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Product Description
Amazon.ca
Dead Girls, Nancy Lee's debut collection of short fiction, is an intense, morbid, and distinguished book. Revolving obliquely around the arrest of a serial killer (a retired dentist who lures prostitutes to his suburban home and buries them in his backyard), these stories chronicle brief moments in the lives of characters who exist at--or beyond--the edges of reason: maladjusted horny teenagers trading sexual favours on Valentine's Day, a lonely tattoo artist falling in love with (and growing impotent before) the homeless girl he takes in, a seemingly staid Vancouver mother growing increasingly desperate in the search for her prostitute daughter.
Lee's world is strongly reminiscent of Patrick Roscoe's The Truth About Love; the two books share a graveyard sensibility and compassionate melancholy. Roscoe's book is more adventurous, but Dead Girls has much to recommend it--these stories are consistently enthralling and sometimes surprisingly funny. The real merit of Dead Girls is just that--Nancy Lee's considerable ability to leaven dire, depressing stories with grace and gentle, appropriate humour. Despite its lurid title and seemingly garish subject matter, this is a pleasingly understated collection that is well worth reading. --Jack Illingworth --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
Review
“Dead Girls is among the bravest fictional debuts in recent memory and heralds the arrival of a bold and audacious new voice in Canadian writing.”
–Quill and Quire
“These are moving and gripping stories – harsh, yet delivered with delicacy and compassion. They are from a young, new writer of conspicuous talent. Read them – and you will wake from a slumber you did not know you were in.”
–Yann Martel, author of Life of Pi
“Beautifully penned, intensely moving stories.… A masterwork of revelation and catharsis.…What a gift is Nancy Lee. No review can tell you.”
–Globe and Mail
“Dead Girls heralds the arrival of a bold and audacious new voice in Canadian writing…A disturbing, threatening, and ultimately thrilling debut.”
–Quill & Quire (starred review)
“Dead Girls has a can’t-put-it-down urgency. It’s about survival and toughness – and when you least expect it, hope.”
–Chatelaine
“These stories [have] a heart-stopping power.… Meticulously crafted, every element faceted and polished.…Dead Girls reveals Nancy Lee as a writer of uncanny abilities.”
–Ottawa Citizen
“Lee has written a book that has an unforgettable sense of urgency. Remember the name.”
–NOW (five-star review)
“How tender, beautiful, tragic and soulful these stories are. Nancy Lee creates poignant moments of utter darkness and somehow, miraculously, she fills them with pinpricks of hopeful light. This book may teach you something about yourself and the way you move through the world. I couldn’t put it down.”
–Michelle Berry
“Nancy Lee writes as a young writer should – fearlessly.…Dead Girls is a standout first collection.”
–Edmonton Journal
“Her writing flows so eloquently, you don’t fully appreciate its sting until the sentence is over. Dead Girls is a powerful book perfectly in step with its time.…”
–Georgia Straight
“Vibrant, startling, and – contradicting the book’s title – electrically alive.”
–Victoria Times Colonist
“Dead Girls is a frighteningly accomplished book.”
–Montreal Gazette
“Lee is a pure and fearless writer.”
–Toronto Star
–Quill and Quire
“These are moving and gripping stories – harsh, yet delivered with delicacy and compassion. They are from a young, new writer of conspicuous talent. Read them – and you will wake from a slumber you did not know you were in.”
–Yann Martel, author of Life of Pi
“Beautifully penned, intensely moving stories.… A masterwork of revelation and catharsis.…What a gift is Nancy Lee. No review can tell you.”
–Globe and Mail
“Dead Girls heralds the arrival of a bold and audacious new voice in Canadian writing…A disturbing, threatening, and ultimately thrilling debut.”
–Quill & Quire (starred review)
“Dead Girls has a can’t-put-it-down urgency. It’s about survival and toughness – and when you least expect it, hope.”
–Chatelaine
“These stories [have] a heart-stopping power.… Meticulously crafted, every element faceted and polished.…Dead Girls reveals Nancy Lee as a writer of uncanny abilities.”
–Ottawa Citizen
“Lee has written a book that has an unforgettable sense of urgency. Remember the name.”
–NOW (five-star review)
“How tender, beautiful, tragic and soulful these stories are. Nancy Lee creates poignant moments of utter darkness and somehow, miraculously, she fills them with pinpricks of hopeful light. This book may teach you something about yourself and the way you move through the world. I couldn’t put it down.”
–Michelle Berry
“Nancy Lee writes as a young writer should – fearlessly.…Dead Girls is a standout first collection.”
–Edmonton Journal
“Her writing flows so eloquently, you don’t fully appreciate its sting until the sentence is over. Dead Girls is a powerful book perfectly in step with its time.…”
–Georgia Straight
“Vibrant, startling, and – contradicting the book’s title – electrically alive.”
–Victoria Times Colonist
“Dead Girls is a frighteningly accomplished book.”
–Montreal Gazette
“Lee is a pure and fearless writer.”
–Toronto Star
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gripping, Moving, Brilliant!,
By "toby321" (Victoria) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Dead Girls (Paperback)
My daughter kept insisting that I read this book. Her and I don't usually share the same taste in books -- she only reads books with ideas and social relevance, whereas I just like a good story. She won me over with this one though. I read the book in three sittings, which is quick for me because I have a very busy life. The stories were quite addictive -- it was impossible to begin one and not finish it. The characters were so memorable that I found myself thinking about them, worrying about them for days after. I had to tell myself several times, "Stop worrying about her, she's not even real." I'm not a big cryer, but I cried at the end of "Sally, In Parts" a story about a woman trying to connect with her father. I also had to fish out the kleenex for "Dead Girls" which was about a mother searching for her missing daughter whose a prostitute. Some mothers might be put off by the sex in the book, but none of it seemed gratuitous. I would say, don't be afraid of this book, although it goes to frightening places, it's a true exploration of the human condition. Especially the female condition.
4.0 out of 5 stars
beautiful,
By A Customer
This review is from: Dead Girls (Paperback)
Beautiful, sensual, erotic, intelligent. I'd recommend not reading all the stories in one go. Take some time with this one, it'll make the writing and images seem all more real and meaningful.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Every Girl Should Read This Book!,
By "jwoo704" (Waterloo) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Dead Girls (Paperback)
I'm not kidding when I say that. Other reviews have commented on how great the writing is, and I totally agree, but to me the most important thing about this book is that it's about real and authentic experience. The plights of the characters are portrayed so vividly, that you can't help but wonder if the author herself has been through these things. This book isn't sentimental and it doesn't dumb-down things to score easy emotional points. I think older teenage girls would REALLY dig this book, since it's very brave and edgy and several characters in the book are teenagers. Colleges/Universities should start putting this book on their reading lists, there are so many ways to approach it -- literature, womens studies, sociology. There aren't enough books like this out there!!!
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