Title: The Guineveres
Author:Sarah Domet
Published:July 2017, Flatiron Books
Format:Paperback, 352 pages
To four girls who have
nothing, their friendship is everything: they are each other’s
confidants, teachers, and family. The girls are all named
Guinevere–Vere, Gwen, Ginny, and Win–and it is the surprise of finding
another Guinevere in their midst that first brings them together. They
come to The Sisters of the Supreme Adoration convent by different paths,
delivered by their families, each with her own complicated,
heartbreaking story that she safeguards. Gwen is all Hollywood glamour
and swagger; Ginny is a budding artiste with a sentiment to match; Win’s
tough bravado isn’t even skin deep; and Vere is the only one who seems
to be a believer, trying to hold onto her faith that her mother will one
day return for her. However, the girls are more than the sum of their
parts and together they form the all powerful and confident The Guineveres, bound by the extraordinary coincidence of their names and girded against the indignities of their plain, sequestered lives.The
nuns who raise them teach the Guineveres that faith is about waiting:
waiting for the mail, for weekly wash day, for a miracle, or for the day
they turn eighteen and are allowed to leave the convent. But the
Guineveres grow tired of waiting. And so when four comatose soldiers
from the War looming outside arrive at the convent, the girls realize
that these men may hold their ticket out.In prose shot through
with beauty, Sarah Domet weaves together the Guineveres’ past, present,
and future, as well as the stories of the female saints they were raised
on, to capture the wonder and tumult of girlhood and the magical
thinking of young women as they cross over to adulthood.
What readers are saying:
“Deft and lovely…The perfect weight, in all ways. It’s suitable for a
vacation, and you can describe it in one inviting line, but then it
keeps unfolding and deepening, taking unexpected turns.”―The New York Times Book Review
“If you’ve been seeking a divine (in every sense) debut novel, you’ll savor Sarah Domet’s The Guineveres…From heavenly start to earthbound finish, this book is resounding and revelatory on questions of family, faith, and friendship.”―Elle
“Thoughtful and dazzling.”―Harper’s Bazaar
“Wonderful…At times sacred, occasionally profane, The Guineveres is a heavenly read from an author worth watching.”―BookPage
“Irresistible…A
book of surprising substance…There is both hilarity and heartache
here…A remarkedly layered and affecting book.” ―Buffalo News
“The Guineveres is a wondrous look at the aches and pains of growing up…These girls’ story gives us something to believe in.”―Fort Worth Star-Telegram
“Compassionate…A
coming-of-age story about young girls exploring their world and their
bodies and, generally speaking, the meaning of life…A powerful story,
one that will not be easily forgotten.”―BookBrowse
“Insightful…Dreamy,
elegantly structured…The glimpse of a year in the life of four
passionately confused adolescents serves as a striking debut.”―Columbus Dispatch
“Beautifully
detailed…A moving and sweetly engaging tale. It is sad and funny,
exquisitely written with a powerful depth of characterization. It truly
is a gem, a worthy read.”―The Maine Edge
“A beautiful debut literary novel by an author to watch.”―PopSugar
“Excellent…Domet’s debut will lure readers in with well-developed characters, rich language, and small miracles.” ―School Library Journal
“A first novel whose tone echoes that of Jeffrey Eugenides’s The Virgin Suicides…This phenomenal, character-driven story is mesmerizing.” ―Library Journal (starred review)
“Domet
deftly weaves in the girls’ individual stories and the stories of
female saints into her structure, making this a satisfying read on
multiple levels.”―Publishers Weekly
“Domet’s
lively writing is as original as her plot, which knits the Guineveres’
struggles together with stories of female saints. Poignant and often
funny, Domet captures the fever of teenage desire by pinning it against
the confines of a strict religious environment.”―Atlanta Magazine
“Sarah Domet has brought forth some kind of wonderful miracle with The Guineveres.
All four Guineveres seek to survive their experiences at The Sisters of
the Supreme Adoration, and their lives, so difficult and yet so
thrilling to witness thanks to Domet’s assured writing, begin to
approximate the divine experiences of the saints whom they study. And,
best of all, Domet knows just when to look away from the divine and
focus instead on matters altogether more earthbound and sinful. This is
an amazing book, a unique writer.” ―Kevin Wilson, New York Times bestselling author of The Family Fang
“The Guineveres
is a glorious debut. Sarah Domet is an enthralling storyteller who has
an original voice and an ability to create unforgettable characters with
a deep and abiding understanding of the human heart. Love, betrayal,
forgiveness, it’s all here. Readers will savor and rejoice.” ―Adriana Trigiani, author of The Shoemaker’s Wife
“Sarah Domet’s The Guineveres is a revelation, the way Jeffrey Eugenides’ The Virgin Suicides
was a revelation: rarely do we see a writer so young, so brilliant, who
wears her brilliance so offhandedly, so charmingly, so winningly.
Rarely do we see such a young writer so masterful in her control of
language, of form. We saw it in Eugenides’ first book, and now we see it
in Sarah Domet’s The Guineveres. This is a writer, a book, to cherish.” ―Brock Clarke, author of An Arsonist’s Guide to Writers’ Homes in New England
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The Guineveres by Sarah Domet is one of BookSparks “Summer Reads” reading selection picks.
Follow the #SRC2017 hashtag on twitter to read reviews on this book as well
as reviews on the other summer books! Also, be sure to check out the BookSparks Facebook page for the#SRC2017
and other fun links. You can participate in weekly secret missions for
chances to win signed copies of selected books and more! There’s a new
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