Pete Anderson brings this Canadian writer to our attention. He reports: "A Complicated Kindness is a terrific coming-of-age story about a teenage girl who is totally out-of-place in her oppressive Mennonite hometown in rural Manitoba. She longs for the freedom of distant Greenwich Village while at the same time feels compelled to remain at home for her lonely father's sake. Toews is highly recognized in Canada, where the novel won the 2004 Governor General's Award, but seems quite under-recognized in the U.S."
More about Miriam Toews
+ PopMatters review of A Complicated Kindness
+ Another review at Mumpsimus
+ Toews' bio page and a Powells interview
Miriam is a wonderful writer, and a good friend to boot. She was well celebrated in her native Manitoba, but Complicated Kindness took her to a whole new level.
And as a Mennonite, I can tell you, she nailed it. Spot on.
Posted by: Corey Redekop | December 21, 2006 at 08:25 AM