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A Theory of Expanded Love Kindle Edition

by Caitlin Hicks (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
5.0 5.0 out of 5 stars 2 ratings
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A Theory of Expanded Love is a coming-of-age story featuring an unflinching, gullible skeptic, trapped in her enormous Catholic family in 1963. On the verge of adolescence, Annie Shea is young enough to want a doll for Christmas, yet old enough to be responsible for the care and feeding of five younger brothers and sisters. Desperate for attention in the rambling, haphazard mess of a home where privacy is non-existent and conformity the rule, Annie sees her chance for glory when the pope dies and a family friend is on the short list to be elected the first American pope. She begins a hilarious campaign of lies-by-association with the Cardinal to elevate her tribe to the holiest of holy rollers in her parish.

But when Annie discovers a closely-held family secret and a wedding photograph of her mother next to a soldier who is not her father; when ‘The Hands’ visit her at night, as her sister faces a scandal, Annie finds that her parents will do almost anything to uphold their Catholic reputation and keep their secrets safe. Questioning all she has believed and torn between her own gut instinct and years of Catholic guilt, Annie runs away from home to wrest salvation from the tragic sequence of events set in motion by her parents’ betrayal, while remaining loyal to herself – and her own quirky, crystal clear logic.

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  1. Print length
    321 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    April 25, 2023
  5. File size
    2605 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Awesome, hilarious and moving-a hit! Judy Blume, Lena Dunham, and Jennifer Weiner move over! I have never laughed so hard!" - JDC Must Read Books

"The astute observations of a little girl from a big Catholic family living in Pasadena in 1963. Annie's disarming voice evokes nostalgia for a bygone era and hope for humanity in a weary, modern world." - Kirkus Reviews


" . . . enough charm to fill the corridors of Vatican City twice over."- Foreward Reviews


"worthy debut . . . disarming humor." - Publishers Weekly


"The writing is superb - should be a NYTimes Best Seller. Set in 1963, it's simultaneously funny, heartbreaking, insightful, and entertaining." - Jennifer Karchmer, Book Journalist & Reviewer

"A gem of a read. Annie's unique take on the world, her impudence and fearlessness, her eccentricities conspire to create an unforgettable heroine." - Laurie McConnell, webmaster, Big Pacific.com, Sechelt, B. C.

--This text refers to the paperback edition.

About the Author

Caitlin Hicks is the author of the 2015 novel A Theory of Expanded Love, which won many awards, including IndieFAB Bronze (now Foreword Indies) and iTunes for "Best New Fiction." In 2022, the novel won listing on BookRiot's list of 100 must-read books about Women and Religion alongside celebrated writers Alice Walker, Barbara Kingsolver, Toni Morrison, Arundhati Roy, Margaret Atwood, Ann Patchett, Alice Hoffman and more. The audiobook of A Theory of Expanded Love won NYC BIG BOOK AWARD as a Distinguished Favorite in 2022.Hicks is also an international playwright and acclaimed performer. Her theatrical writing has been performed in Best Women's Stage Monologues (New York), SheSpeaks (Playwrights Canada Press), and Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's national radio. A screen adaptation of Hicks's internationally toured play Singing the Bones debuted as a feature film at Montreal World Film Festival (2001) and screened around the world. Hicks's writing has been published in Vancouver Sun, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, The Fiddlehead, and other publications. Her podcast SOME KINDA WOMAN, Stories of Us, captures women's voices at small and profound moments in their lives. Learn more at CaitlinHicks.com. --This text refers to the paperback edition.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0C3MD8W52
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Brown Posey Press; 2nd edition (April 25, 2023)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 25, 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2605 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 321 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    5.0 5.0 out of 5 stars 2 ratings

About the author

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Caitlin Hicks

Caitlin Hicks

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Caitlin Hicks is an author, international playwright, and acclaimed performer in British Columbia, Canada.

My life and work have been profoundly affected by the central circumstance of my existence: I was born into a large Catholic family in the United States of America. As a child surrounded by many others, I wrote, performed and directed family plays.

Writing has always been a personal spiritual journey, although my work is not religious. I am drawn towards stories that I don't hear often in the mainstream culture, often, something that 'cannot be said'.

I wrote my first novel, A THEORY OF EXPANDED LOVE to celebrate the rich heritage of my family experience, after my father disinherited me.

A past member of Playwrights Guild of Canada, I belong to Federation of B.C. Writers and Writer's Union of Canada. I review books for The New York Journal of Books.

It is my belief that writing can connect us to each other deeply; it celebrates our individuality as well as the richness of our diversity.

Please visit my website (caitlinhicks.com) for more stories and photos related to my life-inspired writing and connect to my PODCAST 'SOME KINDA WOMAN, Stories of Us' .

Customer reviews

5 out of 5 stars
5 out of 5
2 global ratings

Top review from the United States

Francine
5.0 out of 5 stars Heartwarming!
Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2023
Verified Purchase
Well-written, enjoyable read about a large southern California family in the early '60's. With spunk & humor, main character Annie Shea negotiates childhood. The family's prominence in the parish, at school, and in the community, does not bode well for the secrets that must be kept. Sibling & schoolmate dynamics mesh rivalry, love & support in a heartwarming blend.
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