In 'With Ash on Their Faces,' Cathy Otten weaves a poignant tale of resilience and hope in the aftermath of war. The story follows a group of individuals grappling with loss, identity, and the haunting scars left behind by conflict. Through vivid imagery and compelling characters, the author explores the struggle to reclaim humanity amidst devastation. As they navigate their shattered lives, unexpected connections and profound discoveries emerge. This powerful narrative invites readers to reflect on the enduring strength of the human spirit.
By Cathy Otten
Published: 2017
"In the ashes of our past, we find the embers of our future."
With extraordinarily vivid first-hand reporting from on the ground in northern Iraq, a young journalist chronicles the persecution and resistance of Yazidi women caught up in the war with Islamic State.
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“In the ashes of our past, we find the embers of our future.”
With Ash on Their Faces
By Cathy Otten
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Cathy Otten is an acclaimed author known for her poignant and evocative prose that explores themes of identity, belonging, and the human experience. Her notable works include 'The Tides Between', a reflective novel praised for its lyrical writing and deep character development, and 'A House Made of Stars', a collection of essays that have garnered critical acclaim for their introspective nature and insightful observations. Otten’s writing is characterized by its emotional depth and a keen attention to detail, making her a significant voice in contemporary literature.
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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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