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GOLDEN STATE

Michelle Richmond

As in her past two novels, the best-selling THE YEAR OF FOG and NO ONE YOU KNOW, Michelle Richmond combines the suspense of a thriller with the intricate, heart-wrenching details of love and family.
While the citizens of California come out to vote on whether or not to secede from the rest of the United States, San Francisco descends into chaos. Streets are blocked, transportation stopped and protestors take to the streets. Julia must make her way across town on a broken ankle to deliver her estranged sister’s baby. Her own internal turmoil mirrors that of the city: her marriage is falling apart, a beloved child has been taken from her, and soon she will find herself at the center of a hostage situation. Infused with emotional depth and poignancy, Golden State takes readers on a journey over the course of a single, unforgettable day--through an extraordinary landscape of love, loss, and hope. Michelle Richmond is the author of four novels and two story collections. Her most recent books are GOLDEN STATE (February, 2014)--"a riveting read" (Booklist, starred review) that imagines present-day California on the brink of secession from the United States--and the story collection HUM (March 2014), winner of the Catherine Doctorow Innovative Fiction Prize. Her previous books are the New York Times bestseller THE YEAR OF FOG (2007), the novels NO ONE YOU KNOW (2008) and DREAM OF THE BLUE ROOM (2003), and the award-winning story collection The Girl in the Fall-Away Dress (2001). She is also the editor of two anthologies: MODERN SHORTS: 18 Stories From Fiction Attic Press (2014) and FLASH IN THE ATTIC: 33 VERY SHORT STORIES (2012).
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Published 2014-02-01 by Bantam

Comments

Mesmerizing and intricate, Richmond’s dissection of a California on the violent brink of secession from the nation provides the backdrop to her deeper inspection of the uneasy, fragile relationship between siblings...All these seemingly random situations are tied together during a single day with breathtaking grace by Richmond in an understated yet riveting read that can be recommended to fans of Jodi Picoult and Jacquelyn Mitchard.

Richmond creates an exciting premise and uses an unusual approach to develop the plot. Rather than a narrative that reflects a sense of urgency and tension produced by the hostage-taking and secession scenarios, Julie’s past and her relationship with the other characters are scrutinized as the clock ticks. It’s an interesting and sometimes-disturbing study exploring how a person’s anticipated path can change and examining the choices people must make in order to move forward. Skillfully written.