In Leslie Parry’s much-anticipated debut novel Church of Marvels, the disparate lives of four unique young characters become irrevocably entwined as they navigate the gritty streets of New York, circa 1895. When 19-year-old orphan Sylvan makes the fateful decision to rescue a baby who was buried alive and left for dead in the murky depths of New York squalor, he doesn’t know that his life is about to be forever changed. A similar fateful future awaits twin sisters Odile and Belle whose mother was the star performer in The Church of Marvels, a popular Coney Island sideshow. After their mother’s death in a tragic blaze that brought down the family business, Odile is left to fend for herself in the circus after her sister—famous in her own right as a contortionist and sword-swallower—mysteriously leaves town and heads to Manhattan. And just across the river, a young woman named Alphie finds herself unfairly confined to an insane asylum where she meets an ephemeral beauty who, despite not speaking, may be able to unlock the mysteries to all of their futures.
Before long, the diverse lives of each of the four protagonists collide as their stories and secrets are revealed. Church of Marvels is an emotionally compelling narrative filled with gripping imagery and countless details that make for a vibrant, suspenseful tale of love, loneliness and loss.
Parry is a Chicagoan who graduated from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Her writing has appeared in The Best American Short Stories 2013, among other prestigious publications. She has been honored with an O. Henry Award and a National Magazine Award nomination. She will speak at Boswell Book Co. at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 15.
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Book Happening
Anupy Singla
5:30 p.m., May 14
Milwaukee Public Market
400 N. Water St.
Anupy Singla is one of America’s top proponents of Indian cuisine as measured by the sales of her books. Her latest, Indian for Everyone: The Home Cook’s Guide to Traditional Favorites, features appetizing prose and mouth-watering food photos. The recipes at the heart of her attractively packaged cookbook are especially useful for showing how the dishes can be prepared in various ways, including gluten free, vegan and vegetarian. Indian for Everyone also describes the bowls and cookware used in preparation. To register for Anupy Singla’s demonstration, visit