Away: A Novel | 
| Manufacturer: Random House
Category: EBooks
List Price: $10.00
Buy New: $8.00
You Save: $2.00 (20%)
Avg. Customer Rating:  110 reviews
Sales Rank: 1189
Format: Kindle Book
Media: Kindle Edition
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 256
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
ASIN: B000SEOOYQ
Publication Date: August 21, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Product Description
Panoramic in scope, Away is the epic and intimate story of young Lillian Leyb, a dangerous innocent, an accidental heroine. When her family is destroyed in a Russian pogrom, Lillian comes to America alone, determined to make her way in a new land. When word comes that her daughter, Sophie, might still be alive, Lillian embarks on an odyssey that takes her from the world of the Yiddish theater on New York’s Lower East Side, to Seattle’s Jazz District, and up to Alaska, along the fabled Telegraph Trail toward Siberia. All of the qualities readers love in Amy Bloom’s work–her humor and wit, her elegant and irreverent language, her unflinching understanding of passion and the human heart–come together in the embrace of this brilliant novel, which is at once heartbreaking, romantic, and completely unforgettable.
From the Hardcover edition.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 105 more reviews...
 Started of well....then I just got tired of all the sordid sex details October 8, 2008
There was a lot of sex, womanizing, prostitution in the 1920s, and "Away" provided too much content in that area, at least for my taste. I stopped when Lillian arrived in canada, I just didn't have the stomach for more sex and prostitution descriptions. Take out 50% of that mentioned above, and I could have finished it.
 Pass This One Up! September 29, 2008
I received this book from someone else while on a trip, and frankly will question their book referrals from now on.
This was poorly written. I am surprised at this, given that the author is a professor in writing. The plot started out well but turned into what I can only describe as a script for an adult film. No meaning, lots of unnecessary sexual scenarios, completely unbelievable situations, all to no end. It just seemed like a set up for disheartening sexual encounters. How depressing, humiliating for the main character, and disturbing for the reader. What was the point? No point really.
I am also surprised by all the good reviews. This tells me that people don't really care about the quality of what they read anymore. There is no believable story line here. This is a trashy novel gone mainstream. Come on people, we deserve better.
A sordid and pointless tale September 28, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The only reason I kept reading this book was because it is my book club group's next book and I wanted to be able to attend the meeting.
All I keep thinking while reading this book was will this story ever make a point? Lillian was a character that I totally did not care about. She plods through the pages having superficial, patronizing relationships with people and has sex at the drop of a hat with anyone, as if it's as simple as having a cup of coffee. She seems to be a zombie with nightmares every day until towards the end where they are not even mentioned anymore. Whatever morals she started out with she totally gives up on. I didn't care about her quest to find Sophie, as Lillian's emotions or lack thereof never seemed to even fit. A strong woman? No! A truly ugly person, inside and out? Yes! Don't waste your time on this book!
 Intimiate character study September 25, 2008
AWAY was inspired by the true life story of a woman who attempted to trek through Alaska to Russia. Bloom's protaganist, Lillian, a recent Russian immigrant in the 1920's New York is determined to return to Russia to find her lost daughter. She treks across the country, encountering all sorts of people, finally landing in Alaska, where she faces the ultimate choice and where her fate, and her hope of finding her daughter, is decided.
Bloom is an incredibly skilled and sensitive writer. Her turns of phrase and subtle, nuanced writing makes the work worth your time. While the plot starts off strong, incorporating interesting period details of Lillian's time in New York, once Lillian leaves New York the story struggles to find purpose other than Lillian's quest. Lillian seems to have become a pawn to help the author further explore her themes.
But, the true value of the book is not Lillian's journey, but her fascinating characterizations of the supporting characters Lillian meets along the way. These characters are unique creations, and she brilliantly explores each one with loving and tender detail.
Each character Lillian meets along the way reaffirms the author's dedication to exploring themes of love. It is this exploration, the well drawn ancilliary chracters and the period details that made me adore this book.
 Adventures Unlimited September 17, 2008
I can hear my creative writing teacher and probably Amy Bloom's, "When you don't know what to do next with your character, throw rocks at her."
Lillian Leyb, the heroine of Bloom's "Away," is constantly bruised, but never broken. She endures a pogrom that wipes out her entire family, the good and the bad of New York's immigrant community, a journey out west, life on the streets of Seattle, and an epic walk through Alaska, all in search of "what if"--what if her daughter survived the pogrom, what if Lillian can reunite with her daughter by getting herself to Siberia?
Although there are improbable incidents and some characters the reader may question, Lillian's pluck and luck make it a journey worth taking. I loved this book. In fact, I hope Ms. Bloom decides to take the chapter on "Chinky Chang" and give her audience an entire book on the fascinating Chang family!
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