The Civilized World

A Novel in Stories

Fiction & Literature, Short Stories, Literary
Cover of the book The Civilized World by Susi Wyss, Henry Holt and Co.
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Susi Wyss ISBN: 9781429971973
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. Publication: March 29, 2011
Imprint: Holt Paperbacks Language: English
Author: Susi Wyss
ISBN: 9781429971973
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Publication: March 29, 2011
Imprint: Holt Paperbacks
Language: English

A glorious literary debut set in Africa about five unforgettable women—two of them haunted by a shared tragedy—whose lives intersect in unexpected and sometimes explosive ways

When Adjoa leaves Ghana to find work in the Ivory Coast, she hopes that one day she'll return home to open a beauty parlor. Her dream comes true, though not before she suffers a devastating loss—one that will haunt her for years, and one that also deeply affects Janice, an American aid worker who no longer feels she has a place to call home. But the bustling Precious Brother Salon is not just the "cleanest, friendliest, and most welcoming in the city." It's also where locals catch up on their gossip; where Comfort, an imperious busybody, can complain about her American daughter-in-law, Linda; and where Adjoa can get a fresh start on life—or so she thinks, until Janice moves to Ghana and unexpectedly stumbles upon the salon.

At once deeply moving and utterly charming, The Civilized World follows five women as they face meddling mothers-in-law, unfaithful partners, and the lingering aftereffects of racism, only to learn that their cultural differences are outweighed by their common bond as women. With vibrant prose, Susi Wyss explores what it means to need forgiveness—and what it means to forgive.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

A glorious literary debut set in Africa about five unforgettable women—two of them haunted by a shared tragedy—whose lives intersect in unexpected and sometimes explosive ways

When Adjoa leaves Ghana to find work in the Ivory Coast, she hopes that one day she'll return home to open a beauty parlor. Her dream comes true, though not before she suffers a devastating loss—one that will haunt her for years, and one that also deeply affects Janice, an American aid worker who no longer feels she has a place to call home. But the bustling Precious Brother Salon is not just the "cleanest, friendliest, and most welcoming in the city." It's also where locals catch up on their gossip; where Comfort, an imperious busybody, can complain about her American daughter-in-law, Linda; and where Adjoa can get a fresh start on life—or so she thinks, until Janice moves to Ghana and unexpectedly stumbles upon the salon.

At once deeply moving and utterly charming, The Civilized World follows five women as they face meddling mothers-in-law, unfaithful partners, and the lingering aftereffects of racism, only to learn that their cultural differences are outweighed by their common bond as women. With vibrant prose, Susi Wyss explores what it means to need forgiveness—and what it means to forgive.

More books from Henry Holt and Co.

Cover of the book Killing Patton by Susi Wyss
Cover of the book Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? by Susi Wyss
Cover of the book The Fox Was Ever the Hunter by Susi Wyss
Cover of the book The Beast of Blackslope by Susi Wyss
Cover of the book The Sue Grafton Collection: The Kinsey Millhone Novels (Books A-O) by Susi Wyss
Cover of the book Live Well on Less Than You Think by Susi Wyss
Cover of the book Eclipse by Susi Wyss
Cover of the book Tiger's Fall by Susi Wyss
Cover of the book Listen, Liberal by Susi Wyss
Cover of the book The Transformation by Susi Wyss
Cover of the book Why the Germans? Why the Jews? by Susi Wyss
Cover of the book Everything Is Miscellaneous by Susi Wyss
Cover of the book The Mammoth Academy in Trouble! by Susi Wyss
Cover of the book The Ridiculous Race by Susi Wyss
Cover of the book Gay Marriage by Susi Wyss
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy