The Local News: A Novel (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: lunch table girls, rescue beagles, David Nelson, Melissa Anne, Lola Pepper (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Bright, precocious but socially awkward Lydia Pasternak reports on the aftermath of her older brothers disappearance in Gershows accomplished debut. Danny was everything Lydia wasn't: at ease with their parents, popular in school, physically imposing, beloved by the opposite sex. Danny went from being Lydia's playmate in their youth to her tormentor in high school, so his disappearance leaves Lydia with some very mixed feelings, one of which is relief. As time goes on and the weekend search parties prove more and more fruitless, Lydia struggles with the fact that her geeky best friend, David, has feelings for her; she also obsesses over the private investigator hired by the family and allows herself to be sucked into the social world Danny once dominated. Lydias perspective gives this Lovely Bones–esque story line an unflinching quality as she details the emotional damage that reverberates even through her 10-year high school reunion. Gershows psychologically acute grasp of the mundane, ugly details that accompany tragedy, combined with an understanding of the tragicomedy of high school, make for a stark and merciless narrative, leavened by Lydia's wry insights. (Feb.)
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From School Library Journal

Adult/High School—Teens who liked Susan Beth Pfeffer's The Year Without Michael (Delacorte, 1987) when they were younger will find this novel to be the grown-up-and suitably more emotionally complex—version of life in a family in which a sibling has mysteriously disappeared. Book smart but socially awkward Lydia, 15, spends the months between her 18-year-old brother's disappearance and his body's discovery and interment by trying to stay out of her grieving parents' way, impress the private detective hired to bring resolution, and remake her image at school. Told 10 years later by a Lydia who is emotionally smarter but still close enough to high school to remember and note the importance of the symbols of social power, the story draws in readers quickly and maintains the tension even after Danny's whereabouts are revealed. With the exception of the mother, who comes across as vapid even in the best of circumstances, both adult and teen characters are fully realized and credible: Lydia and her geeky friend, David; her new friend, Lola; the private eye; and even the off-camera Danny are each deeply flawed, as Lydia recognizes herself to be, but sympathetic. Gershow's writing is fluid, her imagery of the mid-'90s concise and compelling, and her story universal.—Francisca Goldsmith, Halifax Public Libraries, Nova Scotia
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Spiegel & Grau (February 24, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385527616
• ISBN-13: 978-0385527613
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #222,737 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully-written & Haunting debut, March 3, 2009

By	Sheri S. (Montreal, Quebec) - See all my reviews

"The Local News" is narrated by Lydia Pasternak, whose older brother Danny mysteriously disappears one night, when Lydia was 15 years old. Most of the book consists of Lydia's memories of her high school years and the impact Danny's disappearance had on her life and her relationships. Lydia was an incredibly brilliant social outcast, who kept few friends and was constantly being teased by her older brother and his popular friends. Once Danny goes missing, everything changes for Lydia. She starts receiving attention from the other kids at school and much to her surprise, Danny's friends become protective over her and even befriend her. Lydia also takes a liking to the detective investigating Danny's case and a deep interest in helping him track down the truth. The books ends with the present day, as Lydia prepares for her 10th high school reunion and readers get to see what became of the other characters.

This is Miriam Gershow's first novel and I think it is an excellent testament to her beautiful writing style and powerful story-telling abilities. I loved how so many of her phrases were like poetry, because of the way they could evoke intense emotions. The writing and overall tone of this book reminded me so much of Alice Sebold's "The Lovely Bones" (which funny enough, I later read the same thoughts from The New York Times book review). The similarities lie in the dark and eerie feelings that emanate from the pages, as if something about the story is haunted in some way. That feeling is what drew me to the writing and simultaneously made me long for some lighter material to ease the emotional burden.

Even though the subject matter of the book was serious, it didn't always need such a somber tone. I think that had there been some comic relief weaved into the storyline, I would have enjoyed the story more. I had hoped for an uplifting ending but the reality was a bittersweet one, which perhaps was the author's intentions all along.

Overall, I think that this is a successful debut with respect to the excellent writing and plot development. I look forward to reading more from Miriam Gershow in the future!

http://bookopolis.blogspot.com

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bittersweet, February 28, 2009

By	kehs (Hertfordshire, England) - See all my reviews

This is a deeply moving story of a sister coming to terms with her brother's disappearance. It's a gripping read that could have been sombre, but due to the eloquence of Gershow's writing and the subtle humour that is added, it becomes an easy to read, bittersweet story. The author expresses the family's feelings of grief and bewilderment perfectly and her choice of wording is spot on. As I became more and more involved with the characters Gershow's story induced strong emotions in me. I wasn't expecting the brother's final outcome at all and found it to be a superb ending, albeit a harrowing one. This is a powerfully told story and I highly recommend it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tragedy Strikes, News At Eleven, March 24, 2009

By	Sacramento Book Review "SacramentoBookReview.com" (Sacramento, CA) - See all my reviews

Ever wonder just what it feels like to be thrust into the local news for something you had no control over? In Gershow's debut novel, she explores that theme through the life of Lydia Pasternak, a bright and shy 15-year-old who's older brother, Danny, has disappeared. Now this might normally be a tragedy for everyone, but Lydia finds herself torn between grief, and the relief she feels since he was her tormentor at high-school. Lydia finds herself moving from the sidelines of the school's social life to its center, becoming part of Danny's crowd, while at the same time, her parents start leaving her behind in their grief.

Lydia is drawn into the investigation herself by Denis, the private investigator hired by her parents to help find Danny, but, as time goes on, hope slides away. Danny's schoolmates and neighbors all lay some claim to a relationship with him, regardless of how tenuous, and Lydia finds herself distancing her from more and more of them.

The denouement itself almost feels anti-climatic, not due to any lack of quality in the writing, but because of it. Like in real life, there is rarely an easily resolved story, but one leaving more questions than answers, but in The Local News, the ending is highly satisfying. Gershow has written a an impressive debut novel, giving a voice to Lydia and a tour of how tragedy reverberates through a family and the unwanted celebrity that follows, only exasperates it.