In this robust, scruffy, elegantly plotted, and ultimately life-affirming novel, rising star Zoe Whittall presents a dazzling portrait of a generation we’ve rarely seen in literature — the 25-year-olds who grew up on anti-anxiety meds, text-messaging each other truncated emotional reactions, unsure of what’s public and what’s private. With this extraordinary novel — which offers a thrillingly detailed inside look at the work of paramedics, devastating insight into anxiety disorders, and entertaining celebrity gossip — Zoe Whittall fulfills the promise of her acclaimed first novel, Bottle Rocket Hearts, and proves herself as one of our most talented younger writers.
Holding Still for as Long as Possible
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From Booklist
This captivating glimpse into the lives of three twentysomethings showcases Whittall’s ability to create complex characters. Connected through social circles in their Toronto neighborhood, they struggle to accept the past while mapping out the future: Josh, a female-to-male transgender works strenuous shifts as a paramedic and tries to erase from his mind the atrocities he witnesses daily; Amy, his ex-girlfriend and an amateur filmmaker, lives off of her wealthy parents; and Billy, a former child pop star, now endures extreme anxiety attacks. As the three become wrapped up in each others’ lives, the emotional roller coaster dips and rises. Haunted by memories of the tragedy of 9/11 and of the rampant fear of a SARS epidemic, which served as the scenery of their youth, this new generation’s members proclaim their true feelings through text messages and drown their excess emotion in booze. A poignant climax seems almost like a dream as the characters drift toward the shattering conclusion. An unforgettable depiction of growing up in the new millennium. --Annie McCormick
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More About the Author
Zoe Whittall was born in Quebec in 1976, and is the author of two literary novels and three poetry books. Holding Still for as Long as Possible (2010) was a Stonewall Book Award honor book, and was shortlisted for the ReLit Award. Bottle Rocket Hearts (2007) was selected as one of CBC's Canada Reads top ten most important books of the decade, and named a best book of the year by The Globe & Mail. She lives in Toronto.
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I really enjoyed this book. Having grown up in Toronto, I really felt the atmosphere of the city through the pages while I'm living far away. Whittall's characters were deep and engaging - their flaws believable, and their anxieties real. The book left me wanting more, and that's not a bad thing.
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