$16.14 sale price when purchased online
$28.99 list price
Target Online store #3991
About this item
Highlights
- An "enchanting" (Caroline Kepnes, author of You) "fairy-tale-inflected thriller" (The New Yorker) about two sisters who encounter a captivating yet possibly dangerous underworld cult that challenges their perception of reality.
- About the Author: Tara Isabella Burton is the author of the novels Here in Avalon, The World Cannot Give, and Social Creature, which was named a Best Book of the Year by The New York Times, Vulture, and The Guardian.
- 320 Pages
- Fiction + Literature Genres, Coming of Age
Description
About the Book
"Rose has come a long way. Raised--and often neglected--by a wayward mother in New York City's chaotic bohemia, Rose has finally built the life she's always wanted: a good job at a self-help startup, a clean apartment, an engagement to a stable if self-satisfied tech CEO who shares her faith in human potential, hard work, and the sacrifice of childish dreams. Rose's sister Cecilia, on the other hand, never grew up. Irresponsible and impetuous, prone to jetting off to a European monastery one month and a falcon rescue the next, Cecilia has spent her life in pursuit of fairy-tale narratives of transcendence and true love--grand ideas Rose knows never work out in the real world. When Cecilia declares she's come home to New York for good, following the ending of a whirlwind marriage, Rose hopes Cecilia might finally be ready to face adulthood: compromises and all. But then Cecilia gets involved with the Avalon: a cultish-sounding cabaret troupe--one that appears only at night, on a mysterious red boat that travels New York's waterways--and soon vanishes: one of a growing number of suspicious disappearances among the city's lost and loneliest souls. The only way Rose can find Cecilia is by tracking down the Avalon herself. But as Rose gets closer to solving the mystery of what happened to her sister, the Avalon works its magic on her, too. And the deeper she goes into the Avalon's underworld, she more she begins to question everything she knows about her own life, and whether she's willing to leave the real world behind"--Book Synopsis
An "enchanting" (Caroline Kepnes, author of You) "fairy-tale-inflected thriller" (The New Yorker) about two sisters who encounter a captivating yet possibly dangerous underworld cult that challenges their perception of reality. A New Yorker Best Book of 2024 Rose has come a long way. Raised--and often neglected--by a wayward mother in New York City's chaotic bohemia, she has finally built the life she's always wanted: a good job at a self-help startup, a clean apartment, an engagement to a stable if self-satisfied tech CEO who shares her faith in human potential, hard work, and the sacrifice of childish dreams. Rose's sister Cecilia, on the other hand, never grew up. Irresponsible and impetuous, prone to jetting off to a European monastery one month and a falcon rescue the next, Cecilia has spent her life in pursuit of fairy-tale narratives of transcendence and true love--grand ideas Rose knows never work out in the real world. When Cecilia declares she's come home to New York for good, following the ending of a whirlwind marriage, Rose hopes Cecilia might find a way to be ready to face adulthood: compromises and all. But then Cecilia gets involved with the Avalon: a cabaret troupe--one that appears only at night on a boat that travels New York's waterways--and soon vanishes. The only way Rose can find Cecilia is by tracking down Avalon herself. But as Rose gets closer to solving the mystery of what happened to her sister, the Avalon works its magic on her, too. And the deeper she goes into the Avalon's underworld, the more she begins to question everything she knows about her own life, and whether she's willing to leave the real world behind.Review Quotes
"Dreams of escaping the mundane animate this fairy-tale-inflected thriller set in contemporary New York. The novel's action centers on Cecilia, a flighty "seeker" whose mercurial bent leads her to abandon a new marriage, ditch her sister, Rose, and take up with a cultish, seafaring cabaret troupe.... Exploring the bond between the markedly different siblings, Burton examines their life styles--the bourgeois and the bohemian, the materialistic and the artistic--through a whimsical lens." -The New Yorker "Crackling with tension and magic, and full of poignant questions about dreams and desires, HERE IN AVALON is Burton's best book thus far. Perfect for readers of fractured fairy tales, novels involving sibling dynamics, and anyone who wants to escape their woes for a night, this is a treat as decadent and dangerous as a poisoned apple."--Bookreporter "Burton's latest enthralls while exploring the frequently fraught nature of adult sibling relationships. Cecilia serves as the book's third rail, dividing its characters and imbuing every scene with a crackling tension. At once spellbinding and sincere."--Kirkus "Here In Avalon is an exploration of this tension: between the "insane" and the "well-adjusted," the secular and the enchanted, rationalistic and magical thinking, the self-selected and the gratuitously received.... Without offering any definitive answers, the novel's plot confronts us with the reality that while an "algorithmic" life can promise us safety and predictability, a life spent chasing after enchantment and surprises can open the door to danger as well as to joyous rapture."--RealClear Books "Truly entrancing.... this title claims the spot for my favorite fiction read since Susanna Clarke's Piranesi."--Englewood Review "This book is moody, musical, and mystical, elements that become catalysts for characters to make existential decisions about how to live. Among Burton's strengths are descriptions of the city and of the hard choices we all make. Readers will enjoy this satisfying story of sisters trying to understand each other."--Booklist "Tara Isabella Burton's HERE IN AVALON is a salty, whimsical-in-the-best-way, windy, enchanting, operatic story. It made me feel like the luckiest reader in the world. There is so much to love in here, most of all, the refreshing cast of unforgettable characters, misfits and searchers who don't always know what they want, let alone how to get it. A truly exciting, stand-out, star of a book."--CAROLINE KEPNES, author of New York Times bestseller YOU "There is absolutely nothing I didn't love about this remarkable, exceptionally engaging and intelligent, luminous and transfixing urban fairytale for grownups. It is one of those rare books that, seemingly without any deliberate effort, lift you up above the familiar, ordinary grayness of the daily grind and, however fleetingly or enduringly, remind you to feel grateful for being alive. Indeed, it is true: another life is possible, happiness awaits patiently for you to believe in its promise--and yes, everything connects."--MIKHAIL IOSSEL, author of Love Like Water, Love Like Fire "An utterly enchanting read that springs from the shadowy depths and liminal spaces of New York City, Here in Avalon dared us to shatter the binding social contracts we've signed in search of something greater, and is a dazzling testament to the realest magic in the world: family."--LING LING HUANG, author of Natural Beauty "A New York City fairy tale with the dark intrigue of a 1920s noir, Here In Avalon is a hypnotic story of sisterhood, tragedy, and yearning. For love, for art, for beauty-- and for the reckless courage to chase them, no matter the cost." --KAT ROSENFIELD, author of You Must Remember This "Here in Avalon is a fascinating trip to a demimonde of Burton's prodigious imagination. In its mysterious bacchanal, we find a unique story about the seductions of art and beauty, and the temptation to leave the stultifying mainstream behind."--LYDIA KIESLING, author of The Golden State and Mobility "Adeptly warping traditional fairy tropes, Burton weaves a lush ode to searching for the magic in life.... Raises poignant questions about happiness, need, and personal growth, and leading readers to a startling and satisfying conclusion. This is a treat."--Publishers Weekly "A gripping and thoughtful fable of the theater of belief, the transformative promise (and menace) of art, and the costs of community and self-invention, HERE IN AVALON wears its pleasures proudly and its learnedness lightly. Tara Isabella Burton spirits you away and sets you wondering--if not quite caring--whether you'll be coming back." --JULIUS TARANTO, author of How I Won a Nobel Prize
About the Author
Tara Isabella Burton is the author of the novels Here in Avalon, The World Cannot Give, and Social Creature, which was named a Best Book of the Year by The New York Times, Vulture, and The Guardian. She is also the author of the nonfiction books Strange Rites and Self-Made. She has written on religion, culture, and place for The New York Times, National Geographic, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and more. She received a doctorate in theology from Trinity College, Oxford.Dimensions (Overall): 9.1 Inches (H) x 6.1 Inches (W) x 1.4 Inches (D)
Weight: 1.05 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 320
Genre: Fiction + Literature Genres
Sub-Genre: Coming of Age
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Format: Hardcover
Author: Tara Isabella Burton
Language: English
Street Date: January 2, 2024
TCIN: 89392175
UPC: 9781982170097
Item Number (DPCI): 247-27-5987
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
If the item details above aren’t accurate or complete, we want to know about it.
Shipping details
Estimated ship dimensions: 1.4 inches length x 6.1 inches width x 9.1 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 1.05 pounds
We regret that this item cannot be shipped to PO Boxes.
This item cannot be shipped to the following locations: American Samoa (see also separate entry under AS), Guam (see also separate entry under GU), Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico (see also separate entry under PR), United States Minor Outlying Islands, Virgin Islands, U.S., APO/FPO
Return details
This item can be returned to any Target store or Target.com.
This item must be returned within 90 days of the date it was purchased in store, shipped, delivered by a Shipt shopper, or made ready for pickup.
See the return policy for complete information.
Guests also viewed
$8.74
was $9.29 New lower price
5 out of 5 stars with 4 ratings
$9.99 - $11.76
MSRP $9.99 - $19.99
4 out of 5 stars with 1 ratings
Discover more options
Related Categories
4.0 out of 5 stars with 1 reviews
100% would recommend
1 recommendations
"Another life is possible"
4 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
CJay - 1 year ago
Sisters Rose and Cecilia were raised in a nontraditional way, floating through the streets of NYC by themselves and making friends with whoever they could. While Rose grew out of this way of life and grew up to be a standardly viewed successful woman, Cecilia never gave up the bohemian lifestyle. As someone who feels so deeply for everyone and everything she comes across, Cecilia bops in and out of Rose’s life for years, until one day, she leaves her new husband and tells Rose she is coming home to stay. Back in NYC, Cecilia tries to fit in and conform to societal norms until one night, she meets a group of strange but welcoming characters. “Another life is possible.” Cecilia gets sucked in with The Avalon- the cabaret group that appears to be magical, and then she disappears. Initially, Rose chalks up her disappearance to standard-Cecilia behavior, but soon she finds herself questioning who The Avalon is, whether they are connected to disappearances of others, and whether or not Cecilia is safe. In a smart coming-of-age story that explores the strong bonds of sisterhood, Here In Avalon takes the reader on a journey through imagination and magic to find out what is it that really matters. I enjoyed the beautiful world of The Avalon that Burton created and the character development we see throughout the book. The questions of whether or not The Avalon is real or magic, whether the members are human or fairies kept me wanting to know more. Both Rose and Cecilia are forced to make very difficult decisions at multiple times and it made me think about how Rose is supposed to be the sister who has her life together, but she’s still questioning her own happiness. I thought that really spoke a lot to the author’s intentions within this book. I had a difficult time with the length of this book- it just took me a really long time to read (even though I did enjoy it!) I think for me, it was the layout and the very long chapters that made it feel even longer than 320 pages. Additionally, sometimes the dialogue felt off to me because especially when Rose and Cecilia are talking to each other, it seems that they call each other by name in every line. I don’t know anyone who speaks like that in a conversation and it felt weird to me. A the end of the book, I still have some unanswered questions and would have liked to see a more clear resolution specifically for a few of the main characters.