It is a comingofage story that draws us in immediately to a complex web of moral dilemmas. The dive from clausens pier is a 2005 lifetime original film based on an ann packer novel directed by harry winer and starring will estes, michelle trachtenberg, and sean maher. Carrie bell, like many 23yearolds just out of college, is searching searching for true love, searching for a true vocation, waiting for life to begin. This book is also to be savored rather than plowed through. In ann packers first novel, the dive from clausens pier, mikes tragic accident, one that renders him a quadriplegic, brings on a much more uncertain, and painful, dilemma. The dive from clausens pier is one of those small miracles that reinforce our faith in fiction. Ann packers first novel has all the weight of reality, tooled with a jewelers precision. A conversation with ann packer, author of the dive from clausens pier q. Ann packer received the great lakes book award and the kate chopin writing award for the dive from clausens pier, a national bestseller that has been translated into ten languages. Ann packer is the author of two bestselling novels, songs without words and the dive from clausens pier, the latter of which received a great lakes book award, an american library association award, and the kate chopin literary award. I love the selfactualization literary work this author falls under.
My job was in the rare books room, where the only staff member close to my age was a graduate student named viktor, from poland. In the gripping, carefully paced debut novel of personal epiphany, the dive from. The dive from clausens pier by ann packer booksamillion. The dive from clausens pier by ann packer goodreads. Simply brit shipped with premium postal service within 24 hours from the uk with impressive delivery time. Also the author of mendocino and other stories, she lives in northern california with her family. Listen to dive from clausens pier by ann packer at. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 432 pages and is available in paperback format. Ann packer is the acclaimed author of two collections of short fiction, swim back to me and mendocino and other stories, and three bestselling novels, the childrens crusade, songs without words, and the dive from clausens pier, which received the kate chopin literary award, among many other prizes and honors. This article appeared in the february 2, 2004 issue of the hatchet. As interesting as the idea for the dive from clause ns pier iswoman leaves her fiance after he breaks his neck and becomes a quadriplegic packer cant quite pull it off.
The dive from clausens pier by ann packer, paperback. Also the author of mendocino and other stories, she. Ann packer is the author of two bestselling novels, songs without words 2007 and the dive from clausens pier 2002, and two collections of short fiction, swim back to me 2011 and mendocino and other stories 1994. The entire book is one long exercise in feeling and memory, in love and in loss.
The dive from clausens pier has an affinity with the work of rosellen brown. Envision an inverted version of the dive from clausens pier written from mikes point of view in which carrie had been the one to have had the accident. With a keen and compassionate eye, she lays bare the nature of female friendships. At turns enigmatic and candid, this absorbing story challenges us to look inward and to ask discomfiting questions about our relationships, our priorities, and our selflessness for which there are neither easy nor definitive answers. According to scott turow, its one of those small miracles that reinforce our faith in fiction. At turns enigmatic and candid, this absorbing story challenges us to look inward and to ask discomfiting questions about our relationships, our priorities. About this guide ann packers provocative debut novel, the dive from clausens pier, portrays one young womans conflict between her commitment to the people in her life and of her duty to be true to herself. What metaphoric images does the title conjure up for the reader before and after reading the novel. Please be aware that this discussion guide may contain spoilers. The dive from clausens pier vintage contemporaries. Ann packer books list of books by author ann packer. Trouble is, everyone thinks she has found her life.
It does what the best novels so often do, making the largest things visible by its perfect rendering of life on the smaller scale. Reading guide for the dive from clausens pier by ann packer. Ann packer is the acclaimed author of two collections of short fiction, swim back to me and mendocino and other stories, and three bestselling novels, the childrens crusade, songs without words, and the dive from clausens pier. Ann packer is a wonderful writer in many waysfine, welltuned dialogue, thoughtprovoking descriptions of peoples motives, and so onbut plot isnt her big talent. The dive from clausens pier vintage contemporaries by packer, ann. She is a past recipient of a james michener award and a national endowment for. What does this exercise reveal about their relationship and carries character. The dive from clausens pier is the bestselling debut novel of american author ann packer. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone.
The dive from clausens pier reminds us how precarious our lives are and how quickly they can be divided into before and after, whether by random accident or by the force of our own desires. Songs without words, ann packers followup novel to the bookclub favorite bestseller the dive from clausens pier, once again showcases the many strengths packer possesses as a writer. In the dive from clausens pier your 23yearold heroine, carrie bell, is torn between whether to stay or go when her fiance. The dive from clausens pier by ann packer overdrive. The dive from clausens pier ann packer, 2002 random house 432 pp. Buy a cheap copy of the dive from clause ns pier book by ann packer. Packer is able to develop an engaging story without compromising the eloquent writing for which her short stories are renowned. The dive from clausens pier by ann packer books on tape. The character kilroy talks about hard art picasso and soft art matisse and certainly packers is the former. The dive from clausens pier by ann packer the dive from. Dive from clausens pier by ann packer powells books. She is a past recipient of a james michener award and a national endowment for the arts fellowship. Buy a cheap copy of the dive from clausens pier book by ann packer. The first edition of the novel was published in 2002, and was written by ann packer.
Twentythreeyearold carrie is already quietly bored with mike when he dives off the pier at clausens reservoir and breaks his neck. Packer writes with a rare density of detail and ideas, and its just possible that the reader will be wiser at the end of the book than she was at the beginning. While mike literally dives from clausens pier, who figuratively dives from clausens pier. As interesting as the idea for the dive from clausens pier iswoman leaves her fiance after he breaks his neck and becomes a quadriplegicpacker cant quite pull it off. It begins with a disaster that could happen to anyone and forces us to ask how we would bear up in the face of tragedy. The dive from clausens pier by ann packer librarything. Ann packer is a author that trumps the best books ever produced for todays competitive market. Ann packer born 1959 is an american novelist and short story writer, perhaps best known for her critically acclaimed first novel the dive from clausens. Finishing ann packers the dive from clausens pier is at once an immense relief and an immense loss. Ann packer received the great lakes book award for the dive from clausens pier, which was a national bestseller. He is comatose for a period of time and, when he awakens, it is discovered that he is paralyzed. Envision an inverted version of the dive from clausens pier written from mikes point of view in which carrie had been the one to have had the. Ann packer when her fiance mike is left paralyzed following a tragic accident, carrie bell begins to question her familiar world, from her everyday life in wisconsin to her relationships, as she sets out to. Pdf the dive from clausens pier book by ann packer free.
The dive from clausens pier like the best work of jane hamilton and sue miller, packers emotionally thrilling, critically acclaimed, bestselling novel combines assured narrative drive with vibrant psychological realism and unblinking moral complexity. Listen to dive from clausens pier audiobook by ann packer. The dive from clausens pier is a poignant and painstakingly rendered account of a woman in flight from catastrophe, in search of herself. Ann packers provocative debut novel, the dive from clausens pier, portrays one young womans conflict between her commitment to the people in her life and of her duty to be true to herself. She is also the author of mendocino and other stories. The dive from clausens pier by ann packer and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
The dive from clausens pier is a mustread novel that illuminates the meaning of friendship, loyalty and unconditional love. It premiered on july 25, 2005 on lifetime mike is a quadriplegic after suffering a major diving accident. Excerpted from the dive from clausens pier by ann packer. At turns enigmatic and candid, this absorbing story challenges us to look inward and to ask. The dive from clausens pier by ann packer book club.
Click to read more about the dive from clausens pier by ann packer. Listen to dive from clausens pier audio book by ann packer. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. The dive from clausens pier opens with an immediate tragedy to draw readers in to the story. Ann packer received the great lakes book award and the kate chopin writing award for the dive from clause ns pier, a national bestseller that has been translated into ten languages.
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