“As this book shows, there are many similarities between Christianity and Buddhism, such as the practices of compassion, love, contemplation, and tolerance.”
—The Dalai Lama, Nobel Peace Prize laureate

“In a world where the media relentlessly inflames fear and hatred, here is a quiet voice espousing the triumph of love and peace.”
—Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize laureate

“A poignant story of colonization and assimilation, something I know a little bit about.
A masterpiece.”
—Chinua Achebe

“One of our most brilliant writers tells a harsh truth about American history.”
—Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, author of An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States

Ligon handles this latticework with impressive fluidity and dramatic momentum, the disparate voices lacing the novel with the melancholy of aborted and fractured love
—New York Times Book Review

“Unsettling.... Ligon’s is a convincing presentation of human nature. Nikki laments at one point, “We’d end up getting married … and I would shrink a little every year and lose pieces of myself until there’d be nothing left. But wasn’t that what happened to everyone?” Fear is what’s driven Nikki in the past, and now her past has caught up with her with a vengeance.”
—Foreword Reviews  

“Smelcer’s poems are for the taking, and he doesn’t want them back. They’re ours to keep with their satire, outrageously dark humor, and healing doses of pain.”
—Dale E. Seeds, Midwest Book Review Bookwatch

"Carlon covers an unbelievable amount of ground in one novel…. Part jazz panegyric, part world history tour, altogether readable." --Kirkus

"The novel's unfiltered lens reveals war's cost to the human psyche, the amorality of concentrated wealth, the cancer of racial and ethnic hatred, and the nearly unresolvable conflict between familial loyalty and moral responsibility."--Kirkus

"A survival story, but one with a strong heart." —ForeWord

"A thought-provoking and moving coming-of-age story."
—Publishers Weekly

"More psychological depth than Robinson Crusoe."—Frank McCourt 

"Gems of langage in English and in translation echoing across the globe." —Joseph Heithas, author of Poison Sonnets

“A beautiful and moving story of courage and love.”
—Ray Bradbury

“Powerful, eloquent and fascinating, showcasing a vanishing way of life in rich detail.” —Kirkus 

"Malloy demonstrates a real flair for weaving an engrossing historical puzzle into her mystery plot. Carefully assembling her story, she gently reels us in. [The] third series entry is perfect for readers craving an elaborate scheme." —Libraray Journal, starred review

“In prose that is unadorned yet fiercely affective, White conveys a true and solemn poignancy." -—ForeWord Reviews

"Jacob White can write!"
—Padgett Powell 

"An immensely satisfying collection.”
—Andre Dubus III

A clear-eyed and insightful portrait of one man’s parents, by turns
tender, humorous, and hard-edged, deeply personal yet universal