The authors debut novel takes readers into the world of graham. Heinys first novel, standard deviation, brings it with a colorful cast of characters in modern day new york city. Life is a compilation not only of choices made, but opportunities missed, choices left to go to seed until the option to choose is gone, a collection of mistakes and mighthavebeens and shouldhavedones. Heinys debut novel is a witty and utterly realistic exploration of marriage, parenting, and. Standard deviation by katherine heiny, paperback barnes. A skimm reads pick washington post 50 notable works of fiction 2017.
The questions, discussion topics, and reading list that follow are intended to enhance your reading groups discussion of standard deviation, the debut novel from katherine heiny, acclaimed author of single, carefree, mellow 1. Buy standard deviation by katherine heiny from waterstones today. Laline paull, author of the bees i have been a fan of katherine heinys writing for years but my adoration of her reaches a new apex with this, her first novel, standard deviation. The epigraph for this novel, before you became my mistress i led a blameless life, is from a short story by laurie colwin. Audra is armed with a pronounced case of logorrhea, an untamed curiosity, an ability to befriend almost anyone. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Standard deviation, katherine heinys first novel, is about a marriage, and, as with marriage, it is easier to. Katherine heinys road to single, carefree, mellow the. Standard deviation is a marvel, says kate atkinson.
Theirs is no ordinary marriage, if such a thing exists. Katherine heinys characters are faultlessly realised in this tale of a chalkand cheese couple caring for a son with aspergers. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Katherine heiny s fiction has been published in the new yorker, ploughshares, narrative,glimmer train, and many other places.
Stylish, youngish and always saying outrageous things, audra is a firecracker who delights and embarrasses all at once. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on. Standard deviation, katherine heiny s first novel, is about a marriage, and, as with marriage, it is easier to catalog this novels individual sly charms than it is to nail down the essential. Graham has been married to audra for twelve years, but. The best feelgood novel around daily mail by heiny, katherine isbn. Fourth estate will publish katherine heinys new novel and story collection. Standard deviation wryly delves into the complications and contradictions inherent in good, longterm love and parenting a slightly more challenging child. From propping up the bar to working at the samaritans how.
Katherine heinys shortstory collection single, carefree, mellow is billed as a debut of sorts, but the road has been long. Audra is grahams muchyounger second wife and his former mistress, a fact that still causes some guilt and awkwardness in their marriage. While katherine heinys standard deviation is related to this kind of literary life, its characters have considerably more heart. In katherine heinys debut novel, standard deviation, we meet graham and audra cavanaugh, a typical new york couple with a city condo, a kid and a busy social life. Heiny is the author of standard deviation and single, carefree, mellow helen garnonswilliams, associate publisher. This first novel from heiny single, carefree, mellow meanders cheerfully along, making up for its relative lack of action with its humor and insight into characters. Standard deviation is a winning effort that smartly examines the ties that bind in even the most unlikely of marriagesheinys gift for quickwitted dialogue displays the skill of an observational comic. In her debut novel, the author of the charming short story collection single, carefree, mellow 2015 matures into new equally beguiling terrain, exploring marriage, fidelity, friendship, and parenting its easy to see why graham, onehalf of the new york city couple at the center of heiny s first novel, is enthralled by his wife of 12 years, audra. Her fiction has been published in the new yorker, ploughshares, narrative, glimmer train, and many other publications. At its center is the cavanaugh clan graham, audra and their son. But, of course, in katherine heinys novel standard deviation, it doesnt take long to discover that all is not, in fact, perfect. Standard deviation is a winning effort that smartly examines the ties that bind in even the most unlikely of marriages.
Second thoughts about a second marriage in standard. Katherine heiny is the author of single, carefree mellow, a collection of short stories. Despite its title, theres nothing mathematical about standard deviation, katherine heinys debut novel. This is the discussion guide for standard deviation by katherine heiny. An amusingly engaging take on longterm marriage with a lovably loopy character at its center. Standard deviation by katherine heiny overdrive rakuten. The skimm katherine heiny s debut novel is not only one of the funniest books you will ever read, but true and poignant, too. Friday, katherine heiny will be at politics and prose bookstore, 5015 connecticut ave. Harpercollins bags new katherine heiny novel the bookseller. It has been a long while since i literally laughed out loud while reading a book, but katherine heinys debut novel, standard deviation, had me cracking up more. In her debut novel, the author of the charming short story collection single, carefree, mellow 2015 matures into new equally beguiling terrain, exploring marriage, fidelity, friendship, and parenting its easy to see why graham, onehalf of the new york city couple at the center of heinys first novel, is enthralled by his wife of 12 years, audra. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading standard deviation. Katherine heiny marries wit and wonder in standard deviation.
Standard deviation is a story of marriage and origami a husband and wife are complete opposites. I was a fan of single, carefree, mellow so it was a treat to read katherine heinys latest release. Standard deviation is a story of marriage and origami. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. She considers herself privileged to live in the age of the hair towel, talks nonstop through her epidural, labour and delivery, invites the doorman to move in and the eccentric members of their sons origami club to thanksgiving. An interview with katherine heiny washington independent. We are now introducing cd retail packaging on our site, as well as additional changes.
Graham cavanaughs second wife, audra, is everything his first wife was not. In conversation with jennifer close, author of the hopefuls for readers of whered you go bernadette, comes katherine heinys debut novel standard deviation a rueful, funny examination of love, marriage, infidelity, and origami divorcing his wife to marry his girlfriend, audra, is the one impulsive thing graham cavanaugh has ever done. Katherine heiny has such a unique, original voice i love reading about her characters, how they think, how they make their choices, how they go through their lives. And now that youve read it, why do you think heiny chose it 2. Standard deviation is a winning effort that smartly examines the ties that bind in even the most unlikely of marriagesheiny s gift for quickwitted dialogue displays the skill of an observational comic. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Standard deviation by katherine heiny the new york times. Katherine heinys standard deviation is the beach book for summer 2017. Kate atkinson, author of life after life a book so funny and perceptive i want to be friends with its author. A debut novel asks, what if his first wife was the one. Her novel standard deviation is published by fourth estate. Standard deviation by katherine heiny is published by 4th estate.
Instead, the plot centers on the jumbled and rather turbulent life of graham cavanaugh and his overly extroverted wife, audra. Standard deviation captures the complexity of all this choosing. Sloane crosley, vanity fair the vacationers meets nora ephron. What did you think the epigraph indicated, before you started standard deviation. The skimm katherine heinys debut novel is not only one of the funniest books you will ever read, but true and poignant, too. Katherine heinys fiction has been published in the new yorker, ploughshares, narrative,glimmer train, and many other places.
The truth may be stranger than fiction, but in katherine heinys standard deviation, fiction is so much funnier than the truth. Standard deviation by katherine heiny discussion guide. She also rules standard deviation, katherine heinys charming debut novel. Second thoughts about a second marriage in standard deviation katherine heinys first novel for adults is a warmhearted and funny if overly long. Standard deviation, katherine heinys first novel, is about a marriage, and, as with marriage, it is easier to catalog this novels individual sly charms than it is to nail down the essential, quicksilver thing that makes it such a success. Wonderfulto spend 300plus pages with heiny s wry voice and colorful cast of characters is to love them, truly. Heinys debut novel is a witty and utterly realistic exploration of marriage, parenting, and the everchanging dynamics of family life. She was published in the new yorker at age 25 and has written. Heinys gift for quickwitted dialogue displays the skill of an observational comic provides a consistent flow of humor. Sed felis enim, mollis eu turpis at, mattis fermentum enim. Standard deviation by katherine heiny reading guide.
1081 826 989 906 1223 441 1092 337 642 792 852 1106 1196 1107 1545 1225 1174 1191 1068 370 1336 1400 1097 805 338 696 1193 126 1054 279 106 1155 429 820 448 711 1228 751