The Distance Home

Must a child's past define their future?'Luminous . . . heartbreaking . . . I haven't read anything this good in a long time' Rachel Joyce, author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold FryIn 1960s rural America two siblings grow up in a place of love and turmoil. Rene is the apple of her father's eye: an over-achiever, athletic, clever, the best brain in class, and the best dancer in school. Her older brother Leon, doted on by his mother, is shy, a stutterer, but also a brilliant dancer.Rene and Leon share a talent, but it is a gift their father adores in his daughter, and loathes in his son, and that could make all the difference. These two children may be best friends, but life promises to take them down very different paths . . .The Distance Home is the story of two children growing up side by side - the one given opportunities the other just misses - and the fall-out in their adult lives. Funny and tragic, both intimate and universal, Paula Saunders' debut is about how our parents shape the adults we become. It is a hugely moving story of devotion and neglect, impossible to put down - these are characters you will forever hold close to your heart.'Deeply involving . . . rich, shimmering, sensuous' Jennifer Egan, author of A Visit From the Goon Squad

“Honest, and true, and more - this soul-searching first novel offers everywhere that most mysterious and essential of artistic achievements: heart.”

Deeply involving . . . rich, shimmering, sensuous -- Jennifer Egan, author of A Visit From the Goon Squad
Stark and beautiful . . . luminous . . . Heartbreaking, full of compassion . . . I haven’t read anything this good in a long time -- Rachel Joyce, author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
A heartfelt tale of brutal parental love . . . one of the most convincing portraits of a mother-daughter bond that I have read . . . generous, humane The Times
Sensitively imagined and perceptively told . . . affecting and rewarding Daily Mail
Moving and startling . . . a true, and rare, accomplishment -- Michael Cunningham, author of The Hours
Riveting . . . it kept me turning pages in the wee hours. One of the best books I’ve read in years – destined to become a classic. -- Mary Karr, author of The Liars' Club
Saunders skillfully illuminates how time heals certain wounds while deepening others, and her depiction of aging is viscerally affecting . . . The Distance Home becomes a mediation of the violence of American ambition – and a powerful call for self-examination New York Times
Smart and empathetic, highlighting how prejudice can make us forget about love Elle Magazine
Evocative, moving and deeply immersive . . . There is an undeniable beauty to this epic portrayal of the complex and intimate nature of human relationships - well worth a read Woman & Home
Superb Irish Times
Slow-burning and contemplative . . . the emotional stakes are nevertheless high . . . exquisitely rendered by Saunders in long, perfect sentences Daily Telegraph
Incredibly assured Observer
Bracing and beautiful . . . it will break your heart and open it up -- Maile Meloy, author of Do Not Become Alarmed
Beautiful, tender . . . fans of Elizabeth Strout will love it Prima Magazine
An exquisite, searing portrait of family . . . The Distance Home will leave readers eager for more from this extraordinarily talented writer Booklist (starred review)
Penetrating and insightful Publishers Weekly
The author’s compassion for her characters shines through in this honest story Library Journal
Honest, and true . . . this soul-searching first novel offers everywhere that most mysterious and essential of artistic achievements: heart. -- Douglas Unger, author of Leaving the Land and Voices from Silence
Extraordinary . . . beautiful, evocative . . . The Distance Home is heart-breaking and full of compassion -- Dana Spiotta, author of Innocents and Others
A tender book Independent i
Beautifully written, atmospheric and emotionally powerful Northern Echo

Paula Saunders grew up in South Dakota. She is a graduate of the Syracuse University creative writing program, and was awarded a postgraduate Albert Schweitzer Fellowship in the Humanities at the State University of New York at Albany, under then-Schweitzer Chair, Toni Morrison. She lives in California with her husband. They have two grown daughters.

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