- Paperback: 250 pages
- Publisher: Dundurn (Jan 6 2007)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1550026070
- ISBN-13: 978-1550026078
- Product Dimensions: 21.6 x 16.4 x 2 cm
- Shipping Weight: 340 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #227,889 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
Review
“A story of courage and sacrifice, it is a solid second novel for a writer of promise and one that left me waiting for more.” – Andrew Armitage, The Sun Times (Owen Sound) July 18 (20070401)
"... the novel feels like a journal, a journey of remembering." (Simone Pilon British Journal of Canadian Studies 20070118)
"The storyline that most captured my imagination revolved around a huge, orange diamond and its mysterious, (some would say cursed) history ... the answers are not revealed until the last pages." (Alice Matisz The Lethbridge Herald 20070825)
"A Sharp Intake of Breath illustrates the strengths of John Miller ... The nuances of his old-fashioned portrayal of family are often absorbing, as is his evocation of the various settings." "Miller's expansive tale of family and committed action satisfies." (Brett Josef Grubisic The Vancouver Sun 20070721)
"The bad boy who finds his way only after making a big mistake isn't a new idea in literature, but ... John Miller has constructed his version so well in his new novel, A Sharp Intake of Breath, that it not only works, it seems fresh." (Debby Waldman The Edmonton Journal 20070128)
"A Sharp Intake of Breath is a heartwarming and potent piece of fiction. Miller has created a world that is welcoming, intriguing, heartfelt, and genuine." (Laurel Smith Quill and Quire 20070208)
"Miller pens some remarkable passages about speech, silence and breath ... A Sharp Intake of Breath is an examination of love, sacrifice and the grey area between politics and emotion." (Sandra Alland XTRA! 20070128)
"... the ending satisfies with a nice twist. Miller succeeds admirably in shaping a serious, imaginative novel about the jagged, often fractured, path taken for the sake of a worthy life." (B. Glen Rotchin The Star Phoenix )
"A Sharp Intake of Breath more than satisfies. At once a profile of courage and resolution, a family history, a mystery and a social commentary, it reveals Miller as an impressive storyteller; one wonders what he'll do next." (Robert Wiersema The National Post )
"Toshy is both sympathetic and likable. His story shows that actions can have far-reaching consequences that we can't even imagine, and yet, at the same time, it is ultimately possible to escape the prison of memory and regret." (Joanne Epp Winnipeg Free Press )
"Miller is at his best and most empathetic when he gets inside Toshy's head and explores his protagonist's experience as an outsider." (NOW Magazine )
"A Sharp Intake of Breath is good, solid storytelling." (Tania Therien The Calgary Herald )
"... the novel feels like a journal, a journey of remembering." (Simone Pilon British Journal of Canadian Studies 20070118)
"The storyline that most captured my imagination revolved around a huge, orange diamond and its mysterious, (some would say cursed) history ... the answers are not revealed until the last pages." (Alice Matisz The Lethbridge Herald 20070825)
"A Sharp Intake of Breath illustrates the strengths of John Miller ... The nuances of his old-fashioned portrayal of family are often absorbing, as is his evocation of the various settings." "Miller's expansive tale of family and committed action satisfies." (Brett Josef Grubisic The Vancouver Sun 20070721)
"The bad boy who finds his way only after making a big mistake isn't a new idea in literature, but ... John Miller has constructed his version so well in his new novel, A Sharp Intake of Breath, that it not only works, it seems fresh." (Debby Waldman The Edmonton Journal 20070128)
"A Sharp Intake of Breath is a heartwarming and potent piece of fiction. Miller has created a world that is welcoming, intriguing, heartfelt, and genuine." (Laurel Smith Quill and Quire 20070208)
"Miller pens some remarkable passages about speech, silence and breath ... A Sharp Intake of Breath is an examination of love, sacrifice and the grey area between politics and emotion." (Sandra Alland XTRA! 20070128)
"... the ending satisfies with a nice twist. Miller succeeds admirably in shaping a serious, imaginative novel about the jagged, often fractured, path taken for the sake of a worthy life." (B. Glen Rotchin The Star Phoenix )
"A Sharp Intake of Breath more than satisfies. At once a profile of courage and resolution, a family history, a mystery and a social commentary, it reveals Miller as an impressive storyteller; one wonders what he'll do next." (Robert Wiersema The National Post )
"Toshy is both sympathetic and likable. His story shows that actions can have far-reaching consequences that we can't even imagine, and yet, at the same time, it is ultimately possible to escape the prison of memory and regret." (Joanne Epp Winnipeg Free Press )
"Miller is at his best and most empathetic when he gets inside Toshy's head and explores his protagonist's experience as an outsider." (NOW Magazine )
"A Sharp Intake of Breath is good, solid storytelling." (Tania Therien The Calgary Herald )
Product Description
Born with a split lip and cleft palate, Toshy Wolfman's life is an uphill battle. Believing he is dim-witted and ugly, Toshy finds his resentment slowly building as he is ridiculed, used, and misled. Ultimately, he is imprisoned after being caught stealing a valuable and famous diamond, the Orange Sunset.
But Toshy's story is not his alone - it is shared with his two sisters: Lil, a radical and a devotee of anarchist Emma Goldman; and Bessie, who goes to work for one of Goldman’s enemies, the owners of the Orange Sunset. Toshy's love for his sisters drives him to make some of the bravest decisions of his life. But despite having seemingly overcome his obstacles, an aging Toshy stuns his nephew by asking for his assistance in committing suicide.Toshy won’t fully explain his decision. Nor will he fully explain why, at this late stage in life, he is obsessed with making a journey to France.
(20070317)
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great read anytime of year.,
By
This review is from: A Sharp Intake of Breath (Paperback)
John Miller's 'The Featherbed' was a grand yarn and 'A Sharp Intake of Breath'is an engrossing second novel by this articulate writer of endearing characters with real life issues. An added bonus was the interesting background information on Emma Goldman (sometimes known in her day as the "Red Menace")and her connection with Canada.
4.0 out of 5 stars
A wonderful read and a great book for a book club,
By Jofb "Readerlust" (Toronto) - See all my reviews
This review is from: A Sharp Intake of Breath (Paperback)
With a deft hand, writer John Miller, tells us the story of a young man, Toshy, imprisoned both physically and psychologically. This book is all about being on the outside of society and what happens to those who are perceived to be so different. It is set in Toronto moving between the present and pre-war world. It shows the ways that we are shut out and how we, ourselves shut people out even when we know better. The outsider is a common theme in literature and this is one with a bit of a twist. It is a great read that pulls you right along until you reluctantly leave Toshy to his memories. It also has a little bit about the radical history of Toronto and our links with Emma Goldman.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.0 out of 5 stars (1 customer review) 0 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
A novel of moral choice,
By Scott Maxwell "moderate" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: A Sharp Intake of Breath (Paperback)
A disfigured and so underestimated boy and his two sisters become involved in the life of Emma Goldman and one of her enemies, a heartless tycoon. The plot (involving a fabulous yellow diamond, the Orange Sunset) is a good hinge for the life-spanning story of the siblings and their times. Miller is a terrific writer, and the richly-detailed evocation of the time and place (30s Toronto) recalls his previous novel, The Featherbed.
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