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A Sharp Intake of Breath
Winner of the 2009 Canadian Jewish Book Awards - Martin and Beatrice Fischer Award in Fiction
Born with a split lip and cleft palate, Toshy Wolfman’s life is an uphill battle. Believing he is dim-witted and ugly, Toshy finds his resentment slowly building as he is ridiculed, used, and misled. Ultimately, he is imprisoned after being caught stealing a valuable and famous diamond, the Orange Sunset.
But Toshy’s story is not his alone - it is shared with his two Lil, a radical and a devotee of anarchist Emma Goldman; and Bessie, who goes to work for one of Goldmans enemies, the owners of the Orange Sunset. Toshy’s love for his sisters drives him to make some of the bravest decisions of his life. But despite having seemingly overcome his obstacles, an aging Toshy stuns his nephew by asking for his assistance in committing suicide.Toshy wont fully explain his decision. Nor will he fully explain why, at this late stage in life, he is obsessed with making a journey to France.
Born with a split lip and cleft palate, Toshy Wolfman’s life is an uphill battle. Believing he is dim-witted and ugly, Toshy finds his resentment slowly building as he is ridiculed, used, and misled. Ultimately, he is imprisoned after being caught stealing a valuable and famous diamond, the Orange Sunset.
But Toshy’s story is not his alone - it is shared with his two Lil, a radical and a devotee of anarchist Emma Goldman; and Bessie, who goes to work for one of Goldmans enemies, the owners of the Orange Sunset. Toshy’s love for his sisters drives him to make some of the bravest decisions of his life. But despite having seemingly overcome his obstacles, an aging Toshy stuns his nephew by asking for his assistance in committing suicide.Toshy wont fully explain his decision. Nor will he fully explain why, at this late stage in life, he is obsessed with making a journey to France.
- GenresFiction
250 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
21 people want to read
About the author
John Miller
3 books9 followersJohn Miller is the award-winning author of three novels of literary fiction. Born in Toronto in 1968, he spent his childhood in Ottawa and Toronto, benefiting from Canada’s bilingual education system.
With a B.A. from McGill and an M.A. in International Development Studies from the Institute of Social Studies in The Netherlands, he returned to Toronto in 1992 to begin a career in social services.
After working in positions of progressive responsibility with street-involved youth and at AIDS service organizations, he was hired as the Executive Director of a home-based palliative care hospice. It was around this time that he began writing fiction. After a four-year stint as a senior policy analyst and manager at the Government of Ontario, he set out as a freelance consultant–in organizational development and in international policy and advocacy to improve the lives of children affected by HIV and AIDS.
Since 2002, his consulting work has taken him across Canada and internationally to Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America, connecting him to a global community of people working to transform social services and systems so that they better serve those most in need. He happily juggles his writing career with a busy but fulfilling consulting schedule.
John’s first novel, The Featherbed (Dundurn, 2002) received stellar reviews and earned him a devoted following. His second novel, A Sharp Intake of Breath (Durdurn, 2007) won the Beatrice and Martin Fischer Award in Fiction for 2008. John's 3rd novel, Wild and Beautiful is the Night, will be published by Cormorant Books in October 2018.
Together with authors Sally Cooper & Elizabeth Ruth, John is a proud member of Big Canvas, the longstanding writers’ circle. He lives in the Cabbagetown district of Toronto, a neighbourhood maggoty with writers.
With a B.A. from McGill and an M.A. in International Development Studies from the Institute of Social Studies in The Netherlands, he returned to Toronto in 1992 to begin a career in social services.
After working in positions of progressive responsibility with street-involved youth and at AIDS service organizations, he was hired as the Executive Director of a home-based palliative care hospice. It was around this time that he began writing fiction. After a four-year stint as a senior policy analyst and manager at the Government of Ontario, he set out as a freelance consultant–in organizational development and in international policy and advocacy to improve the lives of children affected by HIV and AIDS.
Since 2002, his consulting work has taken him across Canada and internationally to Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America, connecting him to a global community of people working to transform social services and systems so that they better serve those most in need. He happily juggles his writing career with a busy but fulfilling consulting schedule.
John’s first novel, The Featherbed (Dundurn, 2002) received stellar reviews and earned him a devoted following. His second novel, A Sharp Intake of Breath (Durdurn, 2007) won the Beatrice and Martin Fischer Award in Fiction for 2008. John's 3rd novel, Wild and Beautiful is the Night, will be published by Cormorant Books in October 2018.
Together with authors Sally Cooper & Elizabeth Ruth, John is a proud member of Big Canvas, the longstanding writers’ circle. He lives in the Cabbagetown district of Toronto, a neighbourhood maggoty with writers.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 6, 2011
Beautifully written and captivating. An amazing insight into the times and the people.
May 21, 2012
Yep..I really liked this book. The title fit the book and now when I find myself in 'some' situations..and I take that 'sharp intake of breath'..I will think of this book!!
September 5, 2012
Bad writing both structurally and stylistically. The only thing that kept me going is my interest in Emma Goldman. Not worth it.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews