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Waiting for Columbus

by Thomas Trofimuk

Waiting for Columbus Cover

ISBN13: 9780385529136
ISBN10: 0385529139
Condition: Standard
All Product Details

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Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

A man arrives at an insane asylum in contemporary Spain claiming to be the legendary navigator Christopher Columbus. Who he really is, and the events that led him to break with reality, lie at the center of this captivating, romantic, and stunningly written novel.

Found in the treacherous Strait of Gibraltar, the mysterious man who calls himself Columbus appears to be just another delirious mental patient, until he begins to tell the “true” story of how he famously obtained three ships from Spanish royalty.

It's Nurse Consuela who listens to these fantastical tales of adventure and romance, and tries desperately to make sense of why this seemingly intelligent man has been locked up, and why no one has come to visit. As splintered fragments of the man beneath the façade reveal a charming yet guarded individual, Nurse Consuela can't avoid the inappropriate longings she begins to feel. Something terrible caused his break with reality and she can only listen and wait as Columbus spins his tale to the very end.

In the tradition of The Story of Edgar Sawtelle and The Dogs of Babel, this unforgettable novel mines the darkest recesses of loss and the extraordinary capacity of the human spirit. It is an immensely satisfying novel that will introduce Thomas Trofimuk to readers who will want to hear his voice again and again.

Review:

"Canadian writer Trofimuk's uneven novel begins with an inspired premise: a man claiming to be Christopher Columbus shows up at an insane asylum in contemporary Spain. Under the care of a nurse named Consuela, he begins to tell stories of Columbus's adventures, remembering some and reliving others. It is interesting enough at first, but the blending of then and now gets tiresome and hokey (as when, after strenuous intercourse, Columbus watches TV). Also, Columbus is a voracious lover who speaks in purple prose about how much he loves women. The women, real and imagined, likewise find him irresistible. (Indeed, even Consuela falls hard for Columbus.) Meanwhile, Interpol declares the mystery man 'officially suspicious' and dispatches an agent specializing in cold trails to track him down. Trofimuk never quite pulls together a cohesive narrative; the imaginings of a mentally unwell man hold some promise, but too many developments are murky and inexplicable." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

About the Author

Thomas Trofimuk is a writer, editor, and communications consultant. He lives in Edmonton, Alberta, with his wife and daughter.

What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 1 comment:

Tedra, January 1, 2010 (view all comments by Tedra)
Consuela is a nurse assigned to Columbus' case in a mental institution. Like Consuela, you can't help but be charmed by Columbus as he tells his tales of procuring in his ships and the women he loves. You also hope that by the end of his tales he will come to realize who he is and what has happened to him. I will look for more by this author!
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(4 of 6 readers found this comment helpful)

Product Details

ISBN:
9780385529136
Author:
Trofimuk, Thomas
Publisher:
Doubleday
Subject:
Psychological
Subject:
Psychological fiction
Subject:
Literary
Subject:
Spain
Publication Date:
20090825
Binding:
Hardback
Grade Level:
General/trade
Language:
English
Pages:
336
Dimensions:
9.26x6.36x1.19 in. 1.30 lbs.

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Waiting for Columbus Used Trade Paper
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Product details 336 pages Doubleday Books - English 9780385529136 Reviews:
"Publishers Weekly Review" by , "Canadian writer Trofimuk's uneven novel begins with an inspired premise: a man claiming to be Christopher Columbus shows up at an insane asylum in contemporary Spain. Under the care of a nurse named Consuela, he begins to tell stories of Columbus's adventures, remembering some and reliving others. It is interesting enough at first, but the blending of then and now gets tiresome and hokey (as when, after strenuous intercourse, Columbus watches TV). Also, Columbus is a voracious lover who speaks in purple prose about how much he loves women. The women, real and imagined, likewise find him irresistible. (Indeed, even Consuela falls hard for Columbus.) Meanwhile, Interpol declares the mystery man 'officially suspicious' and dispatches an agent specializing in cold trails to track him down. Trofimuk never quite pulls together a cohesive narrative; the imaginings of a mentally unwell man hold some promise, but too many developments are murky and inexplicable." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)
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