In 'One True Thing', Anna Quindlen explores the complexities of family bonds through the eyes of a woman who returns home to care for her dying mother. As she navigates the painful truths of her mother's past and the sacrifices of motherhood, she finds herself grappling with her own identity and choices. The narrative masterfully weaves themes of love, loss, and personal growth while challenging the protagonist's preconceived notions about life's meaning. This poignant journey reveals how the act of caring for another can lead to profound self-discovery. Will she emerge with a deeper understanding of love—or will the weight of unspoken truths shatter her world?
By Anna Quindlen
Published: 2006
"Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same."
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “[Anna Quindlen] writes passionately . . . painstakingly uncovering all the intensity, suspicion and primitive love that bonds mothers and daughters.”—The Boston Globe Ellen Gulden is enjoying her career as a successful magazine writer in New York City when she learns that her mother, Kate, is dying of cancer. Ellen’s father insists that she quit her job and return home to become a caregiver. A high-powered career woman, Ellen has never felt she had much in common with her mother, a homemaker and the heart of their family. Yet as Ellen begins to spend time with Kate, she discovers many surprising truths, not only about herself, but also about the woman she thought she knew so well. Later, when Ellen is accused of the mercy killing of her mother, she must not only defend her own life but make a difficult choice—either accept responsibility for an act she did not commit or divulge the name of the person she believes committed a painful act of love. Praise for One True Thing “A triumph.”—San Francisco Chronicle “We leave One True Thing stimulated and challenged, more thoughtful than when we began.”—Los Angeles Times “Like a brush with mortality, One True Thing leaves the reader feeling grateful, wide awake, lucky to be alive.”—Michael Chabon “It calls you back for another read. . . . This is a book of catharsis.”—The Denver Post “Fiercely compassionate and frank.” —Elle
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“Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same.”
One True Thing
By Anna Quindlen
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Anna Quindlen is an acclaimed American author, journalist, and opinion writer, known for her insightful explorations of contemporary life. Born on July 8, 1952, she gained prominence as a columnist for The New York Times and later as a best-selling novelist. Her notable works include 'Object Lessons,' 'A Short Guide to a Happy Life,' and 'Still Life with Bread Crumbs.' Quindlen's writing is characterized by its clarity, emotional depth, and keen observations of human relationships, often reflecting on the themes of family, feminism, and the complexities of everyday life. Her ability to blend personal narrative with broader social commentary has earned her numerous accolades, including the Pulitzer Prize for her journalism.
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SHORTLISTED FOR THE BAILEY'S WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 'A delicious, important novel' The Times 'Alert, alive and gripping' Independent 'Some novels tell a great story and others make you change the way you look at the world. Americanah does both.' Guardian As teenagers in a Lagos secondary school, Ifemelu and Obinze fall in love. Their Nigeria is under military dictatorship, and people are fleeing the country if they can. Ifemelu--beautiful, self-assured--departs for America to study. She suffers defeats and triumphs, finds and loses relationships and friendships, all the while feeling the weight of something she never thought of back home: race. Obinze--the quiet, thoughtful son of a professor--had hoped to join her, but post-9/11 America will not let him in, and he plunges into a dangerous, undocumented life in London. Thirteen years later, Obinze is a wealthy man in a newly democratic Nigeria, while Ifemelu has achieved success as a writer of an eye-opening blog about race in America. But when Ifemelu returns to Nigeria, and she and Obinze reignite their shared passion--for their homeland and for each other--they will face the toughest decisions of their lives. Fearless, gripping, spanning three continents and numerous lives, Americanah is a richly told story of love and expectation set in today's globalized world.
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