Binnie Kirshenbaumová je známá svým humorným a lehce drsným stylem psaní, který často skrývá hlubší témata lidské osamělosti a touhy po spojení. Její hrdinky jsou typicky inteligentní a ostřílené obyvatelky měst, které si životem prošly mnoha nečekanými zvraty. Její díla zkoumají složitost mezilidských vztahů s jedinečnou směsí ironie a empatie. Kirshenbaumová také vyučuje tvůrčí psaní a formuje novou generaci spisovatelů.
Set against the backdrop of post-war Germany, the story follows Hester Rosenfeld, an American historian who becomes romantically involved with Heinrich Falk while researching his life. Falk, a product of a troubled past, embodies the German Everyman, grappling with his family's dark history. As Hester delves into his life story for a historical document, she uncovers layers of secrets and suspicions about his family's involvement during the war, including whispers of a Nazi legacy and hidden truths that challenge their relationship.
Exploring themes of love, loss, and moral ambiguity, these short stories traverse diverse settings from New York City to East Germany. Characters confront their limitations with humor and dignity, such as Lorraine, who ponders her German lover's choices amid the Berlin Wall's fall, and a pregnant woman grappling with motherhood's constraints. In another tale, a young adulteress faces judgment from her morally questionable family. Each narrative delves into the complexities of human relationships and societal expectations.
'A bitingly funny, and occasionally heartbreaking, look at mental illness, love and relationships' The New York Times'Razor-sharp, astutely observed and acerbically funny' Guardian'A psychotic breakdown is not often the stuff of comedy but Binnie Kirshenbaum makes it so without belittling the subject.' Daily Mail'Darkly funny' RedBunny is sick to the back teeth of - well, everything, really, but especially New Year's Eve. It's nothing more than forced fellowship, mandatory fun, and paper hats. And yet Bunny finds herself out at another New Year's dinner with her husband and a group of particularly irritating friends. It's really no wonder that this provokes an extreme action that lands her in the psych ward of a prestigious New York hospital.Refusing treatment, Bunny passes the time chronicling the lives of her fellow "lunatics" and writing a novel about what brought her there. Her story is a brilliant, brutally funny insight dive into the disordered mind of someone who sees the world all too clearly.Propelled by razor-sharp humour and rife with pinpoint observations, Kirshenbaum examines what it means to be unloved and loved, to succeed and fail, to be impervious and raw. A bravura literary performance from one of America's finest writers.
The story centers on a married Manhattan woman who juggles three affairs while navigating her own emotional turmoil and moral dilemmas. With a sharp wit, she explores themes of love, fidelity, and self-discovery, revealing the complexities of her relationships with her husband and other lovers. As she grapples with her rootlessness and the search for her lost heart, the narrative delves into the contradictions of human desire and the masks people wear, all while maintaining a blend of humor and unsettling honesty.
Set in Brooklyn during the Age of Disco, the story revolves around Valentine Kessler, a sweet Jewish girl whose striking resemblance to the Virgin Mary of Lourdes leads to turmoil in the lives of those who love her. Her mother, Miriam, grapples with her own heartache and finds solace in mah-jongg games with a supportive group of friends known as The Girls. As Miriam faces her deepest fears regarding Valentine, she clings to the hope that things can't get worse, only to find that they can.
Lila Moscowitz is a witty, Jewish American poet grappling with the aftermath of her tumultuous marriage to Max. As she struggles to write and confronts the ghosts of her past in her Greenwich Village home, her relationships with her best friend Carmen and cross-dressing analyst Leon provide little solace. Approaching her thirty-eighth birthday, Lila faces emotional turmoil and realizes that love can be both nurturing and destructive. Through humor and poignant insights, the novel explores themes of desire, self-discovery, and the complexities of modern relationships.
Set across contemporary Europe, this bittersweet novel follows a woman's journey as she seeks love and grapples with her past. Through her memories and current experiences, she navigates the complexities of relationships, leading to unforeseen outcomes that challenge her understanding of both love and acceptance.
The novel explores the emotional challenges faced by a middle-aged couple as the husband grapples with early-onset Lewy Body dementia. It delves into their struggles, highlighting the profound impact of the illness on their relationship while interspersing moments of sharp humor that provide relief amidst the heartache. Kirshenbaum skillfully balances the gravity of the situation with wit, creating a poignant narrative that resonates with themes of love, loss, and resilience.
In diesem skurrilen Roman verfolgen die Großstadthexen Edie und Monarose ihre ungewöhnliche Freundschaft, indem sie verrückte Abenteuer erleben und Hochzeiten nur wegen der Getränke besuchen. Trotz ihrer Eigenheiten sind sie liebenswert, und die Geschichte bietet überraschende Tiefe und Klarsicht.
Zehn Geschichten über zehn unmögliche FrauenSie leben und lieben in New York, experimentierfreudig sind sie alle, aber im Prinzip ist eine skrupelloser als die andere...
