NEW paperback

Lydias Party: A Novel [Paperback] Hawkins, Margaret

Product DescriptionAn exquisite and profound tale for fans of Anne Tyler and Anna QuindlenGlowingly reviewed everywhere from O, The Oprah Magazine and Good Housekeeping to sites across the blogosphere, Lydias Party sparks aha moments and heartfelt conversations about friendship, regrets, and ambitions Margaret Hawkinss earlier books, all published by small presses, have gained her a devoted following, but this gem of a novel will introduce her to the wider audience she deservesLydia is hosting her Bleak Midwinter Bash, a late Christmas party that has become an annual tradition Her guestssix friends who bonded twenty years ago over art, dogs, and their budding careers and romancesthink they know everything about one another, but tonight Lydia prepares to shock them with a devastating announcementReviewPraise for Lydias Party by Margaret Hawkins:Captivating There is much to enjoy in Hawkinss incisive observations Youll like these women, [and] the story keeps you reading as it examines the gap between how we think we build our destinies and how we actually build them0, The Oprah MagazineA tender and cleareyed look at the tangles in womens livesGood Housekeeping A New Book PickThis book feels like what lifelong friendships really areMinneapolis Star Tribune Also Picked as A Fave of the MomentWith shades of Mrs Dalloway, much of the novel takes place in a day, as Lydia prepares for her annual winter party Hawkinss novel is beautiful and the plot takes a number of unexpected, hugely enjoyable turns It is this kind of book: the kind one buys extra copies of to pass out to friendsKirkus Reviews Starred ReviewImpossible to put down The characters are quirky, endearing, and relatable Lydias unrelenting examination of her own life forces the readers to reflect on their own choices and passionsand that is what makes this book a mustreadDolceDolcecomPlot is one of the great strengths of the book, beyond the expert characterization of these women The story takes several entirely unpredictable and yet satisfying turns [A] lovely lifeaffirming tale, making this meditation on mortality and friendship a pure delight for readersBookreportercomHawkinss smart, crackling novel is a snowy, midwestern Mrs Dalloway, with Elizabeth Bergish charm and Hawkinss own edgy, artfully particularized humor As Lydia and her circle pull together in her time of need, Hawkins considers the profound gift of friendship and the ways art and life converge to forge meaning and preserve truth and memoriesBooklistSumptuous a repast thats alternately uncomfortable and soothing, weepy and jubilant, evocative and realistic Party host and art teacher Lydia is having her annual dinner for her women friends In a quirky, impossibly magical and sweetly charming twist, Lydia helps guide them all to forgivenessPublishers WeeklyHawkinss protagonists are well drawn and interestingLibrary JournalLike Carol Shieldss Larrys Party, a completely winning book about friendship, an elusive and almost never written about subject, which makes this a rare achievementDiane Johnson, author of Le Divorce and Flyover LivesLydias Party is a brilliant story, so perfectly told, the characters instantly recognizable and unforgettable, that they take up residence in ones heart It is destined to be a classic for this generationJoAnn Mapson, author of Solomons Oak, Finding Casey, and the forthcoming Owens DaughterLydias Party is a literary celebration of dark secrets, enduring friendship, and the slow crawl of regret A luminous reflection that will linger long after the last page, Margaret Hawkinss latest novel will make you examine what and whom you hold most dear while you savor each perfect sentenceSally Koslow, author of The Widow WaltzWith wit and insight Margaret Hawkins gives us