The Letter Opener by Kyo Maclear
"Kyo Maclear has produced an ingeneous work of fiction that combined rich, intimate characters with a narrative that unfolds like a puzzle box." - Naomi Klein
A beautiful new work of literature.
It is 1989 and Naiko is working in the Undeliverable Mail Office, a cavernous space that resembles a giant, congested pawnshop. Immersed in things lost and missing, she searches for clues to match undeliverable mail with addresses, a job that allows her to achieve a semblance of order in a disorderly world. It is a shock, then, when Naiko's co-worker Andrei, an enigmatic Romanian refugee who has become the unlikely object of Naiko's fascination, suddenly vanishes.
As the novel unfolds in delicately wrought layers that build through time, from the Second World War to the fall of Communism, Andrei's story becomes an opaque reflection of Naiko's own existence, and many objects - from the pens hoarded by Naiko's mother in her retirement home to the personal effects of Jewish women that Andrei's grandmother sorts through at Birkenau - become touchstones for memories and meaning, loss and love. Beautifully packaged, The Letter Opener is a luminous, heart-stopping novel that glows with truth, from a brilliant new literary voice.
Kyo Maclear
A sensational new literary talent
Kyo is a writer and editor who graduated from the University of Toronto in fine art and art history, and received a graduate degree in cultural studies. Her work has been published in various art and culture magazines, including Toronto Life, Canadian Art, Saturday Night, Brick, Mix, Fuse and This Magazine. She lives in Toronto with her family. Advance Praise for The Letter Opener
"This is an extraordinarily thoughtful novel...It all feels so tranquil, so exact, so hallucinatory in a tidy and scientifically organized way, the report of such a careful, observant and honest witness."-Elisabeth Harvor
"Kyo Maclear's humanity is an indispensable part of everything she writes. It's the basis of her commitment to history's forgotten people and its undelivered stories. Her voice is exquisite and incisive."
-Joy Kogawa
"Kyo Maclear has produced an ingenious work of fiction that combines rich, intimate characters with a narrative that unfolds like a puzzle box. The Letter Opener is that rare book that nourishes both the mind and the heart, at once wise and tender. A stunning, lyrical debut."
-Naomi Klein
More on Kyo
- Buy or Pre-order your title NOW
- Get hold of your copy now. Choose from a wide variety of booksellers
- Kyo MacLear at HarperCollins Canada
- Find out more about Kyo, and take advantage of features such as Author Tracker.
- Author Interview
- Kyo talks about her career as a writer, and offers some fascinating insights into the development of The Letter Writer
- First Look at HarperCollins Canada
- An exclusively opportunity to get hold of this little gem prior to publication. Dont miss out!
- Letter Exchange
- A magazine for keen letter-writers
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We're a UK publisher and have just launched on Squidoo (www.squidoo.com/legendpress). Come and have a look! Really like what we've seen so far and we're always looking to work with writers, organisations, initiatives etc so be great to hear from you! Posted June 14, 2007 |
