Heart Of New York
New York is the backdrop for a family Christmas full of complicated memories and new perspectives from critically acclaimed author, Emil Rem
The book is published by EICA Press and is available worldwide in print and e-book format
The adventure continues… In his second novel—another collection of beautifully written and illustrated stories—Emil takes us through perilous, sometimes humorous, and always fascinating tales of a past and present that seamlessly intertwine to create a personal narrative that will resonate with every reader.
…“The snow-flaked, fog-bound skyline of Manhattan loomed out at him as though through a powerful magnifying glass. His family had been promised a suite from which they could “experience the breathtaking vista of magnificent skyscrapers while sipping champagne from your balcony.” No skyline could be perceived. The giant buildings stood so terrifyingly close that they obliterated any sense of perspective. Through the swirling maelstrom, row upon row of offices soared to dizzying heights, bringing on such claustrophobia that he had to turn his back to retain his balance…”
Another passage refers to “the obligatory winter mix of snow-laden grey sky and face-slapping ocean wind.” But the author’s wry, sharp-eyed humor is always as warm as the weather is cold. Whether he’s fondly reflecting on the nicknames he’s given his sons or on his wife’s nature, he relates his tales and misadventures with wonderful care and relish. Even when these episodes verge on being grim (a long story about a serious legal battle with the Canada Revenue Agency, for instance, is in many ways the highlight of the book), Rem’s gimlet-eyed raconteur spirit is irrepressible.
And the balance of the volume’s antic, detailed escapades in New York reads like the most inviting kind of travelogue. An outsiders-in-New York story with plenty of chuckles and a lot of heart. ~ Kirkus Indie Review
More From Emil Rem:
The adventure continues… In his third novel—using his signature blend of personal memories interwoven with history and depictions of his ongoing travels, the author takes us through Spain and Gibraltar—creating an insightful narrative around a vivid host of characters and experiences on this journey to rediscover the ‘vanished’ landscapes of his culture and his childhood.
…“Sitting cross-legged in his tent, Prince Feisal laments, “But you know Lieutenant, in the Arab city of Cordova were two miles of public lighting in the streets when London was a village?”
“Yes, you were great,” Lawrence admitted. “Nine centuries ago.”
“Time to be great again, my lord.”
“My father is old and I…I long for the vanished gardens of Cordova.”
Cordova. The name hung over him like rich, intoxicating Arab perfume. He had longed to visit her since a child. What would she be like? Were her gardens still abloom? …”
The Vanished Gardens of Cordova eBook : Rem, Emil, Miller Hansen, Lorie: Amazon.ca: Kindle Store
EXACTLY WHAT IT SAYS ON THE TIN
Join Emil on his adventures around the world in a series of beautifully written and illustrated stories—heartfelt, and uniquely insightful this book will take you from England to Africa, from Canada to Cyprus—all through the author’s skillful storytelling lens…
…“As he gazed out at the revelers on the beach, he was transported to a beach in Africa, where a native boy peered at him from behind a sand dune, much as he had spent his life peering at the alien world around him, trying in vain to understand it, to make it more manageable.
And so he oscillated between the past and the present—the past so dangerously more real…”
“Pure gold.” —Tom Dixon—
Chasing Aphrodite: Stories of Life, Love & Travel eBook : Rem, Emil: Amazon.ca: Kindle Store
About Emil Rem:
Emil Rem—an eccentric accountant, has become a writer of eccentric characters in exotic locales—using his stories to take us on a trip into his fascinating twisted world. Born to a close-knit, Muslim, East Indian family in Dar-es-Salam in the 50’s, he then moved to Maidenhead, England at the age of five. The next twenty years were spent shuttling between England and East Africa—attending Christian church wearing a St. Christopher’s Cross one minute, to wearing a green armband at Muslim religious classes in Africa the next. These days, Emil and his wife (originally from the Philippines) live in Calgary, Canada. They have two sons.
More information can be found at: Meet Emil Rem | Author
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