The Lace Reader
 Cover for the UK Hardback edition | |
| Author | Brunonia Barry |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fiction, Novel |
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
Publication date | 2009 |
| Media type | |
The Lace Reader (2009) is a novel by Brunonia Barry. The novel is set in Salem, Massachusetts, the American town famous for the Salem witch trials.
The novel came to be well known for its unusual route to mainstream publishing. Originally self-published by the author[1] it became a local success story, got rave reviews in many places[2] including Publishers Weekly, and was eventually picked up by the US branch of HarperCollins in a multimillion-dollar deal.[3]
It soon became a New York Times bestseller and is currently under option for a film. Rumoured casting includes Rachel McAdams as the lead character, Towner Whitney.
When asked about her inspiration for the book, Barry said, as reported on her blog:
For quite some time, I have been fascinated by the Hero’s Journey or the monomyth. Most stories that follow this pattern have a decidedly male orientation: a lone individual acts heroically and saves the day. I wondered if there might be an alternate form, a feminine Hero’s Journey. So I began to look at stories that featured female protagonists to see if they offered something different. What I found surprised me. Most of these women were either killed off or were ultimately rescued from their plight by male heros. Unsatisfied, I wondered if I could write a Hero’s Journey for women where the strong but wounded heroine must find a way to save herself.[4]
References
- ^ The Lace Reader.
- ^ McCarthy, Gail. Author's dream leads to bestselling 'Lace', October 29, 2008. Retrieved 07/21/10.
- ^ Debut Author Brunonia Barry Scores $2 Million Deal for Self-Published Novel, October 18, 2007. Retrieved 07/21/10.
- ^ Barry, Brunonia. Inspiration for The Lace Reader, June 19, 2008. Retrieved 07/21//10.