Critics' Opinion:
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Published Feb 2009
496 pages
Genre: Literary Fiction
Publication Information
Paperback Original
Sunny Cooper has been running since she was eighteen, from the New Mexican commune where she grew up ... and from the haunting memory of the freak accident that took the life of her younger sister. Now, at thirty-two, Sunny voices radio spots in Albuquerque while struggling to hold on to a floundering relationship. But when a second tragic accident—and the devastating truths that come to light in its aftermath—turns her world upside down, Sunny runs again.
In the town of Harmony on San Miguel Island, she takes a new job, learns to ride a motorcycle, and makes some surprising new friends. But the past is never far behind. A startling discovery—along with an emotional and revelatory reunion with her estranged mother—is forcing Sunny to step out from the shadows of yesterday to embrace an uncertain future.
"Hendricks's gentle humor and vivid depictions of island and communal life put a little sugar on the unfortunate and overbusy plot." - Publishers Weekly.
"Hendricks has an engaging narrative voice that will pull readers right into this story of a damaged woman who is more resilient than she realizes." - Booklist.
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Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Judith Ryan Hendricks was born in San Jose,
California, when the Santa Clara Valley was better known for its orchards than for computer chips. Armed with a degree in journalism, she worked as a journalist, copywriter,
computer instructor, travel agent, waitress and baker before turning to fiction
writing. Her experiences at the McGraw Street Bakery in Seattle became her first novel, Bread Alone.
A life-long infatuation with the Southwest was the inspiration for Isabel’s
Daughter, and her third novel, The Baker’s Apprentice, is a sequel to
Bread Alone. Her fourth book, The Laws of Harmony, was published
in February, 2009; Hendricks’ fiction has been translated into 11
languages and distributed in more than 15 countries worldwide. She and her
husband ...
... Full Biography
Author Interview
Link to Judith R. Hendricks's Website
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