The Caregiver
The Caregiver by Samuel Park, published by Simon & Schuster on September 25, 2018, is a literary work that explores the intricate dynamics of family life through the lens of a mother-daughter relationship. This edition spans 288 pages and is presented in English. The narrative centers on Mara Alencar and her mother Ana, a struggling voice-over actress whose life is deeply intertwined with Mara’s. As they navigate their unique bond, their lives take a dramatic turn when Ana becomes involved with a rebel group in 1980s Rio de Janeiro, leading to significant changes that impact their shared existence.
Readers will find a poignant exploration of identity and connection as Mara emigrates to California, where she works as a caregiver for a young woman facing terminal illness. This experience prompts her to confront her past and uncover essential truths about her mother and herself. The Caregiver delves into themes of coming of age and the complexities of familial relationships, inviting readers to reflect on the nature of care and the ties that bind us across different cultures and experiences.
Official synopsis Publisher
A FALL 2018 HIGHLY ANTICIPATED SELECTION BY * PEOPLE * O, THE OPRAH MAGAZINE * ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY * VULTURE * CHICAGO TRIBUNE * THE MILLIONS * FAST COMPANY * SEATTLE TIMES * ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH * BOOKPAGE * BOOKRIOT * CONDE NAST TRAVELER *
“[A] luminous mother-daughter saga.”—ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
“Lovely and heartbreaking.”—PEOPLE
“A beautiful testament to [Park’s] extraordinary talents as a storyteller…A ferocious page-turner.”—KIRKUS REVIEWS (STARRED REVIEW)
From the critically acclaimed author of This Burns My Heart comes a gorgeous, emotionally wise tale about a daughter who unearths the hidden life of her enigmatic mother.
Mara Alencar’s mother Ana is her moon, her sun, her stars. Ana, a struggling voice-over actress, is an admirably brave and recklessly impulsive woman who does everything in her power to care for her little girl. With no other family or friends her own age, Ana eclipses Mara’s entire world. They take turns caring for each other—in ways big and small.
Their arrangement begins to unravel when Ana becomes involved with a civilian rebel group attempting to undermine the city’s torturous Police Chief, who rules over 1980s Rio de Janeiro with terrifying brutality. Ana makes decisions that indelibly change their shared life. When Mara is forced to escape, she emigrates to California as an undocumented immigrant and finds employment as a caregiver to a young woman dying of stomach cancer. It’s here that she begins to grapple with her turbulent past and starts to uncover vital truths—about her mother, herself, and what it means to truly take care of someone.
Told with vivid imagery and subtle poignancy, The Caregiver is a moving and profound story that asks us to investigate who we are—as children and parents, immigrants and citizens, and ultimately, humans looking for vital connectivity
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