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The Book of V.: A Novel Hardcover – May 5, 2020

3.7 3.7 out of 5 stars 1,430 ratings

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For fans of
The Hours and Fates and Furies, a bold, kaleidoscopic novel intertwining the lives of three women across three centuries as their stories of sex, power, and desire finally converge in the present day.

Lily is a mother and a daughter. And a second wife. And a writer, maybe? Or she was going to be, before she had children. Now, in her rented Brooklyn apartment she’s grappling with her sexual and intellectual desires, while also trying to manage her roles as a mother and a wife in 2016.

Vivian Barr seems to be the perfect political wife, dedicated to helping her charismatic and ambitious husband find success in Watergate-era Washington D.C. But one night he demands a humiliating favor, and her refusal to obey changes the course of her life―along with the lives of others.

Esther is a fiercely independent young woman in ancient Persia, where she and her uncle’s tribe live a tenuous existence outside the palace walls. When an innocent mistake results in devastating consequences for her people, she is offered up as a sacrifice to please the King, in the hopes that she will save them all.

In Anna Solomon's
The Book of V., these three characters' riveting stories overlap and ultimately collide, illuminating how women’s lives have and have not changed over thousands of years.

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"All the Little Raindrops: A Novel" by Mia Sheridan for $10.39
The chilling story of the abduction of two teenagers, their escape, and the dark secrets that, years later, bring them back to the scene of the crime. | Learn more

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From the Publisher

The Book of V Anna Solomon

Praise for The Book of V

The Book of V Anna Solomon

The Book of V Anna Solomon

The Book of V Anna Solomon

Editorial Reviews

Review

An NPR Book Concierge Pick * A Real Simple Best Book of 2020 (So Far) * A Kirkus Reviews Best Fiction Book of 2020

“The engrossing, highly readable, darkly sexy third novel by Anna Solomon…
The Book of V. is a meditation on female power and powerlessness, the stories told about women and the ones we tell about and to ourselves.” ―The New York Times Book Review

“An absorbing story about desire, power imbalances and the quest for self-determination―a feminist rallying cry born in the private spaces of women’s lives.”People Magazine, *Book of the Week*

"
The Book of V. is brainy and sexy and roots us so completely in these three women’s bodies and lives, that I couldn’t put it down. The writing is so brilliant some passages took my breath away, and when I thought I knew where the novel was headed, I was wrong. This novel is a gift, and I highly recommend you read it." Ann Napolitano, New York Times bestselling author of Dear Edward

"Irresistible, sexy and intelligent…
The Book of V. radiates a dynamism that invites rereads and generously keeps giving―challenging and arousing us as it delights." The Washington Post

“Compulsively readable . . . blending real history and radical fiction into one enthralling whole." ―
Entertainment Weekly's Top Ten Books of 2020 So Far

“The Book of V. is a marvel. It’s a testament to the enduring strength and flexibility of the novel form itself, and a testament to the wisdom, clarity, and boldness of Anna Solomon. She is a remarkable writer who has written an extraordinary book." ―Jane Hamilton, author of The Excellent Lombards

“[An] engrossing story… Even if you think you don't like historical fiction, you'll eat this one up.” ―Good Housekeeping

“Solomon connects these stories in a way that’s fresh and tantalizing, with fascinating intergenerational discussions about desire, duty, family, and feminism, as well as a surprising, completely believable twist. This frank, revisionist romp through a Bible tale is a winner.”
Publishers Weekly, *starred review*

“In
The Book of V., Anna Solomon reaches across centuries to capture the timeliness and timelessness of being a strong, passionate woman in a world governed by men. How far we've come and yet how many of the battles look the same. I was riveted by this searingly inventive, humane, and honest page-turner of a novel." ―Mary Beth Keane, author of Ask Again, Yes

“Thought-provoking fiction… The Book of V. asks complicated questions about power, desire, and the evolution of women’s roles.” ―Real Simple

“Moving, surprising, so touchingly detailed and authentic as to seem more real than life...For a novel to offer such delightfully realized characters as well as such taut pacing is a fine accomplishment." ―
Shelf Awareness

"Anna Solomon’s
The Book of V. is a novel as fierce as its heroines, traversing centuries to explore the tentacles of desire and despair that can anchor the psyche or explode it. It’s a book that understands how many different women live in every woman: the lover, the mother, the artist, the rebel, the friend, the caregiver, the beast, the survivor. Solomon’s imagination is as thrilling as it is nuanced―gripping the senses and the heart at once, telling a story that vibrates with urgency and truth." Leslie Jamison, New York Times bestselling author of Make it Scream, Make it Burn and The Empathy Exams

“Finely written and often vividly imagined…A bold, fertile work lit by powerful images.”
Kirkus Reviews, *starred review*

“[An] evocative novel…each story line is captivating.”
Booklist

Solomon masterfully interweaves the stories of three women… [she] reminds us that women are not archetypes, not just good or evil…Indeed, Lily gives voice to the lesson that she has learned: ‘The type of woman you imagine yourself becoming does not exist.’” ―Hadassah Magazine

About the Author

Anna Solomon is the author of Leaving Lucy Pear and The Little Bride and a two-time winner of the Pushcart Prize. Her short fiction and essays have appeared in publications including The New York Times Magazine, One Story, Ploughshares, Slate, and more. Coeditor with Eleanor Henderson of Labor Day: True Birth Stories by Today’s Best Women Writers, Solomon was born and raised in Gloucester, Massachusetts, and lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two children.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Henry Holt and Co. (May 5, 2020)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250257018
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250257017
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.5 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.7 3.7 out of 5 stars 1,430 ratings

About the author

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Anna Solomon
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Anna Solomon is the author of The Book of V., forthcoming on May 5, 2020, Leaving Lucy Pear, and The Little Bride, a two-time winner of the Pushcart Prize, and the curator of @unkempt_real_life on Instagram. Her short fiction and essays have appeared in publications including The New York Times Magazine, The Boston Globe, One Story, Ploughshares, and Slate. Solomon is co-editor with Eleanor Henderson of Labor Day: True Birth Stories by Today's Best Women Writers. Previously, she worked as a radio journalist. Anna was born and raised in Gloucester, Massachusetts and lives in Brooklyn, NY, with her husband and two children.

Customer reviews

3.7 out of 5 stars
3.7 out of 5
1,430 global ratings
A Captivating Examination of Female Power
5 Stars
A Captivating Examination of Female Power
I devoured "The Book of V." There are so many lines I had to stop and bookmark, though one of my favorites was when Lily, remarking on her mother keeping books in her bedroom, "wondered if books were something private, and maybe a little shameful, like underwear." The way Solomon capture mothers and daughters and female friendship says so much about how the choices of the women who raised us impact who we become. We see daughters examining mothers as their children and, later, caregivers, each relationship crackling with all the things left unspoken between them. Men—kings, husbands, creepy uncles—are alternately awed by and afraid of the power these women wield. Solomon seamlessly slips from ancient Persia to 1970s Washington and New England and present-day Brooklyn, and devotees of Michael Cunningham’s “The Hours” will find much to love here. This is the kind of book that stays with you long after reading, that makes you wonder how the characters are doing and wish you could call them to ask about that crush or crushing loss. A captivating read that asks important conversations about female power.
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Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2020
Anna has captured the voices of Lily and Vivian with amazing authenticity as to time and place. At the start it was hard to put the Book of V down. As the story progressed my reading slowed because there was so much to feel and think about as the depth and complexity of each woman's situation unfolded.

Esther's story was compelling from the beginning but the twists on the biblical story, the character of Marduk and his motivations, the situation of the community, the reality of the palace and the King's position were amazing. And then there was the wonderful and unexpected magical realism.

The way the stories are brought together and the hopefulness at the end made Book of V an exceptional reading experience. Have recommended it to many, bought it for several and will reread, more than once.
29 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2020
In the beginning, I was a bit confused with the three main characters and the triple time line. As the story progressed, I could see how the theme wove together and created an interesting narrative. The ending put it all in perspective, definitely giving me an appreciation for the portrayal of the women, their roles, weaknesses,and strengths.
One person found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2020
The first woman, Esther, lived in an era when women had no economic, physical, or political power. Yet she managed something brave that could have gotten her killed. Despite some qualities that are not so good due to her era, she makes a difference. Centuries later the second woman, Vee, lived in an era of much greater economic, physical, and political power. Yet her power was insufficient to prevent her from remaking herself by frowned-upon means. The third woman, Lilly, a generation later than Vee could have had independent economic, physical, and political power, but didn't want that independence which lead her to feel ashamed. But her husband supported her while she tried to determine her role. If Lilly succeeds,she will be the perfect example for women seeking independence but not in a predefined role.
9 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2020
I loved all the three stories of Esther, Lily and VeeVee. I have to say I got a new GSD puppy last September and her name is VASHTI. My husband was part Iranian and I loved the story of Vashti and how she stood up to the King and therefore has become an icon for some young women around the world so therefore chose that name. It was nice to hear more of Vashti's story as well. All of it ---very interesting. Great book! Thank you!!
8 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2020
Spoiler Alert: This contains some content reveal. I was hoping to extol The Book of V. It started off so strong with the interweaving of the three characters set in different times, different places. The author's style at the beginning of the novel was engaging, humorous and relaxed. The characters were identifiable with their own struggles. After a while, though, I felt that the book lost its chi. It seemed somewhat directionless. The plot became trite. At parts, it become confounding, especially the scenarios with Esther adopting magical powers and Vashti, sequestered in a distant tunnel in the kingdom. It was very bizarre and very difficult to follow. It lost me as a reader as I became lost in the boring plot. I found Rosemary's evolution to Ruth fascinating as well as Rosemary's children becoming Lily. But the entire last 80 or so pages with Lily visiting Vee to reconcile herself with the death of her mother, I found boring and derivative. I was no longer engaged and i was disappointed that a book with such a strong beginning seemed to fizzle out into the mundane.
One person found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2021
Very thought provoking; chosen by my temple women’s group; very true that a person is always a work in progress.
Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2022
I thought the 'historical' chapters were the most interesting. The author's take on 20th/21st century women seemed 'been there, done that' rehashing of themes that others have treated more brilliantly. On the other hand, I read the entire book. Which says something.
Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2021
I bought this book because the description and reviews were so good. I read about a quarter of it and couldn’t read anymore. Parts of it were written chaotically and hard to follow. Other parts were filled with pages of unimportant conversations and detail. There were gross descriptions of things that served no purpose. I’m sorry I wasted my money.

Top reviews from other countries

Katie LeClare
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable Book
Reviewed in Canada on August 21, 2020
I very much enjoyed the story in this book. Arrived quick and in perfect condition