In fiction, peter camerons complicated romance, mohammed hanifs tale of unwelcome inheritance, kathryn harrisons historical drama, and stephen daus bildungsroman arrive in. In moments, dau s riffs on the young mans life recall the dense beauty of michael ondaatje s the english patient. Stephen dau when his family is killed during an errant u. In addition to his debut novel, the book of jonas, his work has appeared in the pittsburgh postgazette, mcsweeneys, and msnbc, among other places. His village in an unnamed muslim, middle eastern country is destroyed under. The book of jonas by stephen dau begins on a fateful night when the family of jonas, a 15 year old muslim is killed by americans. The story is about a 15yearold boy named younis when his village is attacked and his whole family is killed. Stephen daus the book of jonas is one of those rare, shattering, lingering, breathtakingatunexpectedmoments debut novels that arrive so perfectly formed youre left both haunted wondering what you could possibly read next to dispel the terror and. Stephen dau is from western pennsylvania and lives in brussels. I liked that the book was not specific to a certain country and did not take sides, allowing the reader to really empathize with all of the characters. The book of jonas is a compelling novel that describes the human cost of war and the longlasting effects on the human mind. Its a quick read, but definitely one that is worth it.
Christopher and jonas each commit acts that would seem to invite judgment, but stephen dau is much more interested in investigating the causes of their actions. This is a book where the main characters arent quite what they seem, which certainly is confusing from time to time, but that doesnt detract from the power of the story. Stephen dau wrote the book of jonas, which can be purchased at a lower price at thriftbooks. An exceptional debut novel about a young muslim war orphan whose family is killed in a military operation gone wrong, and the american.
Jonas, and was so anxious to get to the end and figure the whole story out. An exceptional debut novel about a young muslim war orphan whose family is killed in a military operation gone wrong, and the american soldier to whom his fate, and survival, is bound. The book of jonas paperback the elliott bay book company. Best adult books for young adults, 2012 dau sketches jonas brilliantly, empathetically, writing with spare, clear language in the third person, a point of view encompassing the distance necessary for emotional clarity. Its the story of a boy, jonas, from a middle eastern country presumably iraq where his village is destroyed in a us military raid. Stephen dau is a 45yearold american author, born in penselvanya. Reading the book, i felt like i was there with the main character, jonas, and was so anxious to get to the end and figure. Stephen dau is originally from western pennsylvania. The book of jonas by stephen dau overdrive rakuten. In his debut novel, dau chronicles the human cost of war with the alternating stories of. The book of jonas is a great combination of emotional drama and compelling mystery. Mar, 20 the book of jonas by stephen dau, 9780452298972, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
Though ive never been in the situations stephen dau describes, every word rings true ntinued. The narrative of the book of jonas proceeds in short chapters, jumpcuts between jonass present life, his past, christophers journal entries, his interactions with his therapist, and chapters devoted to roses efforts on behalf of the families of soldiers missing in action. Originally from western pennsylvania, he lives in brussels, belgium. The book was published in english on march 15, 2012 by blue rider press. And by so deftly exploring the inner lives of jonas, christopher, and rosethe torments each has sufferedthe book of jonasoffers a nuanced and deeply reflective novel about the effects of war that are still unfolding around us.
Rich with symbolism, marvelously descriptive in languagethe expression of a young boy playing poker. Library journal with its spare prose and nuanced plot that loops back and forth chronologically, daus first novel is an absolutely compelling account of the damage done to all sides by armed conflict. Daus riffs on the young mans life recall the dense beauty of michael ondaatjes the english patient. It is a rare and virtuosic novel from an exciting new writer to watch. The book of jonas is remarkable both for the story it tells and the way it tells it.
The book of jonas by stephen dau 2012, cd, unabridged for. The book of jonas npr coverage of the book of jonas by stephen dau. Stephen dau books list of books by author stephen dau. Told in spare, evocative prose, the book of jonas is about memory, about the terrible choices made during war, and about what happens when foreign disaster appears at our own doorstep. Steven galloway, author of the cellist of sarajevo this is first rate, original, powerful storytelling. Digital audiobook 3142012 mp3 cd 3152012 compact disc 3152012 hardcover 3152012 prerecorded audio player 3152012. In moments, daus riffs on the young mans life recall the dense beauty of michael ondaatjes the english patient. The book of jonas hardcover march 15, 2012 by stephen dau author. He worked for ten years in postwar reconstruction and international development prior to studying creative writing, at johns hopkins university and bennington, where he received an mfa. Mandated to see a therapist, jonas begins to explore what happened. He is taken in by an international relief organization and adopted by a christian family in pittsburgh, pa. Stephen dau attended university of pitsburg, johns hopkins university, and bennington college. A topten favorite book of 2012 from sam sacks of the wall street journal a booklist editors choice.
The book of jonas ebook by stephen dau 9781101561058. The book of jonas by stephen dau great pick for 2020. Mar 15, 2012 listen to book of jonas audiobook by stephen dau. An exceptional debut novel about a young muslim war orphan whose.
His work has appeared in ploughshares, the pittsburgh postgazette, the. After graduating from the university of pittsburgh, he moved to paris to attend graduate school, then on to a career in postwar reconstruction and international development that took him to sarajevo, serbia and albania. Mar 14, 2012 the book of jonas paperback by stephen dau. In daus debut fiction, younis, a perceptive, observant boy in a nameless central. Dau sketches jonas brilliantly, empathetically, writing with spare, clear language in the third person, a point of view encompassing the distance necessary for emotional clarity. The book of jonas a novel by stephen dau by stephen dau. The book of jonas, a novel written by stephen dau and published in 2012. With the help of an international relief organization. Mar 01, 2012 the book of jonas, a novel written by stephen dau and published in 2012. Stephen dau worked for ten years in postwar reconstruction and international development prior to studying creative writing at johns hopkins university and bennington, where he received an mfa. Stephen dau has written a most enigmatic and satisfying novel that delivers a story of loss as publicly broad as it is personally intimate.
Christopher and jonas each commit acts that would seem to invite judgment, but stephen dau is much more interested in investigating the causes of their actionsand the extraordinary consequences that result from the unlikely intersection of their livesthan in moral condemnation. Stephen dau writes with remarkable precision, vitality and honesty. Buy the book of jonas by stephen dau from amazons fiction books store. Jonas is fifteen when his family is killed during an errant u.
The book of jonas by stephen dau 2012, cd, unabridged. What is the effect of this layering of different perspectives and time frames. The book of jonas by stephen dau, 9780452298972, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Apr 19, 2012 the book of jonas by stephen dau its the story of a boy, jonas, from a middle eastern country presumably iraq where his village is destroyed in a us military raid.
Originally from western pennsylvania, stephen dau attended the university of pittsburgh before working in postwar reconstruction in the balkans and international philanthropy. Review a sobering and accomplished read meant to prick the conscience. Like that book, the book of jonas is a tale obsessed with the way war can fracture memory and cauterize the place where love can beginif only our news had such radical belief in the power of empathy. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. The book of jonas by stephen dau author simon vance narrator. An exceptional debut novel about a young muslim war orphan whose family is killed in a military operation gone wrong, and the american soldier to whom his. Jean thompson, national book award finalist and author of the year we left home this is an utterly riveting debut. The book of jonas an exceptional debut novel about a young muslim war orphan whose family is killed in a military operation gone wrong, and the american soldier to whom his fate, and survival, is bound. The book takes its name from the book of jonah of the hebrew bible and features themes of war and its effect on others. The book of sunnys bookshelf photo by judy solomon. The book of jonas is a 2012 debut literary novel by american writer stephen dau. Stephen dau worked for ten years in postwar reconstruction and international development prior to studying creative writing. The book of jonas by stephen dau is the story of 15 year old younis.
Stephen dau unraveled a thoughtprovoking narrative, which surprised me from time to time, and definitely kept me hooked. Jan 03, 20 stephen daus the book of jonas is one of those rare, shattering, lingering, breathtakingatunexpectedmoments debut novels that arrive so perfectly formed youre left both haunted wondering what you could possibly read next to dispel the terror and grateful utterly so, that you were provided this literary gift. What could stephen dau have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you. Adjusting to his new life in america proves more difficult than jonas originally thought.
The novel, the book of jonas is written by stephen dau and is a fiction book that takes place in the middle east and the united states in the state of pennsylvania. This is one of those books that starts in the middle and cryptically works its way out with clues to the story. Would you try another book from stephen dau andor simon vance. His work has appeared in mcsweenys, pittsburgh postgazette, on msnbc, and elsewhere. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. He survives and comes to america where his transition isnt very smooth read. February 09, 2012 a central metaphor lies at the heart of this debut novel.
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