Novelist peter behrens fascination with his irishcanadian family served as the inspiration for his two latest novels, the law of dreams and, most recently, the obriens. In joe obriengrandson of a potatofamine emigrant, and a backwoods boy, railroad magnate, patriarch, brooding soulpeter behrens gives us a fiercely compelling man who exchanges isolation and poverty. March 17, 2012 peter behrens new novel starts with a teen, ends with a railroad magnate, and covers plenty of ground in between. In joe obrienbackwoods boy, railroad magnate, brooding soulpeter behrens gives us a fiercely compelling man who exchanges isolation and poverty in the canadian wilds for a share in the. In joe obrienbackwoods boy, railroad magnate, patriarch, brooding soulpeter behrens gives us a fiercely compelling character who exchanges isolation and poverty in the canadian wilds for a share in the dazzling possibilities and consuming. The obriens author peter behrens on his grandfather. The obriens by behrens, peter author paperback 20 peter behrens on.
In joe o brien backwoods boy, railroad magnate, brooding soul peter behrens gives us a fiercely compelling man who exchanges isolation and poverty in the canadian wilds for a share in the dazzling. Feb 23, 2016 peter behrenss first novel, the law of dreams, won the governor generals literary award, canadas most prestigious book prize, and has been published in nine languages. In the video below, behrens discusses the obriens and reads, from its pages, a letter from a world war ii soldier to his wife back home in montreal. The new york times called his second novel, the obriens 2011, a major achievement. Presentiments like this come early and often in peter behrenss otherwise impressive new novel, the obriens, which follows four generations of an irish family from the wilds of quebec. The obriens is a family story unlike any told before, a tale that pours straight from the heart of a splendid, tragic, ambitious clan. Behrens will read from and sign the new paperback edition of his novel the obriens. His debut novel, the law of dreams, won the 2006 governor generals award for english fiction, and was shortlisted for the rogers writers trust fiction prize, the commonwealth writers prize, the cba libris award for fiction book of the year, and the amazon. His stories and essays have appeared in many publications, including the atlantic and tin house. Peter behrens the obriens tattered cover book store. Apr 18, 2012 jeff glor talks to peter behrens about his new book, the obriens, and how his grandfather was the inspiration for the book a tough guy who made a fortune in the railroad business.
Peter behrens the obriens politics and prose bookstore. A multigenerational canadian epic peter behrens new novel starts with a teen, ends with a railroad magnate, and covers plenty of ground in between. Peter behrens the obriens thursday, march 8, 2012 7. Peter behrens talks about how his grandfather was the inspiration for his new book, the obriens. Thanks to his publisher, house of anansi press, kevinfromcanada is honored to present a guest post from author peter behrens. Peter behrens s first novel, the law of dreams, won the governor generals award for fiction and has been published in nine languages. Peter behrenss family came to canada in the 1840s on a coffin ship. Peter behrens discusses his novel, the obriens, a family story that spans half a century on the leonard lopate show, nyc. Mar 25, 2012 presentiments like this come early and often in peter behrenss otherwise impressive new novel, the obriens, which follows four generations of an irish family from the wilds of quebec.
The obriens collier county public library overdrive. Apr 18, 2012 peter behrens talks about how his grandfather was the inspiration for his new book, the obriens. Jan 01, 2008 i was very much looking forward to reading this new peter behrens novel, the obriens, and it did turn out to be one of those family saga books that i enjoy, tracing the life of joe obrien, his brothers grattan and tom, and joes family over the almost 70 years. Peter behrens discusses his novel, the obriens radio. The o briens is a family story unlike any told before, a tale that pours straight from the heart of a splendid, tragic, ambitious clan. Pb talks about the obriens and the obriens with shelagh rogers cbc. Peter behrens is the author of the law of dreams which received canadas governor generals literary award for fiction and night driving, a collection of short stories. Third novel carry me another meditation on history and destiny. Novel the obriens 2012 called a major accomplishment by nytbr. In joe obriengrandson of a potatofamine emigrant, and a backwoods boy, railroad magnate, patriarch, brooding soulpeter behrens gives us a fiercely compelling man who exchanges isolation and poverty in. Buy a cheap copy of the obriens book by peter behrens.
The obriens author peter behrens on his grandfather youtube. Like the characters in his new novel, the obriens, peter behrens has spent much of his life effortlessly crossing the canadau. Peter behrens talks about how his extended family felt about turning their story into his novel. Buy the paperback book carry me by peter behrens at indigo. An unforgettable saga of love, loss, and exhilarating change spanning half a century in the lives of a restless family, from the author of the acclaimed novel the. Jul 22, 2011 like the characters in his new novel, the obriens, peter behrens has spent much of his life effortlessly crossing the canadau. Behrens will read from and sign the new paperback edition of his novel the obriens vintage, an unforgettable saga of love, loss, and change spanning half a century in the lives of a restless patriarch and his splendid, tragic, ambitious clan. In joe obrien backwoods boy, railroad magnate, patriarch, brooding soul peter behrens gives us a fiercely compelling character who exchanges isolation and poverty in the canadian wilds for a share in the dazzling possibilities and consuming sorrows of the twentieth century. In joe obrienbackwoods boy, railroad magnate, brooding soulpeter behrens gives us a fiercely compelling man who exchanges isolation and poverty in the canadian wilds for a share in the dazzling possibilities and. It is, therefore, deeply satisfying to read a saga as intimate and profound as the obriens. Peter behrens s first novel, the law of dreams, won the governor generals award, canadas most prestigious book prize, and has been published in nine languages. Peter behrens interviewed by jacki lyden on nprs weekend edition in 2012. Peter behrens is the author of the obriens and the law of dreams which received canadas governor generals literary award for fiction and was published around the world to wide acclaim and night driving, a collection of short stories.
Family connections in the obriens the obriens is a novel its fiction but also a family story, for me. In the character of joe obrien ambitious railroad magnate and industrialist, fiercely loyal family man, brooding troubled soul he gives us one of the most compelling and complex characters to come along in years. In joe obrienbackwoods boy, railroad magnate, brooding soulpeter behrens gives us a fiercely compelling man who exchanges isolation and poverty in the canadian wilds for a share in the dazzling possibilities. The obriens is an unforgettable saga of love, loss, and change spanning half a century in the lives of a restless patriarch and his splendid, tragic, ambitious clan. Apr 10, 2012 peter behrens s t he obriens peter behrens is the author of the obriens and the law of dreams which received canadas governor generals literary award for fiction and was published around the world to wide acclaim and night driving, a collection of short stories. Starvation, which can be a powerful motivator for characters, to say nothing of their authors, is absent from this second stab. Buy the paperback book the obriens by peter behrens at indigo. In joe obrienbackwoods boy, railroad magnate, patriarch, brooding soulpeter behrens gives us a fiercely compelling character who exchanges isolation and poverty in the canadian wilds for a share in the dazzling possibilities and consuming sorrows of. His debut novel, the law of dreams, won the 2006 governor generals award for. Mar 16, 2012 behrenss latest novel, the obriens, picks up with joe, grandson of fergus, in late 19thcentury canada. An unforgettable saga of love, loss, and exhilarating change spanning half a century in the lives of a restless family. Spanning 60 years, this chronicle of an irishcanadian family is the second novel from the canadian behrens the law of dreams, 2006.
The obriens front range downloadable library overdrive. In joe obrien backwoods boy, railroad magnate, patriarch, brooding soul peter behrens gives us a fiercely compelling character who. I was very much looking forward to reading this new peter behrens novel, the obriens, and it did turn out to be one of those family saga books that i enjoy, tracing the life of joe obrien, his brothers grattan and tom, and joes family over the almost 70 years. The obriens by peter behrens meet your next favorite book. A family saga spanning half a century in the lives of a restless and ambitious clan starts with the story of backwoods youthturnedrailroad magnate joe obrien, who after leaving the canadian wilds and sharing a passionate courtship with iseult, becomes the patriarch of a family that sees the first airplanes, two world wars and the election. The obriens follows the family from the law of dreams two generations later. I must say i do long for the days of prepsychology, where people acted on their authentic impulses, and just kept on keeping on.
Joe obrien is coming of age in a new century in remote pontiac county, quebec, with his two brothers and two sisters. This was a name given to ships filled with starving immigrants from ireland who were fleeing the potato famine, called in. Library journal peter behrens s family saga the o briens pantheon spans the first half of the canadian twentieth century, finding a parallel epic in an unforgettable narrative of marriage. Peter behrens is a master of the art of storytelling. His collection of short stories, travelling light, was reissued in 20. Born and raised in montreal, where he attended lower. Its 1900, and the five obrien siblings are struggling to survive in barren rural quebec. Buy this book afamily saga spans the 20th century, from pontiac. Peter behrens born 1954 is a canadianamerican novelist, screenwriter and short story writer. Jeff glor talks to peter behrens about his new book, the obriens, and how his grandfather was the inspiration for the book a tough guy who made a. Peter behrens adjunct professor colorado college linkedin. Listed by npr best books of 2016 and finalist, 2016 national jewish book. Peter behrenss family saga the o briens spans the first half of the canadian twentieth century, finding a parallel epic in an unforgettable narrative of marriage.
Mar 12, 20 novelist peter behrens fascination with his irishcanadian family served as the inspiration for his two latest novels, the law of dreams and, most recently, the obriens. Mar 08, 2012 peter behrens the o briens thursday, march 8, 2012 7. In joe o briengrandson of a potatofamine emigrant, and a backwoods boy, railroad magnate, patriarch, brooding soulpeter behrens gives us a fiercely compelling man who exchanges isolation and poverty in the canadian wilds for a share in the dazzling riches and consuming sorrows of the twentieth century. Peter behrens eagerly awaited second novel is the obriens. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. Behrenss latest novel, the obriens, picks up with joe, grandson of fergus, in late 19thcentury canada. The obriens is a family story unlike any you have read, a tale that pours straight from the heart of a splendid, tragic, ambitious clan. Jul 05, 2011 4 responses to the obriens, by peter behrens leroyhunter says. Peter behrens is a canadian novelist, screenwriter and short story writer. The book s opening section, ashling from the irish word for a vision. The obriens follows the family from the law of dreams two generatio. He is also the author of the more about peter behrens. Behrens s characters are engaging and the history of the various cities, budding industries, and wars expertly handled.
Peter behrenss first novel, the law of dreams, won the governor generals award, canadas most prestigious book prize, and has been published in nine languages. Aug 02, 2011 peter behrens s family came to canada in the 1840s on a coffin ship. He is the author of two collections of short stories, night driving and. Peter behrenss novel tracks four generations of an irish family in north america. The obriens the free library of philadelphia overdrive. The power and pain of being asian american during the coronavirus crisis scheer intelligence. Peter behrenss first novel, the law of dreams, won the governor generals literary award, canadas most prestigious book prize, and has been published in nine languages. His debut novel, the law of dreams, won the 2006 governor generals award for english fiction.
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