Houdini, the boy spends his days of enforced exile learning the secrets of escape. And in a world of seeming chaos and uncertainty, he attempts to imagine he has control over himself and his surroundings.
A deeply moving and wise novel, written with immense heart, Kamchatka is an adventure story about a young boy forced to square fantasy against reality when reality and all its trappings - family, politics, history, and time itself - are more improbable than any fiction. Ultimately, it is a novel about the imaginative spaces we retreat to when we need to make sense of an unimaginable world.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Review:
--Short-listed for the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize
--An "O Magazine" Summer Reading Pick
"Funny, wistful, and wise . . . ["Kamchatka"] suggests that our stories do not end, that heroism lies in one's ability to change, and that we all need a place where we can retreat to before we can learn to face the world again." --Tiffany Sun, "O Magazine"
"[A] generous, affecting novel."--"The New Yorker"
"Subtle . . . Brilliantly observed, heartrending."--"Financial Times"
"[Figueras] vividly evokes a child's reaction to a world beleaguered by violence. . . . [A] hopeful message about the healing powers of imagination and love."--"The New York Times"
"Haunting . . . Warmhearted . . . [Kamchatka] unfolds with disarming simplicity. . . . Bursting with good humor, with a bittersweet, melancholy shadow, Figueras's superb novel amply illustrates that 'laughing and crying at the same time is something life teaches you without you even noticing.'"--Shelf Awareness
"Interesting and insightful . . . Engrossing, often funny, and very, very unsettling."--"The Brooklyn Rail"
""Kamchatka" is not a nostalgic book. Its narration is unconstrained and light, entwining and sympathetic. . . . Read it, and buy yourself a board game of Risk."--Bookslut
"Stark and immediate, more moving because it is presented without sentimentality . . . [Written] with wry comedy . . . the tenderness breaks your heart."--"Booklist "
"A masterpiece . . . Written in beautiful prose."--"De Telegraaf" (Netherlands)
"Interesting and insightful . . . Engrossing, often funny, and very, very unsettling."--"The Brooklyn Rail "
"Figueras writes with power and insight about the ways in which a child uses imagination to make sense of terrifying and baffling reality."--"The Times "(UK)
"Tender, severe, moving, elegiac."--"El Pais" (Spain)
"Brilliant."--"The Independent"
"Like Carlos Eire's wonderfully buoyant memoir of pr
Short-listed for the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize
An "O Magazine" Summer Reading Pick
"Funny, wistful, and wise . . . ["Kamchatka"] suggests that our stories do not end, that heroism lies in one's ability to change, and that we all need a place where we can retreat to before we can learn to face the world again." Tiffany Sun, "O Magazine"
[A] generous, affecting novel. "The New Yorker"
Subtle . . . Brilliantly observed, heartrending. "Financial Times"
[Figueras] vividly evokes a child's reaction to a world beleaguered by violence. . . . [A] hopeful message about the healing powers of imagination and love. "The New York Times"
Haunting . . . Warmhearted . . . [Kamchatka] unfolds with disarming simplicity. . . . Bursting with good humor, with a bittersweet, melancholy shadow, Figueras's superb novel amply illustrates that laughing and crying at the same time is something life teaches you without you even noticing. Shelf Awareness
Interesting and insightful . . . Engrossing, often funny, and very, very unsettling. "The Brooklyn Rail"
"Kamchatka" is not a nostalgic book. Its narration is unconstrained and light, entwining and sympathetic. . . . Read it, and buy yourself a board game of Risk. Bookslut
Stark and immediate, more moving because it is presented without sentimentality . . . [Written] with wry comedy . . . the tenderness breaks your heart. "Booklist "
A masterpiece . . . Written in beautiful prose. "De Telegraaf" (Netherlands)
Interesting and insightful . . . Engrossing, often funny, and very, very unsettling. "The Brooklyn Rail "
Figueras writes with power and insight about the ways in which a child uses imagination to make sense of terrifying and baffling reality. "The Times "(UK)
Tender, severe, moving, elegiac. "El Pais" (Spain)
Brilliant. "The Independent"
Like Carlos Eire s wonderfully buoyant memoir of pre-revolutionary Cuba, "Waiting for Snow in Havana," Figueras chooses to capture the drumbeat of history in the small, offbeat details of a boy s life. . . . Tinged with a doomed innocence that comes shining through Figueras s irrepressible telling . . . "Kamchatka" is a colorful, unforgettable vision of a boy sand nation sattempt to make sense of a descent into darkness and chaos. It is also a moving attempt to recapture the memory of the disappeared a trick of fate that allows loved ones to re-appear by writing about them. Words Without Borders Magazine
"Kamchatka" is a superb novel that refracts public, political events through the sensibilities of everyday life. . . . Balances adult understanding and a child s interests and anxieties. The language mediates between the two. Think not Melville, but the Mark Twain of Huckleberry Finn, yet starring a Huckleberry Finn who has read Melville. . . . Kamchatka came to me by chance. Don t trust to such luck. Seek it out. J. Kates. The Arts Fuse (blog)
This powerful novel brings to life the atmosphere of desperation following Argentina s military coup of 1976. . . . A richly drawn, moving and memorable novel, a fine tribute to los desaparecidos, Argentina s disappeared "Irish Examiner"
Figueras s view of military dictatorship strikes a note that lingers for weeks. "Frankfurter Rundschau" (Germany)
"
--Short-listed for the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize
--An O Magazine Summer Reading Pick "Funny, wistful, and wise . . . [Kamchatka] suggests that our stories do not end, that heroism lies in one's ability to change, and that we all need a place where we can retreat to before we can learn to face the world again." --Tiffany Sun, O Magazine "[A] generous, affecting novel."--The New Yorker "Subtle . . . Brilliantly observed, heartrending."--Financial Times "[Figueras] vividly evokes a child's reaction to a world beleaguered by violence. . . . [A] hopeful message about the healing powers of imagination and love."--The New York Times "Haunting . . . Warmhearted . . . [Kamchatka] unfolds with disarming simplicity. . . . Bursting with good humor, with a bittersweet, melancholy shadow, Figueras's superb novel amply illustrates that 'laughing and crying at the same time is something life teaches you without you even noticing.'"--Shelf Awareness "Interesting and insightful . . . Engrossing, often funny, and very, very unsettling."--The Brooklyn Rail "Kamchatka is not a nostalgic book. Its narration is unconstrained and light, entwining and sympathetic. . . . Read it, and buy yourself a board game of Risk."--Bookslut "Stark and immediate, more moving because it is presented without sentimentality . . . [Written] with wry comedy . . . the tenderness breaks your heart."--Booklist "A masterpiece . . . Written in beautiful prose."--De Telegraaf (Netherlands) "Interesting and insightful . . . Engrossing, often funny, and very, very unsettling."--The Brooklyn Rail "Figueras writes with power and insight about the ways in which a child uses imagination to make sense of terrifying and baffling reality."--The Times (UK) "Tender, severe, moving, elegiac."--El País (Spain) "Brilliant."--The Independent "Like Carlos Eire's wonderfully buoyant memoir of pre-revolutionary Cuba, Waiting for Snow in Havana, Figueras chooses to capture the drumbeat of history in the small, offbeat details of a boy's life. . . . Tinged with a doomed innocence that comes shining through Figueras's irrepressible telling . . . Kamchatka is a colorful, unforgettable vision of a boy's--and nation's--attempt to make sense of a descent into darkness and chaos. It is also a moving attempt to recapture the memory of the 'disappeared'--a trick of fate that allows loved ones to re-appear by writing about them."--Words Without Borders Magazine "Kamchatka is a superb novel that refracts public, political events through the sensibilities of everyday life. . . . Balances adult understanding and a child's interests and anxieties. The language mediates between the two. Think not Melville, but the Mark Twain of Huckleberry Finn, yet starring a Huckleberry Finn who has read Melville. . . . Kamchatka came to me by chance. Don't trust to such luck. Seek it out."--J. Kates. The Arts Fuse (blog) "This powerful novel brings to life the atmosphere of desperation following Argentina's military coup of 1976. . . . A richly drawn, moving and memorable novel, a fine tribute to 'los desaparecidos, ' Argentina's 'disappeared'"--Irish Examiner "Figueras's view of military dictatorship strikes a note that lingers for weeks."--Frankfurter Rundschau (Germany)
From the Author:
--An "O Magazine" Summer Reading Pick
"Funny, wistful, and wise . . . ["Kamchatka"] suggests that our stories do not end, that heroism lies in one's ability to change, and that we all need a place where we can retreat to before we can learn to face the world again." --Tiffany Sun, "O Magazine"
"[A] generous, affecting novel."--"The New Yorker"
"Subtle . . . Brilliantly observed, heartrending."--"Financial Times"
"[Figueras] vividly evokes a child's reaction to a world beleaguered by violence. . . . [A] hopeful message about the healing powers of imagination and love."--"The New York Times"
"Haunting . . . Warmhearted . . . [Kamchatka] unfolds with disarming simplicity. . . . Bursting with good humor, with a bittersweet, melancholy shadow, Figueras's superb novel amply illustrates that 'laughing and crying at the same time is something life teaches you without you even noticing.'"--Shelf Awareness
"Interesting and insightful . . . Engrossing, often funny, and very, very unsettling."--"The Brooklyn Rail"
""Kamchatka" is not a nostalgic book. Its narration is unconstrained and light, entwining and sympathetic. . . . Read it, and buy yourself a board game of Risk."--Bookslut
"Stark and immediate, more moving because it is presented without sentimentality . . . [Written] with wry comedy . . . the tenderness breaks your heart."--"Booklist "
"A masterpiece . . . Written in beautiful prose."--"De Telegraaf" (Netherlands)
"Interesting and insightful . . . Engrossing, often funny, and very, very unsettling."--"The Brooklyn Rail "
"Figueras writes with power and insight about the ways in which a child uses imagination to make sense of terrifying and baffling reality."--"The Times "(UK)
"Tender, severe, moving, elegiac."--"El Pais" (Spain)
"Brilliant."--"The Independent"
"Like Carlos Eire's wonderfully buoyant memoir of pr
Short-listed for the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize
An "O Magazine" Summer Reading Pick
"Funny, wistful, and wise . . . ["Kamchatka"] suggests that our stories do not end, that heroism lies in one's ability to change, and that we all need a place where we can retreat to before we can learn to face the world again." Tiffany Sun, "O Magazine"
[A] generous, affecting novel. "The New Yorker"
Subtle . . . Brilliantly observed, heartrending. "Financial Times"
[Figueras] vividly evokes a child's reaction to a world beleaguered by violence. . . . [A] hopeful message about the healing powers of imagination and love. "The New York Times"
Haunting . . . Warmhearted . . . [Kamchatka] unfolds with disarming simplicity. . . . Bursting with good humor, with a bittersweet, melancholy shadow, Figueras's superb novel amply illustrates that laughing and crying at the same time is something life teaches you without you even noticing. Shelf Awareness
Interesting and insightful . . . Engrossing, often funny, and very, very unsettling. "The Brooklyn Rail"
"Kamchatka" is not a nostalgic book. Its narration is unconstrained and light, entwining and sympathetic. . . . Read it, and buy yourself a board game of Risk. Bookslut
Stark and immediate, more moving because it is presented without sentimentality . . . [Written] with wry comedy . . . the tenderness breaks your heart. "Booklist "
A masterpiece . . . Written in beautiful prose. "De Telegraaf" (Netherlands)
Interesting and insightful . . . Engrossing, often funny, and very, very unsettling. "The Brooklyn Rail "
Figueras writes with power and insight about the ways in which a child uses imagination to make sense of terrifying and baffling reality. "The Times "(UK)
Tender, severe, moving, elegiac. "El Pais" (Spain)
Brilliant. "The Independent"
Like Carlos Eire s wonderfully buoyant memoir of pre-revolutionary Cuba, "Waiting for Snow in Havana," Figueras chooses to capture the drumbeat of history in the small, offbeat details of a boy s life. . . . Tinged with a doomed innocence that comes shining through Figueras s irrepressible telling . . . "Kamchatka" is a colorful, unforgettable vision of a boy sand nation sattempt to make sense of a descent into darkness and chaos. It is also a moving attempt to recapture the memory of the disappeared a trick of fate that allows loved ones to re-appear by writing about them. Words Without Borders Magazine
"Kamchatka" is a superb novel that refracts public, political events through the sensibilities of everyday life. . . . Balances adult understanding and a child s interests and anxieties. The language mediates between the two. Think not Melville, but the Mark Twain of Huckleberry Finn, yet starring a Huckleberry Finn who has read Melville. . . . Kamchatka came to me by chance. Don t trust to such luck. Seek it out. J. Kates. The Arts Fuse (blog)
This powerful novel brings to life the atmosphere of desperation following Argentina s military coup of 1976. . . . A richly drawn, moving and memorable novel, a fine tribute to los desaparecidos, Argentina s disappeared "Irish Examiner"
Figueras s view of military dictatorship strikes a note that lingers for weeks. "Frankfurter Rundschau" (Germany)
"
--Short-listed for the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize
--An O Magazine Summer Reading Pick "Funny, wistful, and wise . . . [Kamchatka] suggests that our stories do not end, that heroism lies in one's ability to change, and that we all need a place where we can retreat to before we can learn to face the world again." --Tiffany Sun, O Magazine "[A] generous, affecting novel."--The New Yorker "Subtle . . . Brilliantly observed, heartrending."--Financial Times "[Figueras] vividly evokes a child's reaction to a world beleaguered by violence. . . . [A] hopeful message about the healing powers of imagination and love."--The New York Times "Haunting . . . Warmhearted . . . [Kamchatka] unfolds with disarming simplicity. . . . Bursting with good humor, with a bittersweet, melancholy shadow, Figueras's superb novel amply illustrates that 'laughing and crying at the same time is something life teaches you without you even noticing.'"--Shelf Awareness "Interesting and insightful . . . Engrossing, often funny, and very, very unsettling."--The Brooklyn Rail "Kamchatka is not a nostalgic book. Its narration is unconstrained and light, entwining and sympathetic. . . . Read it, and buy yourself a board game of Risk."--Bookslut "Stark and immediate, more moving because it is presented without sentimentality . . . [Written] with wry comedy . . . the tenderness breaks your heart."--Booklist "A masterpiece . . . Written in beautiful prose."--De Telegraaf (Netherlands) "Interesting and insightful . . . Engrossing, often funny, and very, very unsettling."--The Brooklyn Rail "Figueras writes with power and insight about the ways in which a child uses imagination to make sense of terrifying and baffling reality."--The Times (UK) "Tender, severe, moving, elegiac."--El País (Spain) "Brilliant."--The Independent "Like Carlos Eire's wonderfully buoyant memoir of pre-revolutionary Cuba, Waiting for Snow in Havana, Figueras chooses to capture the drumbeat of history in the small, offbeat details of a boy's life. . . . Tinged with a doomed innocence that comes shining through Figueras's irrepressible telling . . . Kamchatka is a colorful, unforgettable vision of a boy's--and nation's--attempt to make sense of a descent into darkness and chaos. It is also a moving attempt to recapture the memory of the 'disappeared'--a trick of fate that allows loved ones to re-appear by writing about them."--Words Without Borders Magazine "Kamchatka is a superb novel that refracts public, political events through the sensibilities of everyday life. . . . Balances adult understanding and a child's interests and anxieties. The language mediates between the two. Think not Melville, but the Mark Twain of Huckleberry Finn, yet starring a Huckleberry Finn who has read Melville. . . . Kamchatka came to me by chance. Don't trust to such luck. Seek it out."--J. Kates. The Arts Fuse (blog) "This powerful novel brings to life the atmosphere of desperation following Argentina's military coup of 1976. . . . A richly drawn, moving and memorable novel, a fine tribute to 'los desaparecidos, ' Argentina's 'disappeared'"--Irish Examiner "Figueras's view of military dictatorship strikes a note that lingers for weeks."--Frankfurter Rundschau (Germany)
Marcelo Figueras, born in Buenos Aires in 1962, is a writer and a screenwriter.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherAtlantic Books
- Publication date2010
- ISBN 10 1843548267
- ISBN 13 9781843548263
- BindingHardcover
- Number of pages320
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Book Description Condition: New. 2010. Main. Hardcover. A novel that offers an adventure story about a young boy forced to square fantasy against reality. Num Pages: 256 pages. BIC Classification: FA. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). Dimension: 192 x 135 x 28. Weight in Grams: 376. 256 pages. A novel that offers an adventure story about a young boy forced to square fantasy against reality. Cateogry: (G) General (US: Trade). BIC Classification: FA. Dimension: 192 x 135 x 28. Weight: 376. . . . . . Books ship from the US and Ireland. Seller Inventory # V9781843548263
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: new. Hardcover. In Buenos Aires, in the mid-Seventies, a ten-year-old boy lives in a world of school lessons and Superman comics, TV shows and games of Risk - a world in which men have superpowers and boys can conquer the globe on a square of cardboard. But in the outside world, a military junta have taken power; and amid a political climate of fear and intimidation, people are just beginning to disappear without a trace. When his mother unexpectedly takes the boy and his kid brother out of classes, she tells them they're going on an impromptu family 'holiday'. But he soon realises that the rules of the game are shifting. This will be no holiday: his parents are known supporters of the opposition, and they are going into hiding. Holed up in a ramshackle safe-house in the remote hills outside the city, they assume new identities and make believe that life continues as normal. Naming himself Harry, after his hero Houdini, the boy spends his days of enforced exile learning the secrets of escape. And in a world of seeming chaos and uncertainty, he attempts to imagine he has control over himself and his surroundings.A deeply moving and wise novel, written with immense heart, Kamchatka is an adventure story about a young boy forced to square fantasy against reality when reality and all its trappings - family, politics, history, and time itself - are more improbable than any fiction. Ultimately, it is a novel about the imaginative spaces we retreat to when we need to make sense of an unimaginable world. Kamchatka is a heartbreaking adventure story. Set in Argentina during the bloody coup d'etat of 1976, it tells an entirely enchanting story of a young boy trying to make sense of a world during a time of extraordinary upheaval. Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9781843548263
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