Larque on the Wing (Paperback)

by Nancy Springer (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Larque Harootunian is having a mid-life crisis. But Larque, wife, mother and painter isn't like most 40-year-olds. All her life she's been generating "doppelgangers," psychic manifestations of her thoughts that can impact and, as she suddenly realizes, impede, the reality of her own life. She embarks on a journey of self-exploration that culminates in her transformation--a common occurrence in this world--into an attractive gay man. In the end, she must weigh the attractions of this existence against the good aspects of her actual life. A 1995 James Tiptree Award winner.

From Publishers Weekly
Best known for her traditional fantasy novels, Springer ( Apocalypse ) here offers an offbeat contemporary tale that owes much to magical realism. Larque Harootunian is having a midlife crisis, taking stock of her comfortable life as a wife, mother and painter of chintzy pastels for the tourist market in Soudersburg, Pa. But Larque isn't like other 40-year-olds. All her life she's been generating what she calls "doppelgangers," psychic manifestations of her thoughts, and now she's made one of her preadolescent self, who chides Larque about settling for a life that bears little resemblance to her youthful imaginings. Larque then begins a journey into her own personality that culminates with her transformation into an attractive young gay man. (The narrative treats such surreal goings-on--of which there are many--as commonplace.) In the end, Larque must weigh the attractions of this existence against the good aspects of her actual life. Springer effectively uses fantasy to evoke midlife soul-searching, and Larque's self-exploration is filled with moments of authentic joy and crushing sorrow. Though the author occasionally falls off the narrow tightrope stretched between the real and the surreal, she has produced an engrossing novel about gender and self-formation that should appeal to readers both in and outside the SF/fantasy audience.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Avon Books (Mm) (February 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380767422
• ISBN-13: 978-0380767427
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,872,952 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Suprisingly fantastic!, June 17, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Larque on the Wing (Hardcover)

I bought this on a whim, not sure if I wanted it or not. I couldn't put it down.. despite the fact that I went to work on 3 hours sleep! This is an wonderful tale. The reviews above explain the plot, but don't be sidetracked by it. I thought this would be over my head (I'm 23, not 40 some), but I not only *got* every bit of the story (there's a great bit about Hamburger Helper) but the story was so engrossing and fascinating, with unexpected plot devices everywhere, and characters that just make sense, I never wanted it to end.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny!, July 22, 1996

By A Customer

A Winner of the Tiptree Award for gender bending science fiction.

This is an incredibly funny book about a woman who has a midlife crisis, splits her personality to become at least four different people, including a gay teenager, a militant churchgoing mother, a brat, and a much put upon bucolic artist, along with the resulting chaos as she turns the town inside out while trying to get her head back together.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my all time favorites!, July 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Larque on the Wing (Hardcover)

This is a hysterical and touching story for "the rest of us." A must-read for anyone who has ever felt a touch of strange magic in their lives, who has ever had doubts that their gender was one or the other, or who just sees things from a slightly tilted view point. The Author manages to meld aspects of all the "freaks" in the world into an adventure through conventional expectations. On the other hand, if you are not comfortable with gay and transgender situations, avoid this one like the plague.