The Polite Act of Drowning

By Charleen Hurtubise

FICTION

288 Pages, 5.07874 x 7.795276

Formats: Trade Paper

Trade Paper, $15.99 (US $15.99) (CA $20.99)

Publication Date: November 2024

ISBN 9781804184912

Rights: US & CA

Bonnier Books UK (Nov 2024)
Eriu

Not Yet Published. Estimated release date: November 2024

Overview

The luminous debut novel from one of Ireland's finest storytellers

'A beautiful and captivating novel, lyrical and sensuous, a precise and faithful evocation of the tumult and trauma of family life, and of emergence into adulthood, and the confrontation of truths about ourselves and the people we love' - Donal Ryan, author, The Queen of Dirt Island

Michigan, 1985.

The drowning of a teenage girl causes ripples in the small town of Kettle Lake, though for most the waters settle quickly. For sixteen year old Joanne Kennedy, however, the tragedy dredges up untold secrets and causes her mother to drift farther from reality and her family.

When troubled newcomer Lucinda arrives in town, she offers Joanne a chance of real friendship, and together the teenagers push against the boundaries of family, self-image, and their sexuality during the tension of a long, stifling summer. But the undercurrents of past harms continuously threaten to drag Joanne and those around her under...

Perfect for fans of Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owen.

Reviews

"Sensory and dynamic, the prose revels in the natural beauty and claustrophobic social dynamics of Kettle Lake...Interweaving themes of trauma, identity formation, sexuality, and grief with delicacy, The Polite Act of Drowning is a coming-of-age tale that cuts to the heart of human experience."—Foreword Reviews, Starred Review

“On the surface, The Polite Act of Drowning is a coming-of-age narrative, but diving deeper reveals that it is also an exploration of the fragility of life and the impact of death on those around it... Hurtubise creates a powerful narrative of family and hardship... The Polite Act of Drowning finds hope and love in the deepest parts of Kettle Lake."—Shelf Awareness

'A beautiful book. Lyrical, captivating and at times completely heart-wrenching' —Sinead Moriarty, author, Baby Trail

'A beautiful and powerful novel about how the past never leaves us, and how secrets can destroy a family. Hurtubise writes so evocatively, I was completely immersed in the world of Kettle Lake, its colourful characters and the heartbreak of a community.' — Elaine Feeney, author, As You Were

Author Biography

Charleen Hurtubise was born in Michigan and has lived in Dublin for over 25 years. She is a teacher and artist as well as a writer, and her short fiction, essays and poetry have appeared in various publications. She holds an MFA Creative Writing from University College Dublin (UCD) where she has also facilitated creative writing modules.

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