Joy SchoolIn this exquisite new novel by bestselling writer Elizabeth Berg, a young woman falls in love -- and learns how sorrow can lead to an understanding of joy. Katie, the narrator, has relocated to Missouri with her distant, occasionally abusive father, and she feels very much alone: her much-loved mother is dead; her new school is unaccepting of her; and her only friends fall far short of being ideal companions. When she accidentally falls through the ice while skating, she meets Jimmy. He is handsome, far older than she, and married, but she is entranced. As their relationship unfolds, so too does Katie's awareness of the pain and intensity first love can bring. Beautifully written in Berg's irresistible voice, Joy School portrays the soaring happiness of real love, the deep despair one can feel when it goes unrequited, and the stubbornness of hope that will not let us let go. Here also is recognition that love can come in many forms and offer many different things. Joy School illuminates, too, how the things that hurt the most can sometimes teach us the lessons that really matter. About Durable Goods, Elizabeth Berg's first novel, Andre Dubus said, "Elizabeth Berg writes with humor and a big heart about resilience, loneliness, love and hope. And the transcendence that redeems." The same will be said of Joy School, Elizabeth Berg's most luminous novel to date. |
Contents
Section 16 | 127 |
Section 17 | 135 |
Section 18 | 141 |
Section 19 | 144 |
Section 20 | 152 |
Section 21 | 159 |
Section 22 | 166 |
Section 23 | 168 |
Section 9 | 68 |
Section 10 | 82 |
Section 11 | 94 |
Section 12 | 98 |
Section 13 | 102 |
Section 14 | 109 |
Section 15 | 120 |
Section 24 | 171 |
Section 25 | 175 |
Section 26 | 180 |
Section 27 | 189 |
Section 28 | 195 |
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anyway army brat awhile believe better blue Cherylanne comes Corvette Cynthia says Diane Dickie dinner door dress drive-in ELIZABETH BERG everything eyes face Father Compton feel French toast funny Ginger says girl Greg guess hair hand hanging happy hard head hear heart hurt Jell-O Jimmy Joy School Katie kids kind kitchen laughing leans look mean meat loaf Miss Woods Mobil Oil mother move never nice Nona O'Connell Okay patty melt Paul Newman pretty pulls rings Rosalind Russell skate smell smiles soap opera someone sorry stand stare started sure sweater talk Taylor says teacher tell thing thought told turn Uh-huh voice wait walk watch wearing What's window wish woman Woolworth's write wrong Yeah yells