4.5
Alice Fantastic
ByPublisher Description
An “entertaining” novel about a family of three women “navigating relationships, a half-dozen lovers and innumerable dogs” (Publishers Weekly).
Alice Hunter is a thirty-six-year-old professional gambler living in Queens, New York. She is modestly successful as a horseplayer and enjoys her work. Though she is avidly pursued by her lover, Clayton, whom she refers to as The Big Oaf, Alice’s real closest companion is a small spotted dog, and Alice likes it that way.
When Clayton’s overzealousness leads Alice to ask one of her racetrack cronies to intimidate him into leaving her, a few things go wrong—and Alice turns to her half-sister Eloise, a toy maker whose own lover has just been killed in a freak accident. Despite their gruffness with each other, there is fierce love among Alice, Eloise, and their unconventional mother, Kimberly—but it will take the accidental discovery of an awful secret to truly bring three eccentric women, seventeen dogs, and assorted lovers together.
“The storytelling has vitality and a spirit of rebellion.” —The New York Times
“There is about Maggie Estep’s work a directness, a clear determination—a drive to cut through, to break through, to claw through—that is impressive.” —A. M. Homes, author of May We Be Forgiven
Alice Hunter is a thirty-six-year-old professional gambler living in Queens, New York. She is modestly successful as a horseplayer and enjoys her work. Though she is avidly pursued by her lover, Clayton, whom she refers to as The Big Oaf, Alice’s real closest companion is a small spotted dog, and Alice likes it that way.
When Clayton’s overzealousness leads Alice to ask one of her racetrack cronies to intimidate him into leaving her, a few things go wrong—and Alice turns to her half-sister Eloise, a toy maker whose own lover has just been killed in a freak accident. Despite their gruffness with each other, there is fierce love among Alice, Eloise, and their unconventional mother, Kimberly—but it will take the accidental discovery of an awful secret to truly bring three eccentric women, seventeen dogs, and assorted lovers together.
“The storytelling has vitality and a spirit of rebellion.” —The New York Times
“There is about Maggie Estep’s work a directness, a clear determination—a drive to cut through, to break through, to claw through—that is impressive.” —A. M. Homes, author of May We Be Forgiven
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4.5

Molly Ruth
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Betsy
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“I love Maggie Estep's writing. Love it. It's straightforward, uncompromising, beguiling, sexy, smart. I started this book before bed, and tried but failed to put it down twice and go to sleep. It's morning now, and I read it straight through. I adored it.
Yes, she uses the word "rapacious" far too often, and yes, she covers some familiar themes and territory here. But I don't care; she's brilliant. Her writing makes me feel utterly alive and human.”
About Maggie Estep
Maggie Estep has published six books, including Hex, a New York Times Notable Book of 2003. Her work has appeared in many magazines and anthologies including: Brooklyn Noir, Queens Noir, Aloud: Voices form the Nuyorican Poets Café, The Best American Erotica, The Outlaw Bible of American Poetry, and The KGB Bar Reader. Maggie was coeditor, with Jason Starr, of Bloodlines.
Other books by Maggie Estep
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