"[Francesca Lia] Block writes about the real Los Angeles better than
anyone since Raymond Chandler."--The New York Times Book Review
"[Block] uses language like a jeweled sword glittering as it cuts to
the heart."--Kirkus Reviews
After enduring from afar a seemingly endless series of outside worldwide
disasters--including 9/11 and the Asian tsunami--while living in
earthquake-prone Los Angeles, a bereft Katrina experiences deep inner
longings for some sense of permanence, meaning, and intimacy. A
preschool teacher contemplating the unsettling challenges of her
mid-life, she finds solace in the company of her dear friend Grace, and
conflict in the arms of a narcissistic yoga instructor, Jasper.
In this intertwining series of emotionally charged stories, wistful
characters weave together a dance of joy and sorrow, gain and loss,
harmony and dissonance. Beautifully written, Quakeland speaks in a
deeply stirring female voice to an unspoken sense of universal longing
that seems quietly prevalent in these times. It is a brave, poetic work
that acknowledges the pain and loss we live with every day, and offers
hope--through art and through connection--of something more.
Francesca Lia Block is renowned for her groundbreaking novels and
stories, including the best-selling Weetzie Bat--postmodern,
magic-realist tales for all ages. Her work transports readers through
the harsh landscapes of contemporary life to magic realms of the senses
where love is always a saving grace. She lives in Los Angeles.
