THE WONDER SINGER
George Rabasa
Unbridled Books
Literary Fiction
ISBN: 9781932961690
THE WONDER SINGER is often funny, beautifully told, and rich with history, an entertaining literary caper sure to win over readers looking for that perfect summer read.
Let’s face it --- who couldn’t use a break? As any freelance writer knows, plum jobs can be hard to come by, and for Mark Lockwood, who has labored for years with the mind-numbing series “How to Talk to Your Teen about…” landing the job as ghost writer for the esteemed diva Mercè Casals is a dream. Plus, the job comes with an unexpected perk for this middle-aged and newly restless married man: each day he gets to spend some time with Casal’s appealing young nurse, Perla. What could be better? Finishing the job to great success. Having a romance.
But hopes for both fade when the Diva dies in her bath. Now, her agent, Hollywood Hank, is demanding Lockwood’s interview tapes, which Hank plans to pass over to a renowned celebrity biographer, someone with a big name. And Perla, too, seems happy to move on.
So begins the chase (or chases!) in this charmer from award-winning novelist and short story writer George Rabasa. In a page-turning tale of passion, great art, dramatic failures, and nice guys (hopefully) winning first, we follow Mark Lockwood as he hides from Hollywood Hank, with the interview tapes often secured to his person. With the aid of Perla and the Diva’s greatest fan (a cross dressing mimic), Lockwood writes feverishly to beat his new competitor (who is writing without any interviews on file, just great imagination) to New York with the final manuscript. Rabasa takes us through the humble world of the self-employed, the glamorous and glittering world of real stars, the grubby side of Hollywood, and the honest, straight forward place where real love can still triumph --- if one is not too late.
And has some sense.
THE WONDER SINGER © Copyright 2009 by George Rabasa. Reprinted with permission by Unbridled Books. All rights reserved.
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Critical Praise
"A gem….Sophisticated structurally and thematically, THE WONDER SINGER is also somehow humble, a quick read that, with its clear prose and impeccable pacing, seduces us into plot… like a great aria, it stays with you."––– The Cleveland Plain-Dealer
"His descriptions are astute and often humorous…And Rabasa aptly captures the tension in a disintegrating couple. …Through it all, the Wonder Singer holds her fans, and readers, in thrall with a tale that incorporates all of life's notes, the high and the low."––– Minneapolis Star-Tribune
"Rabasa (FLOATING KINGDOM) utilizes the story-within-a-story technique, effectively giving a historical feel to a contemporary novel. Readers not only learn about the Spanish civil war and the training regimen of the operatic voice but are also offered a glimpse into the soul of a writer honing his craft."––– Library Journal
"An engaging exploration of the power of art."––– Booklist
"I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and I especially enjoyed the characters…a great deal of fun to read. It did have some serious parts, but the majority of this book was fast-paced, action-filled, and very funny."
"A storytelling beauty perfect for a relaxing weekend…a pure joy for the reader’s senses."––– Metro Spirit
"Gorgeously written…poignant."––– curledup.com
"THE WONDER SINGER is a song in itself, bringing readers from low notes to high notes and back again. It is a wonderfully complex character-driven story that shines in the hands of a talented writer. I definitely plan to read more of Rabasa's work in the future."
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