Author stewart onan was born in pittsburgh, pennsylvania on february 4, 1961 and grew up in pittsburgh, too. The definitive collection of fiction and nonfiction on the war. In this prequel to the beloved emily, alone, he offers an unsentimental, moving life story of a twentiethcentury everyman. The names of the dead is the second stand alone novel, which was released in the year 1996. Lately, stewart onan hasnt made it easy to recommend his novels. Stewart onans intimate new novel follows emily maxwell, a widow whose grown children have long moved away. Stewart onan is the author of sixteen previous novels, including west of sunset, the odds, emily alone, songs for the missing, last night at the lobster, a prayer for the dying, and snow angels. Granta named him one of americas best young novelists. Stewart onan born february 4, 1961 is an american novelist.
Stewart onan is the author of numerous books, including west of sunset, the odds, emily alone, snow angels, songs for the missing, and a prayer for the dying. Holiday visits from her children underscore fraught family relations. A bittersweet tale of love and longing from the bestselling author of last night at the lobster onans newest novel, city of secrets, is now available from viking. He was born and raised in pittsburgh, where he lives with his family. However, the story didnt resonate for me at the time. Acclaimed author stewart onan in conversation with nancy. His 2007 novel, last night at the lobster, was a national bestseller and a finalist for more about stewart onan.
The latest novel by stewart onan speed queen is an ideal book for a rainy, teasipping afternoon. Emily, alone is the second novel in the maxwell family series, which was released in the year 2011. Emily, alone is a sequel to wish you were here 2002, onans long, multifaceted story about a familys last summer vacation in chautauqua, n. A novel by stewart onan and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Stewart onan is the author of eleven novels, including snow angels and a prayer for the dying, a story collection, and two works of nonfiction. Stewart masterfully uses the setting in western pennsylvania to evoke the right feelings of grief, desolation, and loss. Stewart onan returns to the fictional maxwell family. A bittersweet tale of love and longing from the bestselling author of last night at the lobster. Stewart onans previous novels include city of secrets. She dreams of vists by her grandchildren while mourning the turnover of her quiet pittsburgh neighborhood, but when her sole companion and sisterinlaw arlene faints at their favorite breakfast buffet, emilys days change.
She dreams of visits by her grandchildren while mourning the turnover of her quiet pittsburgh neighborhood, but when her sole companion and sisterinlaw arlene faints at their favorite breakfast buffet, emilys days change. Reading emily, alone made me think of charles dickens. Emily, alone the moving companion novel to henry, himself and a bittersweet vision of love, family, and aging from bestselling author stewart onanonce again making the ordinary and overlooked not merely visible but vital to understanding our own lives, stewart onan confirms his position as an american master with emily, alone. A sequel to the bestselling, muchbeloved wish you were here, stewart onans intimate new novel follows emily maxwell, a widow whose. A true story of an american tragedy, and last night at the lobster, and more on. Efficient, practical, stubborn, frugal, and a lover of crosswords, church services, and baroque music, the closely observed emily is a sort of contemporary mrs. Emily alone, by stewart onan open discussion thread. Emily, alone, by stewart onan, is a book of quiet yet stunning beauty. She dreams of vists by her grandchildren while mourning the turnover of her quiet pittsburgh neighborhood, but when her sole companion and. Stewart onans books are not about poverty, lifes crises, gross. Stewart onan books in order publication order of emily maxwell books. Onan revisits emily, the maxell family matriarch from a prior book, wish you were alone. I had heard the author being interviewed on npr and was fascinated by the idea of a novel about a woman who is in the very latter years of her life.
Once again making the ordinary and overlooked not merely visible but vital to understanding our own lives, stewart onan confirms his position as an american master with emily, alone. His newest novel, henry, himself, published in april 2019. Reading and signing with stewart onan, author of emily, alone and the odds stewart onans thirteenth novel is another wildly original, bittersweet gem like his celebrated last night at the lobster. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful.
This is somewhat incongruous, because stewart onans novels are not crafted out of the complicated, multilayered plots. Stewart onan s awardwinning fiction includes snow angels, last night at the lobster, emily, alone, and west of sunset. Anyone who is seeking an actionbased book or a story arc as taught in college writing classes will be sorely stewart onan may simply be genetically incapable of writing a bad book. A sequel to the bestselling, muchbeloved wish you were here, stewart onans intimate new novel follows emily maxwell, a widow whose grown children have long moved away. From the author of last night at the lobster, a moving vision of love and family a sequel to the bestselling, muchbeloved wish you were here, stewart onans intimate new novel follows emily maxwell, a widow whose grown children have long moved away. In his new novel, emily, alone, stewart onan explores the topics of widowhood and old age but the book never feels stale, says fresh airs. Arlenes collapse at the restaurant dramatically closes the first chapter, but otherwise onans lowkey narrative bears out emilys uneasy sense that she was at an age where all was stillness and waiting. Set seven years later, in 2007, emily, alone o nans best novel yet finds his difficult heroine rattling around her pittsburgh house, her life no longer an urgent or necessary. Stewart onan audio books, best sellers, author bio. Stewart onan is renowned for illuminating the unexpected grace of everyday life and the resilience of ordinary people with humor, intelligence, and compassion. The only thing theyve got going for them is their superb quality. Stewart onans moodily comic novel emily, alone follows an 80yearold woman as she navigates the minutia of everyday life. See all books authored by stewart onan, including the circus fire.
Theres a calm, enveloping tone to the story that belies its unflinching exploration of a womans chronically discontented heart. This section of a biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. Stewart onan s awardwinning fiction includes snow angels, a prayer for the dying, last night at the lobster, and emily, alone. Once again making the ordinary and overlooked not merely visible but vital to understanding our own lives, stewart onan confirms his position as an american master with emily. Valentines weekend, art and marion fowler flee their cleveland suburb for niagara falls, desperate to recoup their losses. Over the past 17 years, hes written 11 novels well turn to the 12th in a moment as remarkable for their precise. I have been binge reading stewart onan novels lately and this book, emily, alone is a reread for me.