Synopses & Reviews
From the wildly acclaimed Nani Power, a new novel of love, lust, discovery, and the strangely interwoven tales of three lonely inhabitants of an old Washington, D.C. hotel.
"This is all about love," begins The Sea of Tears. Infused with the sensuality and smarts that have established Nani Power as one of our most exciting young writers, this otherworldly novel delves into the tangled relationships and hidden worlds of people brought together-and torn apart-under extraordinary circumstances. One man, Jedra, has fled his native Iraq and taken a technician job at The Renaissance Hotel, where he works in the boiler room and pines for the love of Phyllis, a front desk clerk who mysteriously remembers Heaven. Khouri, an Iranian engineer with no living family, attends a conference at the hotel only to meet Patricia, a single mom employed there as a maid. And in the penthouse apartment, Daniel Espirito entertains the delusion that he's actually living in Brazil-until the hotel chef, Leslie, comes knocking on his door.
Harking back to the ancient tales of The Arabian Nights but with a decidedly modern eye towards the clashing and mingling of cultures, this is Power's most ambitious work to date, and an enchanting invitation to take seriously the mysterious desires of one's heart.
Review
"An eerie tale that could have been ponderous and flat but, instead, goes completely over the edge and become outrageous and delightful." Kirkus Reviews
Synopsis
This is all about love, begins
The Sea of Tears, a story that is infused with the sensuality and smarts that have established Nani Power as one of our most compelling writers. This otherworldly novel delves into the tangled relationships and hidden world of people brought together--and torn apart--under extraordinary circumstances: Jedra has fled his native Iraq and is working in the boiler room at the Royale Hotel, where he pines for Phyllis, the front-desk clerk who mysteriously remembers heaven. Khouri, an Iranian engineer, attends a business conference at the Royale, where he meets Patricia, a single mother and hotel maid, and finds himself wanting in ways he never has before. And in the penthouse apartment, young loner Daniel cannot escape his memories of Brazil, and only makes contact with the outside world through room service delivery. That is, until the hotel chef, Leslie Downing, comes knocking on his door.
Harking back to The Arabian Nights and the poetry of Rumi, but with a decidedly modern eye toward the clashing and mingling of cultures, the result is a mesmerizing invitation to take seriously the desires of one's heart.