Spanning the late 1970s to the late 1980s, Nadia Bozak’s thirteen stories are narrated from the perspective of Shell, the only child of bohemian artisans determined to live off their handicrafts and uphold a left-wing lifestyle. At the age of five, Shell’s world is transformed when the family moves into a new house, where she grows up. Over time, she gradually trades her unconventional upbringing for junk food, rock music, and boys. All the while, Shell quietly watches her parents’ loveless marriage fall apart and learns to survive divorce, weight gain, heartache, and first love.
A funny, sensitive portrayal of the innocence and uncertainty of childhood and adolescence,Thirteen Shellsis a true-to-life collection that is as unforgettable as it is poignant.
A coming-of-age tale that resists the usual clich?s to focus on the telling details that reveal the essence of a life.?The linked-collection form is well-suited to this exploration of identity since the stories can be read in isolation or in any order, but read straight through they function as a coming-of-age novel, a full and satisfying bildungsroman. Like a shell necklace, beauty can be found in both the parts and the whole&Though Thirteen Shells departs from Bozaks earlier fiction in terms of content, the quality of this new offering is consistent with the first two widely acclaimed novels. Bozak is a talented writer and brings insight and beauty to her account of a southwestern Ontario childhood.Thirteen Shells is a true-to-life account of a totally captivating character, another unforgettable work of fiction from [Nadia Bozak]As a vivid picture of growing up in the 80s, Thirteen Shells is a landmark.richly detailed...There's a grittiness and emotional dynamism in these... talesNadia Bozaks coming-of-age snapshots are a gentle reminder of all thats immediate and fleeting. Wistful, distinct, and full of life.Unflinching and forgiving,?sentimental and unsparing. NadlƒE
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