The Stranger Box (Paperback)

Pamela Cuming

ISBN 10: 1500955825 / ISBN 13: 9781500955823

Editore: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform, 2014

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Paperback. Set in New York City and Los Angeles between August 1999 and November 2001, The Stranger Box is a fast-paced psychological thriller. It is the story of a mother and a daughter caught like two white dwarf stars in separate orbits, destined to collide. Though she does everything in her considerable power to insure the child never finds out who she is, the vain and self-obsessed Katherine Blair is unable to change the course of her destiny or evade Eden, the resourceful daughter whose pursuit is fueled by the desire for revenge and the determination to steal the family that has been denied her. Eden's sometimes tortured and always tumultuous journey is the focal point of this story of abandonment and revenge. Her character and beliefs regarding right and wrong, and good and evil are influenced not only by her Jewish adoptive mother, but by their housekeeper, Leila, a young Voodoo priestess from Haiti. It's Leila who gives Eden her first Stranger Box, and teaches her to keep it filled with things that will protect her from others who would do her harm. Under her tutelage, Eden learns to worship the Iwa, and begins to master the art of using plants and herbs to heal and to punish. Fascinated by the black magic as well as the white magic that characterizes the Voodoo religion, Eden becomes intrigued with the notion of zombies. At a Voodoo ceremony, she witness a possession and encounter an opportunity to steal a jar of the powder used to create a zombie. Eden's burgeoning fascination with all things Voodoo comes to an end when Leila is forced to leave the family's employ and return to Haiti because of the sexual advances of Eden's adoptive father. Eden's journey becomes more tumultuous as tragedy strikes and her adoptive family disintegrates, forcing her onto the streets and into the arms of a disciple of Satan. The tension between good and evil is reminiscent of Patricia Highsmith's Ripley series. The portrayal of the consequences of intense negative emotion on the outcome of a family drama is suggestive of Ian McEwan's Atonement. Eden's resilience, and her ability to emerge as a strong and resourceful adult inspite of a disastrous childhood brings to mind Stieg Larsson's Lisbeth Salander. Among the many early readers of the book was R.W. Goodwin, Executive Producer of The X-Files. He reflected the opinion of many when he said, "The Stranger Box is a real page-turner. Eden is right. Trust no one."To tell more would destroy the tension and ruin the surprise. A young, adopted actress seeks our her self-obseesed mother and tries to gain back the family that was denied her. This item is printed on demand. Shipping may be from our UK warehouse or from our Australian or US warehouses, depending on stock availability.

Codice articolo 9781500955823

Dati bibliografici

• Titolo: The Stranger Box (Paperback)
• Editore: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Data di pubblicazione: 2014
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 1500955825
• ISBN 13: 9781500955823
• Rilegatura: Paperback
• Condizione: new

Descrizione articolo

Riassunto

Set in New York City and Los Angeles between August 1999 and November 2001, The Stranger Box is a fast-paced psychological thriller. It is the story of a mother and a daughter caught like two white dwarf stars in separate orbits, destined to collide. Though she does everything in her considerable power to insure the child never finds out who she is, the vain and self-obsessed Katherine Blair is unable to change the course of her destiny or evade Eden, the resourceful daughter whose pursuit is fueled by the desire for revenge and the determination to steal the family that has been denied her. Eden’s sometimes tortured and always tumultuous journey is the focal point of this story of abandonment and revenge. Her character and beliefs regarding right and wrong, and good and evil are influenced not only by her Jewish adoptive mother, but by their housekeeper, Leila, a young Voodoo priestess from Haiti. It’s Leila who gives Eden her first Stranger Box, and teaches her to keep it filled with things that will protect her from others who would do her harm. Under her tutelage, Eden learns to worship the Iwa, and begins to master the art of using plants and herbs to heal and to punish. Fascinated by the black magic as well as the white magic that characterizes the Voodoo religion, Eden becomes intrigued with the notion of zombies. At a Voodoo ceremony, she witness a possession and encounter an opportunity to steal a jar of the powder used to create a zombie. Eden’s burgeoning fascination with all things Voodoo comes to an end when Leila is forced to leave the family’s employ and return to Haiti because of the sexual advances of Eden’s adoptive father. Eden's journey becomes more tumultuous as tragedy strikes and her adoptive family disintegrates, forcing her onto the streets and into the arms of a disciple of Satan. The tension between good and evil is reminiscent of Patricia Highsmith’s Ripley series. The portrayal of the consequences of intense negative emotion on the outcome of a family drama is suggestive of Ian McEwan’s Atonement. Eden’s resilience, and her ability to emerge as a strong and resourceful adult inspite of a disastrous childhood brings to mind Stieg Larsson’s Lisbeth Salander. Among the many early readers of the book was R.W. Goodwin, Executive Producer of The X-Files. He reflected the opinion of many when he said, “The Stranger Box is a real page-turner. Eden is right. Trust no one.”To tell more would destroy the tension and ruin the surprise.

Informazioni sull?autore

After graduating from Smith College, Pam embarked on what would become multi-faceted career during which she would advise leaders of American corporations, Wall Street financiers, directors of non-profits, and medical practitioners on the human dimensions of their enterprises. Now, she is enjoying living on a mountaintop in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, and sharing her insights through the printed word. As is apparent in her new novel, The Stranger Box, she enjoys creating characters who are courageous, resourceful and, true to human nature, embody both good and evil. Though brave and bold, her heroines are capable of creating their own worst obstacles. Though gallant, her heroes can be stubborn, narrow-minded and blind to the impact they are having on themselves and others. Regardless, they are willing to take risks even when the stakes are high and the odds are against them. They share her belief as expressed by Helen Keller, “Life is an adventure or nothing at all.” This message is also apparent in the non-fiction book she is now completing. The Hourglass: Life as an Aging Mortal is at once memoir and self-help interspersed with bits of philosophy and cultural commentary. It’s about meeting the challenges of aging and dying with dignity. She is also contemplating a sequel to The Stranger Box, and is working on a novel about a young man afflicted with asperger syndrome who becomes a reluctant asset to a cruel, greed-driven Wall Street trader. In addition, Pam has published the following: • Turf and other Corporate Power Plays. Prentice Hall, Inc. Englewood, New Jersey. 1985 • The Power Handbook: A Strategic Guide to Organizational and Personal Effectiveness. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, Inc. New York, New York, 1982 • Widow’s Walk. Crown Publishers Inc. New York, New York. 1981 Learn more and communicate with her on her website: http://www.pamcuming.com