John Miller
Fiction
“This is a tender, intimate story of courage...told with compassion and complexity.” “A Sharp Intake of Breath more than satisfies...[I]t reveals Miller as an impressive storyteller; one wonders what he’ll do next.” “Miller succeeds admirably in shaping a serious, imaginative novel about the jagged, often fractured, path taken for the sake of a worthy life.” “A Sharp Intake of Breath resounds with a unique and authentic voice...a heartwarming and potent piece of fiction.” Award:
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A Sharp Intake of BreathCleft palate, hare lip, serpent tongue: this was little Herman Wolfman’s affliction from his birth in 1917. Also shaping his life is a glorious jewel, known as The Orange Sunset. This unique 36-carat amber colored diamond brooch, surrounded by 12 emeralds, is owned by Rupert and Oonah MacNabb, wealthy employers of Herman’s sister Bessie. When Oonah suspects an affair between Rupert and Bessie, she plants it among Bessie’s belongings to discredit her. Bessie discovers it, and Herman, accompanied by his other sister Lil, breaks into the house to return it. When he is caught, he tosses it out the window to Lil hidden in the shadows below. Herman, already embarked on a life of petty crime, sacrifices himself for his two sisters. He can’t reveal Oonah MacNabb’s plot without ruining Bessie’s chances for marriage. And Lil, a brilliant medical student, known in intellectual circles for her friendship with the leading 1930s activist, Emma Goldman, has a life of promise ahead of her. Herman is jailed for 11 years, and Lil leaves the diamond with Emma in St. Tropez in the hope of selling it. Decades later, Herman embarks on a quest for the cursed Orange Sunset. John Miller offers an absorbing tale, rich with detail and vivid characters. Herman, nicknamed Toshy, is unforgettable. His struggles to overcome a speech impediment which makes him appear slow to outsiders, his loyalty to his loving sisters, his eventual, hard-won happiness, make him a joy to know. |
