Holiday Reading and Gift Idea: Marble City by Ari Kaufman

This post originally ran on November 25th, 2009. The books is, of course, still just as good, so I’m re-posting in case anyone is looking for a good Christmas present idea.

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As we wind things down here while another wonderful Thanksgiving weekend beckons, I want to issue a well-deserved shout out to our very own AJ Kaufman, whose first fiction book “Marble City” is now available for sale.

Follow the link to purchase “Marble City” for yourself or someone else. Why not snatch it up now as a Christmas gift or for a little holiday reading for yourself?

Book description after the jump.

From the “Marble City” page on iuniverse.com:

Isaac Hyde’s life is in flux. He has a wonderful wife and children, but necessity has taken him away for a year. Suddenly transplanted from familiar environs into a unique cultural arena of America, Isaac must adjust to an unfamiliar pace of life and form relationships with different individuals who become intertwined in his journey. What transpires during the next nine whirlwind months reawakens his sense of purpose and reminds him what matters most.

And here is a review of the book from Dr. Everett J. Nienhouse, Distinguished Merit Professor, Ferris State University.

“This tender story about a couple from distinctly different ethnic backgrounds is Kaufman’s first venture into fiction. His strong characters provide insight into the struggles of living, growing, and addressing problems that confront the modern family living in a metropolitan area.

The Jewish husband, Isaac, and his Catholic wife, Ana, wend their way through difficult times in their marriage and life’s work, struggles with their teenaged children, and politics within their working environment. When Isaac realizes that he has no upward mobility in his present job, he decides to pursue his Masters Degree at a university in “Marble City.” He strikes up a lovely personal friendship with a pregnant college student that enriches both of their lives. Meanwhile, Ana is pink-slipped, forcing the couple to consider relocation in the Midwest, which has drawn them to seek a quality of life they’ve come to value.

The book provides the reader with an appreciation for the beauty of America’s land, its history, its people, its passion for sports, and the importance of travel in confronting issues of consequence, which play a strong role in molding their characters and providing a solid basis for decision-making. A most interesting study, story line, and a very good read.”

I just purchased my copy. Looking forward to reading. Don’t hesitate to do the same, while in the process supporting a great, hard-working writer, and getting yourself what I anticipate will be a terrific book.

Update: Marble City can also now be purchased on Amazon.

Congratulations to AJ from everyone at MSF, where we do, in fact, read and write about stories other than those involving naked, hairy men being caught by police on hilariously, ironically named streets.