Based on real-life events, the novel explores the aftermath of sustained abuse in a Bolivian Mennonite colony called Molotschna.

Her latest book, Women Talking, is a tour de force about morality and female rage in the face of religious fundamentalism. Toews has written novels about loneliness and depression and suicide and devastating family secrets with nuance, demystifying the most taboo subjects with both empathy for her characters and compassion for her readers. Toews is a genius at recording the everyday weirdness of young people, their capricious vacillation between screw-you sarcasm and tender pleading for affirmation.' -Washington Post 'Engaging, humorous, grim, and redemptive, this is essential reading.When I need to make some sense of the meanest, most tragic aspects of human nature, I turn to the Canadian writer Miriam Toews. The precarious tone of her novels about fractured families is the crafted effect of a nimble writer. She is out to entertain with words, and the tale of the flying Troutmans is her best entertainment yet.' -Los Angeles Times 'Toews excels here at comedic sophistication, all while masterfully embedding explorations of madness, truth, and the immense sorrow that comes from caring for someone who is derailed by mania's devious tug.' -Booklist 'Miriam Toews saunters along the line between comedy and grief as if she might lose her balance at any moment. Toews is a genius at recording the everyday weirdness of young people, their capricious vacillation between screw-you sarcasm and tender pleading for affirmation.' - Washington Post 'Engaging, humorous, grim, and redemptive, this is essential reading.' - Library Journal, 'This saga of bad luck and good company is a wry, scary, heartfelt ode to the traverses we have to make in life when we're at the end of our rope and there's no net below us.' -Elle 'A lovably nutty cast.' -Publishers Weekly 'Not since Stephen Leacock have our neighbors to the north given us a writer as witty and wise as Miriam Toews. She is out to entertain with words, and the tale of the flying Troutmans is her best entertainment yet.' - Los Angeles Times 'Toews excels here at comedic sophistication, all while masterfully embedding explorations of madness, truth, and the immense sorrow that comes from caring for someone who is derailed by mania's devious tug.' - Booklist 'Miriam Toews saunters along the line between comedy and grief as if she might lose her balance at any moment.

'This saga of bad luck and good company is a wry, scary, heartfelt ode to the traverses we have to make in life when we're at the end of our rope and there's no net below us.' - Elle 'A lovably nutty cast.' - Publishers Weekly 'Not since Stephen Leacock have our neighbors to the north given us a writer as witty and wise as Miriam Toews.

Miriam toews books