Deborah Lee Luskin’s first published novel wins Independent Publishers’ Gold Medal
In 1964, Rose Mayer buries her second husband and wonders what she’s going to do with the rest of her life. Reluctantly, she visits her son’s summer place in Vermont, where there are neither sidewalks, Democrats nor other Jews. There is, however, the Marlboro Music Festival. It’s there that she meets Percy Mendell. It’s dislike at first sight.
Percy’s a born and bred Vermonter who has never married, never voted for a Democrat, and never left the state. After a satisfying career as the county’s agricultural agent, he’s facing retirement. He’s also struggling with his long-held political beliefs: Barry Goldwater is too extreme for the Vermont GOP. Both Percy and Rose are 64-years old and have given up on love.
Set against the backdrop of Vermont’s changing seasons, Into The Wilderness is a testament to the endurance of the human heart.
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“Times of transition — personal, political and in a particular place — are the tectonic plates whose tremors shake loose the story at the heart of Deborah Lee Luskin’s tender and touching first published novel Into the Wilderness.”
– The Brattleboro Reformer review
Watch the Video ~ Deborah discusses her novel and her life in Vermont.
Reviews of Into The Wilderness:
“Into the Wilderness is a fiercely intelligent love story”
– The Rutland Herald review
“Into the Wilderness “is a perfectly gratifying read.”
Seven Days, Burlington’s Independent Weekly 09/10/2010
Read Amy Lily’s review.
“Music is central to the novel . . . Luskin is convincing in translating the aural, physical and emotional power of music into words on the paper. The result is a wonderful novel.”
–Addison Independent review
“Deborah Lee Luskin weaves together an enchanting tale of solitude, friendship and romance in her novel, Into the Wilderness.”
The Jewish Advocate (Boston), 06/25/2010. Read Judith Maas’ review.
“Luskin creates characters about whom readers care, masterfully discusses music and brings to life a vivid small Vermont town.”
Jewish Independent [Vancouver], 09/03/2010 Read Cynthia Ramsay’s review.
“The book is a complex love letter to Vermont.”
The Commons, April 2010 Read Thelma O’Brien’s review.
“Vermont can be as transformative and euphoric as the seasons, and to it Deborah Luskin’s novel sings a delightful ode.”
Deerfield Valley News, 07/08/2010 Read Veronica Giannotta’s review.
“This book is about survival.”
Intrepid media Read Candy Green Gustavson’s review.
“Author Deborah Lee Luskin has chutzpah.”
Brattleboro Reformer 03/25/2010 Read Joyce Marcel’s review.
Interviews with Deborah Lee Luskin
“A guided tour of Into The Wilderness with Deborah Lee Luskin”
Brattleboro Reformer, 05/22/2010 Read Christina Gibbons’ interview.
“A woman born to write, rich in the fullness of her powers.”
Brattleboro Reformer, 06/03/2010 Read Becky Karush’s interview.
“Into The Wilderness winds themes of religion, tradition, grief . . . with an uncanny prowess for details that vibrate with nuance and explore the vast landscape of the human heart.”
Vermont Maturity, May 2011 Read Clara Rose Thornton’s interview.
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