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A Manual for Cleaning Women

432 pages, 2016

Takeaways
Description

With the grit of Raymond Carver, the humor of Grace Paley, and a blend of wit and melancholy all her own, Lucia Berlin crafts miracles from every day, uncovering moments of grace in the laundromats and halfway houses of the American Southwest, in the homes of the Bay Area upper class, among switchboard operators and struggling mothers, hitchhikers, and bad Christians. 

Readers will revel in this remarkable collection from a master of the form and wonder how they'd ever overlooked her in the first place.

Life's Imperfections

Lucia Berlin's A Manual for Cleaning Women invites us to explore the beauty in life's imperfections. She shows us that it's okay to be flawed and that these flaws often make us who we are.

The Power of Ordinary

Berlin's book encourages us to find the extraordinary in the ordinary. She takes us on a journey through the lives of everyday people, showing us that everyone has a story worth telling.

Resilience in Adversity

A Manual for Cleaning Women is a testament to human resilience. Berlin's characters face adversity with courage and humor, inspiring us to do the same in our own lives.

The Art of Storytelling

Berlin's unique storytelling style is something to look into. She weaves together different narratives with ease, creating a rich tapestry of human experiences that will keep you hooked from start to finish.

Exploring Different Perspectives

The book encourages us to see the world from different perspectives. Through her diverse range of characters, Berlin shows us that everyone has their own unique way of viewing the world.

Quotes 5

Berlin's stories are full of second chances. Now readers have another chance to confront them: bits of life, chewed up and spat out like a wad of tobacco, bitter and rich.

Stephen KingStephen King - Horror Fiction Author

Berlin's stories make you marvel at the contingencies of our existence. She is the real deal.

Lydia DavisLydia Davis - Short Story Writer

Berlin's work went largely unnoticed in her life, but her posthumous collection is remarkable for its quiet intensity.

John FreemanJohn Freeman - Literary Critic

Berlin's stories are a revelation. She is one of America's finest and most overlooked writers.

Ruth FranklinRuth Franklin - Book Critic

Berlin's collection is a miracle of storytelling. Her work is full of humor, clarity, and compassion.

Dwight GarnerDwight Garner - Book Reviewer
Stephen KingLydia DavisJohn FreemanRuth FranklinDwight Garner

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