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Providence
Gabriel Staub is a writer adrift in his early 30s whose older sister, Becca, is a brilliant, tempestuous–and world-famous– artist. Gabriel has spent his life in the shadow of Becca's success, and he is haunted by a childhood incident that traumatized her. A chance encounter with an old friend offers him unexpected companionship, but also forces him to confront his painful past.
Providence is a story about friendship, art, and memory set amid the contemporary New York of glamorous high-rises and glitzy art galleries, with detours to France, Italy, the Slovak Republic, and the backwoods of the Catskill Mountains. Meditative and searching, the novel tells of coming of age amid loss and solitude.
Providence is a story about friendship, art, and memory set amid the contemporary New York of glamorous high-rises and glitzy art galleries, with detours to France, Italy, the Slovak Republic, and the backwoods of the Catskill Mountains. Meditative and searching, the novel tells of coming of age amid loss and solitude.
293 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 14, 2023
12 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 26, 2024
A beautifully, well written book with a well paced story. The characters come alive and the story never becomes boring. My only quibble is the movements between past and present can feel a bit clumsy at times. But that is a minor problem in an otherwise well done effort. Recommended.
December 4, 2023
"I can't tell you what it means," I would tell my students. "I can only tell you what it means to me." David Grosz' new novel Providence is one of those books that spoke clearly and deeply to me. Ostensibly the story of the relationship between two families, covering a period of some thirty years, to me the book became a profound meditation on loneliness. There are four main characters, each of whom lives a private life, connecting with others only at a surface level. Gabriel Staub, the young narrator, and I have little in common, but his situation spoke to me. Living in the Manhattan apartment he grew up in and inherited from his parents, Gabriel reveals very little about his livelihood. He is a free lance writer, and if he has friends, they play a minor role in his narrative. I haven't lived in a metropolis since I left Berkeley in 1974, and I haven't lived in a city since 2012. If I were to tell my own story, the people I used to consider "friends" would play a minor role--especially over the past twelve years. My own isolation focused the story Gabriel tells, and I jumped in with both feet. I felt myself in this story, and kept thinking that Grosz was writing to me, for me. Your mileage may vary, but I can highly recommend this book and would love to hear your own reactions.
December 11, 2023
Overall Rating = 4.83
Storyline & Concept = 4.75
Writing and Delivery = 5
Editorial = 4.75
Providence revolves around the life of Gabriel Staub, a freelance writer in his early 30s, who experienced a traumatic incident along with his older sister Becca when he was a child and she was a teenager. Gabriel is haunted by the memory his entire life and intensely curious about learning the truth about what really happened and why it ended a long friendship between two families. He reconnects with Catherine, the matriarch of the other family, and is jolted back into the pain and mystery of his past.
This novel is exquisitely written with a depth and emotion that immediately draws the reader in. Gabriel is a man who lives in his head, dwelling on an incident that prefaced a life of loneliness and aloneness. His sister is a successful artist, experiencing life on a different level, with seemingly only a passing regard for those around her, including the brother who adores her. Gabriel’s chance meeting with Catherine reignites his childhood trauma, while filling a need within him. Each of the characters are deftly drawn, as are the settings, and the narrative is smooth and lyrical. The ending initially jolted me and left me dissatisfied, but upon reflection, I decided it may have been the best way to end such a story. Revolving around a theme of loneliness, isolation, and the fragility of relationships, this novel will touch and inspire many.
Sublime Line: “A memorable, immensely creative work of literary fiction, this novel draws the reader in from the first page.”
Storyline & Concept = 4.75
Writing and Delivery = 5
Editorial = 4.75
Providence revolves around the life of Gabriel Staub, a freelance writer in his early 30s, who experienced a traumatic incident along with his older sister Becca when he was a child and she was a teenager. Gabriel is haunted by the memory his entire life and intensely curious about learning the truth about what really happened and why it ended a long friendship between two families. He reconnects with Catherine, the matriarch of the other family, and is jolted back into the pain and mystery of his past.
This novel is exquisitely written with a depth and emotion that immediately draws the reader in. Gabriel is a man who lives in his head, dwelling on an incident that prefaced a life of loneliness and aloneness. His sister is a successful artist, experiencing life on a different level, with seemingly only a passing regard for those around her, including the brother who adores her. Gabriel’s chance meeting with Catherine reignites his childhood trauma, while filling a need within him. Each of the characters are deftly drawn, as are the settings, and the narrative is smooth and lyrical. The ending initially jolted me and left me dissatisfied, but upon reflection, I decided it may have been the best way to end such a story. Revolving around a theme of loneliness, isolation, and the fragility of relationships, this novel will touch and inspire many.
Sublime Line: “A memorable, immensely creative work of literary fiction, this novel draws the reader in from the first page.”
December 5, 2023
[ARC review]
Beautiful, confident writing, lyrical, with an engaging story to unfold, like a rich tapestry. A joy to read; abounding with appropo ‘bon mots’ such as “But our lives were misaligned . . .” and “. . . in uncertain situations people express who they are.”
This book transported me into its refined but edgy world, through the first–person narrative of Gabriel Staub. He was eleven when a cruelty was perpetuated on his teenaged sister Becca, which gave him, as he stated in a later look–back “. . . a premonition of the sadness that would steal over me at the oddest moments, blanketing everything, as unseen dew wets a field in the cover of night.”
The complex repercussions of that cruelty are deftly traced through ensuing decades. The characters you care about grow; others evolve or reveal. This being the mark of an author who not only writes well, but is a good storyteller too.
The plotting is very well crafted. Although the story shifts backwards and forward in time, the reveals always felt fitting.
A difficulty with stories like this one is that they can go flat at the end. This one didn’t. The ending did not disappoint. It was just right and in keeping with the rest — subtle and satisfying.
The dialog was spot on.
Reminiscent of Jan Karon’s writing, except more subtle and nuanced.
Stunningly good. I look forward to reading this author’s future work.
Beautiful, confident writing, lyrical, with an engaging story to unfold, like a rich tapestry. A joy to read; abounding with appropo ‘bon mots’ such as “But our lives were misaligned . . .” and “. . . in uncertain situations people express who they are.”
This book transported me into its refined but edgy world, through the first–person narrative of Gabriel Staub. He was eleven when a cruelty was perpetuated on his teenaged sister Becca, which gave him, as he stated in a later look–back “. . . a premonition of the sadness that would steal over me at the oddest moments, blanketing everything, as unseen dew wets a field in the cover of night.”
The complex repercussions of that cruelty are deftly traced through ensuing decades. The characters you care about grow; others evolve or reveal. This being the mark of an author who not only writes well, but is a good storyteller too.
The plotting is very well crafted. Although the story shifts backwards and forward in time, the reveals always felt fitting.
A difficulty with stories like this one is that they can go flat at the end. This one didn’t. The ending did not disappoint. It was just right and in keeping with the rest — subtle and satisfying.
The dialog was spot on.
Reminiscent of Jan Karon’s writing, except more subtle and nuanced.
Stunningly good. I look forward to reading this author’s future work.
December 14, 2023
David Grosz writes a intensely dramatic tale with Providence
In Providence, the reader is introduced to Gabriel and his sister Becca. I haven't read anything by this author before, and what a hidden gem. I enjoyed it so much, that I have now followed the author and look for more books to read. This author has a grand imagination, and talent for showing the story. Gabriel has always been in his sister's shadow, as she is a famous - world famous artist, and also kind of a free spirit. But not everything that is hidden in the mind, is shared. Some memories just haunt you, and Gabriel will never forget the trauma his sister faced. This is a remarkable story about family, love and connections. David Grosz not only tells the story but shows it with words as well. Providence is one you'll want to read again, and again. A definite attention grabber, so much i couldn't put it down. A very unpredictable story, my favorite kind! It was very heartfelt & inspirational. Providence is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book, to also write a review.
In Providence, the reader is introduced to Gabriel and his sister Becca. I haven't read anything by this author before, and what a hidden gem. I enjoyed it so much, that I have now followed the author and look for more books to read. This author has a grand imagination, and talent for showing the story. Gabriel has always been in his sister's shadow, as she is a famous - world famous artist, and also kind of a free spirit. But not everything that is hidden in the mind, is shared. Some memories just haunt you, and Gabriel will never forget the trauma his sister faced. This is a remarkable story about family, love and connections. David Grosz not only tells the story but shows it with words as well. Providence is one you'll want to read again, and again. A definite attention grabber, so much i couldn't put it down. A very unpredictable story, my favorite kind! It was very heartfelt & inspirational. Providence is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book, to also write a review.
December 20, 2023
"Providence," the debut novel by David Grosz, is a superbe piece, particularly for a first-time author. Set against the backdrop of New York City, the book captures the city's depth, and unfiltered reality. Grosz's writing is fast-paced yet he delves deeply into the human experience, exposing raw emotions and complex relationships with a deftness rarely seen in debut works.
Moreover, "Providence" is set apart by how Grosz weaves his narrative. The characters are intricately developed, and their stories intertwine with the vibrancy and unpredictability of New York itself.
It's rare for a first novel to display such maturity and skill. Ernest Hemingway once said, "There is no friend as loyal as a book." In "Providence," Grosz proves himself to be a new, loyal friend to readers, offering a book that resonates with authenticity and brilliance. This novel is not just a promising start but a striking entry into the literary world. Grosz is undoubtedly an author to watch, as he has set the bar high for both himself and other emerging writers.
Moreover, "Providence" is set apart by how Grosz weaves his narrative. The characters are intricately developed, and their stories intertwine with the vibrancy and unpredictability of New York itself.
It's rare for a first novel to display such maturity and skill. Ernest Hemingway once said, "There is no friend as loyal as a book." In "Providence," Grosz proves himself to be a new, loyal friend to readers, offering a book that resonates with authenticity and brilliance. This novel is not just a promising start but a striking entry into the literary world. Grosz is undoubtedly an author to watch, as he has set the bar high for both himself and other emerging writers.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews