Almost Strangers

By Delsa Winer

Book Overview

How two women seek and embrace freedom is at the heart of Delsa Winer's stunning first novel "At fort, Ursula Korfield Gant believes she is independent of the usual pleasure people seek and connections they covet. She lives alone, although there are men who've had, for a while, resident status." Thus begins Delsa Winer's engrossing novel, at once terrifying and full of hope. When her mother dies, the shattered Ursula retreats for distant shores, abandoning Daniel, her lover, and the safe boundaries of her life. Meanwhile, Daniel's wife, Cissy, is tormented by a different loss -- she knows of her husband's betrayal -- and she, too, leaves. Both women end up in the same plane crash, and each ventures into the world unknowable and unable to return to the past. The mystery of their fates is the force that drives this emotional journey through the many faces of female identity in all its beauty, chaos, and compassion. At once ironic and moving, Almost Strangers is a love story, a suspense story, and a novel about starting over.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743212320
• ISBN13: 9780743212328
• Release Date: December 2002
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.8" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Haunting

This haunting and inspired novel is one whose gripping images remain with the reader long after the book is put down. As someone recently out of a relationship and in transition in my life, the image of a woman whose identity is lost and is being reshaped was profoundly compelling. In that, the book quietly and subtly offers hope and possibility, recognizing the everpresent dangers and possibilities of life changes. For anyone swirling from the unexpected turns life sends, this book will become a welcome partner.

a woman's search for identity

Ms. Winer's graphic images of identiy diffusion and formation are something every woman can relate to. The connection between her protagonist's intensely close relationship with her mother and the resulting confusion she has about intimacy is profound. This is a terrific first novel and one that will stay with you long after you close the book.

Questioning

Delsa Winer's fast moving, provocative novel, Almost Strangers calls into question the difficult task of reinventing oneself. As a woman I identified with the female characters in this book. Life subjects us to many changes: adolescence to adulthood, career changes, personal relationships all bring dramatic shifts to one's identity. In reading Almost Strangers I began to ask, Do I want to reinvent myself? For me, the most difficult task is to find out who I am. It would be wonderful to free myself of the demons of memory. But then, who would I be? Can we bypass our experiences? If so, we may rid ourselves of the pain, but also the joy of self-discovery. I believe we fool ourselves into thinking we can avoid the consequences of our beginnings. Almost Strangers helped me confirm some of my convictions.

A real page turner

This is a great read, after the first few scenes it gets impossible to put down, it thrills the reader to the end. The author combines a wonderful imagination with a witty style filled with unusual descriptions. The plot gives pause and makes one think about their own life and relationships.

An amazingly touching story

I have to admit the first time I saw the cover of this book I went like, "Oh, this must've been another Harlequin type'. But then my friend recommended(or force, more likely) me to read this book. And after finishing it, I learned that I was so wrong. It's nothing like the usual romance novels I've read. Delsa Winer definitely is well talented. She's capable in combining words into great lines, the easy-to-understand ones, but still have their beauty in it. The plot line was encouragingly strong, and Winer had managed to add up some 'spice' in it, which made the story even better. The connections between the characters were very clear and acceptable. Say, the part where Crissy and Ursula met again long after the flight accident. They didn't know each other by that moment. They had no idea about their hidden history. Then, they found out the whole deal and the bomb dropped. They knew how they used to be enemies, but they still had a friendship, though an uncomfortable one, for the needs to know that they actually have someone to lean on. I must say that's my favourite part of the entire book. Teary, but worth it. I guarentee this book will be a perfect fall material for any romance novels digger.