Nell Zink Boeken

1966, Stillwater College, Virginia. Eerstejaarsstudente Peggy valt als een blok voor Lee, professor, dichter en afkomstig uit een gegoede familie. Ze beginnen een verhouding die gedoemd is te mislukken – zij is lesbisch, hij is homo – maar die pas na tien jaar eindigt. Peggy vlucht met haar driejarige dochtertje Karen, haar negenjarige zoon Byrdie laat ze achter. Ze besluit onder te duiken en neemt de Afro-Amerikaanse identiteit aan. Wanneer Karen jaren later een beurs krijgt voor de universiteit van Virginia, ontmoet ze eindelijk haar oudere broer Byrdie, wat culmineert in een grootse finale. Misplaatst is een roman die je wereld op z’n kop zet, van een schrijver die geen taboe schuwt.

Two generations of an American family come of age - one before 9/11, one after - in this moving and original novel from the intellectually restless, uniquely funny (New York Times Book Review) mind of Nell Zink

An elderly princess is unable to host a gala honoring a renowned author due to illness, prompting her to seek last-minute attendees. Masud, the author, invites his friend Demian, who brings along two friends: the naive Livia and the opportunistic publisher Toto, accompanied by his unreliable date and Demian's teenage daughter, Nicole. As the gathering unfolds, tensions rise, particularly with Prince Radi's misguided interest in Nicole, leading to a chaotic midnight food run that impacts everyone involved.

'Heady and rambunctious ... Wake up, this book says: in its plot lines, in its humour, in its philosophical underpinnings and political agenda. I'll pay it the highest compliment it knows - this book is a wild thing.' New York Times Book Review Interlaken, Berne, 21st century. Several things happen after the car hits the rock. Tiff ceases to be pregnant. Stephen captures, like, the most wonderful bird - fleet, stealthy, and beautiful - a real "lifer". And the wallcreeper, the wallcreeper says "twee". The Wallcreeper is nothing more than a portrait of marriage, complete with all its requisite highs and lows: drugs, dubstep, small chores, anal sex, eco-terrorism, birding, breeding and feeding.

The narrative follows a young woman's journey as she navigates her identity and societal expectations, exploring themes of belonging and personal utopia. Through her unique perspective, the story delves into the complexities of adolescence and the quest for meaning in a chaotic world. This profound tale highlights the challenges of growing up and the desire to find one's place amidst societal pressures.

Recent business school graduate Penny Baker has always rebelled against her unconventional family by being the "normal" one. Her mother, Amalia, hails from a South American tribe, while her father, Norm, is a former cult figure running a psychedelic healing center. Penny has never felt close to her older half-brothers—one is wealthy and charmingly wicked, the other a distant photographer. Everything shifts when Norm passes away, leaving her his childhood home in New Jersey. Upon visiting, she discovers the property is occupied by friendly anarchist squatters who have renamed it "Nicotine." These residents, passionate about smokers' rights, embody the fervor Penny feels she lacks, and she quickly becomes drawn to their sense of community. Moving into a nearby residence, she immerses herself in their political activism and commitment. As the Baker family's lives intertwine with the fate of Nicotine, Penny becomes increasingly determined to protect the house and its inhabitants. This culminates in a pivotal confrontation between her old family and her new one, leading to a dramatic turning point in her life.