NEW RELEASE
Emily and Einstein - Linda Francis Lee (2011)
This gives a unique look at the process of grief and loss. After Emily Barlow loses her husband, Sandy, in a freak accident, she tries to keep her life on track and constantly pushes her grief away. She is a strong woman, and a strong woman does not fall apart. So, when Emily rescues Einstein, an ugly stray dog who was hit by a car the same night her husband died, from the shelter, she puts all of her energy into nursing him back to health. What she doesn't know is that there is more to Einstein than meets the eye. This little dog is actually her husband, Sandy, trapped in a dog's body. Though he can't communicate with Emily through words, he attempts to reach out to her through his mannerisms and ultimately brings Emily back from her world of unspoken grief and into the real world once again - where she begins to succeed with a flourish. Told through alternating chapters - one as Emily, the other as Einstein and Sandy - this is an amazing novel full of hope, redemption and wonderful characters. The best parts though come from the ever-so-witty Einstein. With Sandy's soul stuck inside of a dog, it's hard for him to control his dog urges and think clearly, yet he is quick-witted, smart and hilariously funny. Once you pick this novel up, you won't want to do anything else but read it. (AS)
Linda Francis Lee's latest novel Emily and Einstein takes a mystical edge as it explores the theme of second chances. The summary says: "Emily and her husband Sandy Portman seemed to live a gracious if busy life in an old-world, Upper West Side apartment in the famous Dakota building. But one night on the way to meet Emily, Sandy dies in a tragic accident. The funeral isn't even over before Emily learns she is on the verge of being evicted from their apartment. But worse than the possibility of losing her home, Emily is stunned when she discovers that her marriage was made up of lies. Suddenly Emily is forced on a journey to find out who her husband really was . . . all the while feeling that somehow he isn't really gone. Angry, hurt, and sometimes betrayed by loving memories of the man she lost, Emily finds comfort in a scruffy dog named Einstein. But is Einstein's seemingly odd determination that she save herself enough to make Emily confront her own past? Can he help her find a future - even after she meets a new man?" Emily and Einstein is out in March. You can read an excerpt at the author's website.