Catherine Hiller Boeken

Exploring the multifaceted impact of cannabis, the memoir offers a candid and humorous reflection on the author's long-term use and its influence on her life, including marriage, motherhood, and friendships. Celebrated by literary figures, it intertwines personal experiences with cultural history over the past fifty years, presenting a unique narrative that recaptures innocence and challenges societal norms surrounding marijuana use. The author’s honest and witty approach invites readers to reconsider their perceptions of cannabis and its role in everyday life.

Cybill Berenson, mother of three, newly divorced at age 42, is sure the most passionate years of her life are behind her. Then she meets Mel, a sexual shaman who takes her to new heights-and new depths. After their liaison ends, she feels a new openness to pleasure, and she sees that the conventional life is not for her. She falls in love with Quinn, a much younger man; she travels to the Burning Man festival on her own; she edits a book called Adultery Now (which outrages her children); she takes lovers while in her fifties and sixties. Cybill never stops seeking the thrill of deep connection to another human being. When a lover calls her his soul-mate, Cybill realizes "it was for moments like this, and not sex, that she had love affairs." John Updike described Hiller's story collection, Skin, as "Good, brave and joyful fiction." The same can be said about Cybill Unbound-a novel like Fear of Flying for those over forty. "Uh-oh! Cybill's witty rationalizations for her bold adventures are seeming all too rational to me." -Kathleen Rockwell Lawrence, author of The Last Room in Manhattan

Set against the backdrop of the mid-nineties, the story explores a toxic work friendship that spirals into a bitter feud between two women. As they navigate the challenges of emerging technology, their rivalry leads to personal betrayals that jeopardize their relationships and lives. With Roberta relying on wine and Nikki on weed, both grapple with their vices while seeking resolution. The narrative delves into themes of competition, betrayal, and the complexities of female relationships in a tumultuous era.

Sara hat das Leben gründlich satt. Ihr Dasein scheint sich nur noch um Küche, Kinder, Kirche zu drehen. In höchster Not verspricht ihr Mann, ihr eine Hilfe zu beschaffen. Ein italienisches Au-pair-Mädchen soll Sara im Haushalt entlasten. Statt dessen jedoch steht eines Morgens Carlo auf der Matte, ein überaus hübscher, intelligenter Italiener. Sara ist nur im ersten Moment enttäuscht, dann beginnt sie Carlos eindeutige Vorzüge zu schätzen. Damit aber ist sie nicht allein, denn bald zeigen sich auch ihre Schwestern Perri und Lucy auf ganz spezielle Weise an Carlo interessiert.