Garbo LaughsFrom the award-winning author of A Student of Weather, a funny, sad-eyed novel about a woman caught between real love and movie love--and real love doesn't stand a chance. This is a novel about movie love. Set in Ottawa in the 1990s, it is the quixotic tale of tall, thin Harriet Browning, inflamed by the movies she was deprived of as a child. Bent on seeing everything she has missed, she rapidly becomes so saturated with old movies, seen repeatedly and swallowed whole, that she no longer fits into this world. Equally addicted are her three companions- of-the-screen: a boy who loves Frank Sinatra, a girl with Bette Davis eyes, and an earthy sidekick named after Dinah Shore. Breaking in upon this quiet backwater, in time with the devastating ice storm of 1998, come two refugees from Hollywood, the jaded widow of a famous screenwriter and her movie-expert stepson. They are Harsh Reality. With them come blackouts, arguments, accidents, illness, and sudden death. But what chance does real life stand when we can watch movies instead? What hope does real love have when movie love, in all its brief intensity, is an easy option? In this brilliant and poignant comedy of secondhand desire, m |
From inside the book
Results 1-3 of 22
Page 5
... standing . Lew's grandfather had built the house in 1928 ; after he died it passed out of the family , until last spring , when the grandson had the pleasure of buying it back . Lew came through the door , and then what a tangle of big ...
... standing . Lew's grandfather had built the house in 1928 ; after he died it passed out of the family , until last spring , when the grandson had the pleasure of buying it back . Lew came through the door , and then what a tangle of big ...
Page 70
... standing side by side at the sink , and Kenny had emptied a glass , half full , down the drain , then filled it anew . " Just an ounce , " he said . " Ken , do you know that farmers don't have enough water for agri- culture because it's ...
... standing side by side at the sink , and Kenny had emptied a glass , half full , down the drain , then filled it anew . " Just an ounce , " he said . " Ken , do you know that farmers don't have enough water for agri- culture because it's ...
Page 156
... respite from her aunt , that in sudden high spirits she began to hum , and then to sing " Waltzing Matilda . " At Seneca Street they saw a woman out with her dog . The woman was standing beside her dog and then she was 156 Elizabeth Hay.
... respite from her aunt , that in sudden high spirits she began to hum , and then to sing " Waltzing Matilda . " At Seneca Street they saw a woman out with her dog . The woman was standing beside her dog and then she was 156 Elizabeth Hay.
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
answer asked aunt beautiful began beside better Bill called Cary coffee coming couldn't dark didn't Dinah don't door everything eyes face fall feel felt fern Fiona Frame front Garbo gave give glass going gone hair hand happened hard Harriet head hear heard heart interest It's Italy Jack Jane Kenny kids kitchen knew later laughed Leah leave light living looked mean mind morning mother moved movie never night once Pauline picture play reached remember side sitting sleep smile snow someone sound standing stayed steps stood stopped story street talk tell thing thought told took tree turned voice waiting walk watch week window woman women wonder write wrote