Jan 03, 20 stephen daus the book of jonas is one of those rare, shattering, lingering, breathtakingatunexpectedmoments debut novels that arrive so perfectly formed youre left both haunted wondering what you could possibly read next to dispel the terror and grateful utterly so, that you were provided this literary gift. The book of jonas by stephen dau great pick for 2020. Stephen daus the book of jonas is one of those rare, shattering, lingering, breathtakingatunexpectedmoments debut novels that arrive so perfectly formed youre left both haunted wondering what you could possibly read next to dispel the terror and. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. The book of jonas is a great combination of emotional drama and compelling mystery. Stephen dau is originally from western pennsylvania. His village in an unnamed muslim, middle eastern country is destroyed under. A topten favorite book of 2012 from sam sacks of the wall street journal a booklist editors choice. Dau sketches jonas brilliantly, empathetically, writing with spare, clear language in the third person, a. Stephen dau books list of books by author stephen dau. His work has appeared in ploughshares, the pittsburgh postgazette, the. In daus debut fiction, younis, a perceptive, observant boy in a nameless central. After graduating from the university of pittsburgh, he moved to paris to attend graduate school, then on to a career in postwar reconstruction and international development that took him to sarajevo, serbia and albania.
What is the effect of this layering of different perspectives and time frames. Library journal with its spare prose and nuanced plot that loops back and forth chronologically, daus first novel is an absolutely compelling account of the damage done to all sides by armed conflict. The book of jonas is remarkable both for the story it tells and the way it tells it. Its a quick read, but definitely one that is worth it. Buy the book of jonas by stephen dau from amazons fiction books store. Told in spare, evocative prose, the book of jonas is about memory, about the terrible choices made during war, and about what happens when foreign disaster appears at our own doorstep. An exceptional debut novel about a young muslim war orphan whose family is killed in a military operation gone wrong, and the american. Adjusting to his new life in america proves more difficult than jonas originally thought. Mar 01, 2012 the book of jonas, a novel written by stephen dau and published in 2012. Stephen dau worked for ten years in postwar reconstruction and international development prior to studying creative writing at johns hopkins university and bennington, where he received an mfa. Christopher and jonas each commit acts that would seem to invite judgment, but stephen dau is much more interested in investigating the causes of their actionsand the extraordinary consequences that result from the unlikely intersection of their livesthan in moral condemnation. Daus riffs on the young mans life recall the dense beauty of michael ondaatjes the english patient.
Stephen dau writes with remarkable precision, vitality and honesty. This is a book where the main characters arent quite what they seem, which certainly is confusing from time to time, but that doesnt detract from the power of the story. Stephen dau when his family is killed during an errant u. Mar, 20 the book of jonas by stephen dau, 9780452298972, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. He is taken in by an international relief organization and adopted by a christian family in pittsburgh, pa. An exceptional debut novel about a young muslim war orphan whose. Its the story of a boy, jonas, from a middle eastern country presumably iraq where his village is destroyed in a us military raid. The book of jonas is a 2012 debut literary novel by american writer stephen dau.
The narrative of the book of jonas proceeds in short chapters, jumpcuts between jonass present life, his past, christophers journal entries, his interactions with his therapist, and chapters devoted to roses efforts on behalf of the families of soldiers missing in action. An exceptional debut novel about a young muslim war orphan whose family is killed in a military operation gone wrong, and the american soldier to whom his fate, and survival, is bound. The book of jonas paperback the elliott bay book company. The book of jonas an exceptional debut novel about a young muslim war orphan whose family is killed in a military operation gone wrong, and the american soldier to whom his fate, and survival, is bound. Stephen dau has written a most enigmatic and satisfying novel that delivers a story of loss as publicly broad as it is personally intimate. Mandated to see a therapist, jonas begins to explore what happened. I liked that the book was not specific to a certain country and did not take sides, allowing the reader to really empathize with all of the characters.
This is one of those books that starts in the middle and cryptically works its way out with clues to the story. In addition to his debut novel, the book of jonas, his work has appeared in the pittsburgh postgazette, mcsweeneys, and msnbc, among other places. Originally from western pennsylvania, he lives in brussels, belgium. Would you try another book from stephen dau andor simon vance. What could stephen dau have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you. The book of jonas is a compelling novel that describes the human cost of war and the longlasting effects on the human mind. It is a rare and virtuosic novel from an exciting new writer to watch. He worked for ten years in postwar reconstruction and international development prior to studying creative writing, at johns hopkins university and bennington, where he received an mfa.
In moments, dau s riffs on the young mans life recall the dense beauty of michael ondaatje s the english patient. Best adult books for young adults, 2012 dau sketches jonas brilliantly, empathetically, writing with spare, clear language in the third person, a point of view encompassing the distance necessary for emotional clarity. Review a sobering and accomplished read meant to prick the conscience. The book takes its name from the book of jonah of the hebrew bible and features themes of war and its effect on others. Stephen dau worked for ten years in postwar reconstruction and international development prior to studying creative writing. Mar 14, 2012 the book of jonas paperback by stephen dau. Steven galloway, author of the cellist of sarajevo this is first rate, original, powerful storytelling. Stephen dau is a 45yearold american author, born in penselvanya. Jonas, and was so anxious to get to the end and figure the whole story out. Stephen dau attended university of pitsburg, johns hopkins university, and bennington college. He survives and comes to america where his transition isnt very smooth read. The book of jonas by stephen dau, 9780452298972, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
And by so deftly exploring the inner lives of jonas, christopher, and rosethe torments each has sufferedthe book of jonasoffers a nuanced and deeply reflective novel about the effects of war that are still unfolding around us. The book of jonas npr coverage of the book of jonas by stephen dau. With the help of an international relief organization. Stephen dau is from western pennsylvania and lives in brussels. The book of jonas by stephen dau overdrive rakuten. The book of jonas by stephen dau author simon vance narrator. Dau sketches jonas brilliantly, empathetically, writing with spare, clear language in the third person, a point of view encompassing the distance necessary for emotional clarity. In fiction, peter camerons complicated romance, mohammed hanifs tale of unwelcome inheritance, kathryn harrisons historical drama, and stephen daus bildungsroman arrive in. The book of jonas by stephen dau 2012, cd, unabridged for. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Reading the book, i felt like i was there with the main character, jonas, and was so anxious to get to the end and figure. Like that book, the book of jonas is a tale obsessed with the way war can fracture memory and cauterize the place where love can beginif only our news had such radical belief in the power of empathy. In his debut novel, dau chronicles the human cost of war with the alternating stories of. An exceptional debut novel about a young muslim war orphan whose family is killed in a military operation gone wrong, and the american soldier to whom his.
The book was published in english on march 15, 2012 by blue rider press. Stephen dau wrote the book of jonas, which can be purchased at a lower price at thriftbooks. The book of sunnys bookshelf photo by judy solomon. Christopher and jonas each commit acts that would seem to invite judgment, but stephen dau is much more interested in investigating the causes of their actions. The book of jonas a novel by stephen dau by stephen dau. His work has appeared in mcsweenys, pittsburgh postgazette, on msnbc, and elsewhere. Jonas is fifteen when his family is killed during an errant u. The book of jonas ebook by stephen dau 9781101561058.
The book of jonas hardcover march 15, 2012 by stephen dau author. Mar 15, 2012 listen to book of jonas audiobook by stephen dau. February 09, 2012 a central metaphor lies at the heart of this debut novel. The book of jonas by stephen dau 2012, cd, unabridged. Rich with symbolism, marvelously descriptive in languagethe expression of a young boy playing poker. The book of jonas by stephen dau begins on a fateful night when the family of jonas, a 15 year old muslim is killed by americans. The book of jonas by stephen dau is the story of 15 year old younis. The novel, the book of jonas is written by stephen dau and is a fiction book that takes place in the middle east and the united states in the state of pennsylvania. The story is about a 15yearold boy named younis when his village is attacked and his whole family is killed. Though ive never been in the situations stephen dau describes, every word rings true ntinued. Jean thompson, national book award finalist and author of the year we left home this is an utterly riveting debut.
The book of jonas, a novel written by stephen dau and published in 2012. Originally from western pennsylvania, stephen dau attended the university of pittsburgh before working in postwar reconstruction in the balkans and international philanthropy. Stephen dau unraveled a thoughtprovoking narrative, which surprised me from time to time, and definitely kept me hooked. Digital audiobook 3142012 mp3 cd 3152012 compact disc 3152012 hardcover 3152012 prerecorded audio player 3152012.
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