Between Two Rivers: A Novel (P.S.)

Within the walls of Echo Terrace, the world ... A beautifully resonant novel with a dazzling array of characters whose life stories are woven together into a breathtaking braid of love and memory. Farro Fescu is the proud and observant concierge of Echo Terrace, a condominium in New York City. Passing through his lobby at all hours of the night and day is an exotic cross-section of the world's population: an Egyptian-born plastic surgeon who lives on the fifth floor and specializes in gender reassignment; a fighter pilot, on the eighth floor, who flew for Nazi Germany during World War II; an Iraqi spice merchant and the world-famous crazy-patch quilter with whom he's having an affair; the adulterer's son, dreaming of becoming an undertaker; and the widow whose apartment is a jungle Eden filled with a menagerie of specimens -- finches, canaries, a defanged cobra, a monkey named Joe -- that had been the subject of her dead husband's research. Farro Fescu knows them all, knows all their secrets. He knows what happened to Yesenia Rivera, the nineteen-year-old staff housekeeper from Queens, when she took a fateful ride one evening on the Staten Island Ferry. He alone knows the truth behind the mysterious mishap that befell the fashion designer Ira Klempp, a resident of the twelfth floor. And he knows -- and would like to know much more -- about the alluring Mar#237;a Gracia Mo#241;o, sometime lover of Harry Falcon, the brilliant captain of industry who lives in the penthouse and is dying of cancer. He is keenly attuned to the building and the people in it, yet he does not know what is in his own heart -- why, after a long, hard life, he is still alive, and still alone. Nor does he know what he will be capable of in the face of sudden, overwhelming tragedy. As the narrative eye of Between Two Rivers floats from one apartment to another, revealing the characters' private histories and tracing the dramatic intersections of their daily lives, a lush tapestry of experience emerges. The story, in beautifully textured prose, is laced with wit and humor, subtle ironies and haunting echoes, and everywhere a profound sense of the resilience of the human spirit. "Farro Fescu is the proud and observant concierge of Echo Terrace, a condominium in New York City. Passing through his lobby at all hours of the night and day is an exotic cross-section of the world's population: an Egyptian-born plastic surgeon who lives on the fifth floor and specializes in gender reassignment; a fighter pilot, on the eighth floor, who flew for Nazi Germany during World War II; an Iraqi spice merchant and the world-famous crazy-patch quilter with whom he's having an affair; the adulterer's son, dreaming of becoming an undertaker; and the widow whose apartment is a jungle Eden filled with a menagerie of specimens - finches, canaries, a defanged cobra, a monkey named Joe - that had been the subject of her dead husband's research." "Farro Fescu knows them all, knows all their secrets. He knows what happened to Yesenia Rivera, the nineteen-year-old staff housekeeper from Queens, when she took a fateful ride one evening on the Staten Island Ferry. He alone knows the truth behind the mysterious mishap that befell the fashion designer Ira Klempp, a resident of the twelfth floor. And he knows - and would like to know much more - about the alluring Maria Gracia Mono, sometime lover of Harry Falcon, the brilliant captain of industry who lives in the penthouse and is dying of cancer." "He is keenly attuned to the building and the people in it, yet he does not know what is in his own heart - why, after a long, hard life, he is still alive, and still alone. Nor does he know what he will be capable of in the face of sudden, overwhelming tragedy."--BOOK JACKET.

farro Fescu Is The Proud And Observant Concierge Of Echo Terrace, A Condominium In New York City. Passing Through His Lobby At All Hours Is An Exotic Cross-section Of The World's Population: An Egyptian-born Plastic Surgeon Who Specializes In Gender Reassignment, A Fighter Pilot Who Flew For Nazi Germany During World War Ii, An Iraqi Spice Merchant And The World-famous Quilter With Whom He's Having An Affair, The Adulterer's Son Who Dreams Of Becoming An Undertaker, And The Widow Whose Apartment Is A Jungle Eden Filled With A Menagerie Of Specimens.

farro Fescu Knows Them All, Knows All Their Secrets. Yet He Does Not Know What Is In His Own Heart — Why, After A Long, Hard Life, He Is Still Alive, And Still Alone. Nor Does He Know What He Will Be Capable Of In The Face Of Sudden, Overwhelming Tragedy.

this P.s. Edition Features An Extra 16 Pages Of Insights Into The Book, Including Author Interviews, Recommended Reading, And More.

the Washington Post - Choire Sicha

… In The End, For All Its Terror, between Two Rivers Reveals Itself To Be A Very Gentle -- And Quite Deserved -- Polemic Against The Monstrousness Of Man.

Farro Fescu is the proud and observant concierge of Echo Terrace, a condominium in New York City. Passing through his lobby at all hours is an exotic cross-section of the world's population: an Egyptian-born plastic surgeon who specializes in gender reassignment, a fighter pilot who flew for Nazi Germany during World War II, an Iraqi spice merchant and the world-famous quilter with whom he's having an affair, the adulterer's son who dreams of becoming an undertaker, and the widow whose apartment is a jungle Eden filled with a menagerie of specimens. Farro Fescu knows them all, knows all their secrets. Yet he does not know what is in his own heart -- why, after a long, hard life, he is still alive, and still alone. Nor does he know what he will be capable of in the face of sudden, overwhelming tragedy A proud New York City condominium concierge witnesses the experiences of his diverse tenants, including an Egyptian-born plastic surgeon who specializes in gender reassignment, a German World War II fighter pilot, a world-famous quilter, and a cancer-stricken industrialist. By the author of Bridge Fall Down. Reader's Guide available. Reprint. 25,000 first printing. Within the walls of Echo Terrace, the world--a beautifully resonant novel that weaves together the life stories of a diverse range of characters into a breathtaking braid of love and memory. In Nora Abernooth' ninth-floor apartment, there are finches, canaries, three marmosets, a defanged cobra, a tortoise, and a macaw with blue and gold feathers.