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The Tin Horse: A Novel - Janice Steinberg
The Tin Horse: A Novel
by: (author)
3.75 40
In the stunning tradition of Lisa See, Maeve Binchy, and Alice Hoffman, The Tin Horse is a rich multigenerational story about the intense, often fraught bond sisters share and the dreams and sorrows that lay at the heart of the immigrant experience. It has been more than sixty years since Elaine... show more
In the stunning tradition of Lisa See, Maeve Binchy, and Alice Hoffman, The Tin Horse is a rich multigenerational story about the intense, often fraught bond sisters share and the dreams and sorrows that lay at the heart of the immigrant experience. It has been more than sixty years since Elaine Greenstein’s twin sister, Barbara, ran away, cutting off contact with her family forever. Elaine has made peace with that loss. But while sifting through old papers as she prepares to move to Rancho Mañana—or the “Ranch of No Tomorrow” as she refers to the retirement community—she  is stunned to find a possible hint to Barbara’s whereabouts all these years later. And it pushes her to confront the fierce love and bitter rivalry of their youth during the 1920s and ’30s, in the Los Angeles Jewish neighborhood of Boyle Heights.   Though raised together in Boyle Heights, where kosher delis and storefront signs in Yiddish lined the streets, Elaine and Barbara staked out very different personal territories. Elaine was thoughtful and studious, encouraged to dream of going to college, while Barbara was a bold rule-breaker whose hopes fastened on nearby Hollywood. In the fall of 1939, when the girls were eighteen, Barbara’s recklessness took an alarming turn. Leaving only a cryptic note, she disappeared.    In an unforgettable voice layered with humor and insight, Elaine delves into the past. She recalls growing up with her spirited family: her luftmensch of a grandfather, a former tinsmith with tales from the Old Country; her papa, who preaches the American Dream even as it eludes him; her mercurial mother, whose secret grief colors her moods—and of course audacious Barbara and their younger sisters, Audrey and Harriet. As Elaine looks back on the momentous events of history and on the personal dramas of the Greenstein clan, she must finally face the truth of her own childhood, and that of the twin sister she once knew.   In The Tin Horse, Janice Steinberg exquisitely unfolds a rich multigenerational story about the intense, often fraught bonds between sisters, mothers, and daughters and the profound and surprising ways we are shaped by those we love. At its core, it is a book not only about the stories we tell but, more important, those we believe, especially the ones about our very selves.Advance praise for The Tin Horse  “Steinberg, the author of five mysteries, has transcended genre to weave a rich story that will appeal to readers who appreciate multigenerational immigrant family sagas as well as those who simply enjoy psychological suspense.”—BookPage   “Steinberg . . . has crafted a novel rich in faith, betrayal, and secrecy that explores the numerous ways people are shaped and haunted by their past. . . . A sweeping family saga reminiscent of the writing of Pat Conroy, where family secrets and flashbacks combine to create an engrossing tale of growth and loss. Highly recommended for fans of family drama and historical fiction.”—Library Journal   “Steinberg’s quietly suspenseful novel is compelling by virtue of her sympathetic characters, vivid depiction of WWII-era Los Angeles, and pinpoint illuminations of poverty, anti-Semitism, family bonds and betrayals, and the crushing obstacles facing women seeking full and fulfilling lives.”—Booklist
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Format: hardcover
ISBN: 9780679643746 (0679643745)
ASIN: 0679643745
Publisher: Random House, Inc.
Pages no: 352
Edition language: English
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Community Reviews
Sister Mary Murderous
Sister Mary Murderous rated it
4.0
Elaine Greenstein is archiving her life. In her mid-80s, the widowed, retired crusading lawyer is preparing to move to a retirement community and is cleaning out her house. She is assisted by Josh, a doctoral candidate at USC, who is helping identify material for an archive of her papers that the ...
Damn Good Books (or not)
Damn Good Books (or not) rated it
4.0
Not ready to rate or review...but, I would not compare it to A Tree Grows in Brooklyn". That's a publishers blurb I'm sure. This book can stand on its own, but might not get read if they didn't use some gimmick to get folks to buy it.
chapterseldomread
chapterseldomread rated it
The very first chapter is titled 'Elaine'.  This made me happy.  Thankfully, the fact that the leading character is called Elaine is not the only reason to like this novel. It's nicely written and Steinberg provides us with an interesting insight into life in America as a Jew after the war. All in...
Belle's Bookshelf
Belle's Bookshelf rated it
0.0
I got approved for this on Netgalley but there's no buttons to download or send to Kindle - only 'provide feedback'. Anybody else have this problem?
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