The Infinite Now

A Novel

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Pub Date Oct 24 2017 | Archive Date Nov 17 2017

Description

On a rainy night in Philadelphia's Ninth Street Market, sixteen-year-old Fiora, newly-orphaned by the 1918 influenza epidemic, is dumped at an old man's door. Daughter of the local fortune teller, Fiora arrives with a little money, a lot of attitude, and her mother's formidable reputation. The old man, a widowed shoemaker ticking down his clock, is the only person in their superstitious immigrant community brave enough to stand between Fiora and an orphanage. Fiora's a modern, forward-thinking young woman, uninterested in using old-world magic to make a way for herself—but when her mother's magical curtain shows her that the old man will shortly die of a heart attack, Fiora panics, and casts her entire neighborhood into a stagnant bubble of time. A bubble where everything continues but nothing progresses—tomatoes won't ripen, babies refuse to be born, and the sick suffer under the weight of a never-ending stream of unspent seconds. Not everything in the bubble is bad. Love, fresh and fascinating, ignites. Friendships take root. But as day drags into interminable day, the pressure inside the bubble world builds. Fiora must accept that not everything found can be kept, not everything saved will remain, and unless Fiora finds the courage to collapse the bubble, every one of her hopes will be trapped inside an unbearable, unyielding, unpredictable, and infinite Now.

On a rainy night in Philadelphia's Ninth Street Market, sixteen-year-old Fiora, newly-orphaned by the 1918 influenza epidemic, is dumped at an old man's door. Daughter of the local fortune teller...


Advance Praise

"Replete with poignant details, Mindy Tarquini’s The Infinite Now is an engrossing tightrope walk over the relational lines that connect human beings to each other and to time itself…The Infinite Now‘s potent sorcery doesn’t lie primarily in its forays into fantasy and myth, but rather in the humanity of its characters and the energy of its storytelling.”
Foreword Reviews, 5 out of 5 stars

“This book offers a well-researched and engagingly drawn portrait of a displaced Italian community in one of America’s most turbulent years. Fiora is a forceful, determined protagonist among an intriguing cast of supporting characters. The first-person descriptions of her life are both vivid and tender…A well-woven tapestry of history, character, and charming mystery.” 
Kirkus Reviews

"Mindy Tarquini beautifully weaves a tapestry of superstition, time, and hope in her most recent novel, The Infinite Now…Those who enjoy magical realism mixed with a bit of mystery will find themselves highly entertained by The Infinite Now, and the story reminds readers that hope and love are always good guides when we feel we've lost our way.”
― Manhattan Book Review (4 out of 5 stars)

"Mindy Tarquini does a phenomenal job at capturing not only the feel of the time but the feel of people who would have lived there…This book reached out and struck right at my heart. I found myself falling in love – falling hard – with the story, at times nearly crying. If you want to lose yourself in a fantasy that feels all too real, look no further than The Infinite Now.”
―San Francisco Book Review (5 out of 5 stars)

"Take a break from reality with this whimsical plot set in flu-ravaged 1918 Philadelphia for some spellbinding magic at your fingertips.”
Working Mother


PAST PRAISE FOR HINDSIGHT


"Tarquini charms her audience with heady wit and laugh-out-loud humor . . . This is a fast-reading, enjoyable journey through past and present that many readers will enjoy."
Booklist

"Hindsight is an evocative and inventive reincarnation tale. Drawing on snippets of wisdom from long-gone literary giants, including Chaucer, Dante, Goethe, and Kipling, Tarquini illustrates the eternal universality of human behavior . . . the narrative emphasizes the importance of acting in the here and now: saying what should be said, forgiving what needs to be forgiven, embracing opportunities to deepen connections with others, and seizing moments of happiness when they?re presented. Consequently, Hindsight is a sustaining and deeply personal reading experience."
Foreword Reviews, FIVE STARS, Book of the Day Selection

"Tarquini's innovative concept is paired with realistic characters and sparkling wit, making this enjoyable novel a keeper."
Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"This contemporary jewel is a literary parade that reminds us to live life fully in the now."
Working Mother, "21 New Books to Fall for This Autumn"

"A unique and innovative reminder to enjoy life like it's the only one you'll have."
―Bookstr

"Witty and thought-provoking, Mindy Tarquini's debut is a must-read for lovers of Chaucer, magical realism and literary ingenuity."
―Buzzfeed

"Funny and irreverent, this modern fable is a good reminder to love the life you have."
Real Simple

"This quirky and often funny novel is a satisfying debut and will pique readers' interests right off the bat."
―RT Book Reviews

"Replete with poignant details, Mindy Tarquini’s The Infinite Now is an engrossing tightrope walk over the relational lines that connect human beings to each other and to time itself…The Infinite Now...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781943006342
PRICE $16.95 (USD)
PAGES 280

Average rating from 10 members


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