The History of Now  E-mail this product to a friend

Silver medal--ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year Award, 2010

“This is one of those novels you sink into, like a familiar and comfortable chair. Klein writes in clear, precise language, crafting characters who reveal themselves gradually, telling a small-town story that will resonate with every reader, even the big city types. This story is written in the present tense, with the author/narrator occasionally speaking directly to the reader—a device that feels just right. In fact, everything about the novel, from its cast to its setting to its occasional use of allegory and metaphor, is just right.” —Booklist

“A charming philosophical lesson in this story of destiny and history colliding in a fictional New England town. Blending the present-day story with tidbits from Grandville history, Klein brings the town vividly to life. As the drama unfolds, the actors remind us that destiny is writ in history.” —Publishers Weekly

“How the past influences what follows, and how self-understanding inspires broader comprehension of all things: These are the themes of this gently philosophical family chronicle. Klein channels his inner Thornton Wilder in this piecemeal history of a New England village (Grandville, Mass.), which combines the family-album features of Our Town with the inconclusive fatalism of The Bridge of San Luis Rey.” —Kirkus Reviews