D (A Tale of Two Worlds)
A Novel
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4.0 • 4 Ratings
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
“Glorious. A story that will be found and enjoyed and dreamed about for years to come.”—Neil Gaiman
A stunning modern-day Dickensian fable and a celebration of friendship and bravery for freethinkers everywhere.
It all starts on the morning the letter D disappears from language. First, it vanishes from Dhikilo’s parents’ conversation at breakfast, then from the road signs outside and from her school dinners. Soon the local dentist and the neighbor’s dalmatian are missing, and even the Donkey Derby has been called off.
Though she doesn’t know why, Dhikilo is summoned to the home of her old history teacher Professor Dodderfield and his faithful Labrador, Nelly Robinson. And this is where our story begins.
Set between England and the wintry land of Liminus, a world enslaved by the monstrous Gamp and populated by fearsome, enchanting creatures, D (A Tale of Two Worlds) is told with simple beauty and warmth. Its celebration of moral courage and freethinking is a powerful reminder of our human capacity for strength, hope and justice.
Don't miss Michel Faber's lyrically woven and deeply evocative nonfiction debut, LISTEN, which relfects his lifelong passion for music of all kinds and will change your relationship with the heard world!
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Faber's entertaining, fantastical romp (after The Book of Strange New Things) concerns the sudden disappearance of the letter D. Dicky Bentley, 13, doesn't have memories of her early childhood before her adoption, but knows she hails from Somaliland in Africa, and no one in Dicky's orbit in Cawber-on-Sands, England, knows much about her homeland except for her history teacher, Professor Dodderfield. One morning, Dicky notices the letter D has vanished from the newspaper and from people's speech (" Demolish?' she ventured. Emolish,' her mum confirmed"). At school, she's suddenly admonished for her poor spelling, and her status as the only Black girl in Cawber is brought into greater relief. She consults Dodderfield for answers and meets Nelly, a sphinx who morphs into a dog whom the professor says will take her on a journey to find the stolen letter. Dicky and Nelly enter wintry Liminus from a Chronicles of Narnia-esque portal and see Ds carried aloft by dragonflies. A catlike Drood character helps Dicky reclaim the letter D, while they work together to restore warmth to the frozen land. Liminus is chock-full of literary references a chapter titled "Bleak House," about a house that traps its guests; an evil ruler straight out of the Wizard of Oz who transformed Liminus into tundra after seizing power and they come together smoothly through Faber's genuine enthusiasm for storytelling. This splendid tale will enchant readers of all ages.
