About the Book
Ben Seidel wasn't sure how serious they were when he and his wife Shira discussed having an open marriage. But when Shira announces that she is going on a date with Liz, any ambiguity evaporates. Suddenly, every day is new terrain for Ben, navigating between keeping things together with Shira and exploring new partners. And when one of those new partners begins to matter to him more than he ever anticipated, he discovers that the complexities of this new life are only just beginning. Bracingly honest, refreshingly sexy, and deeply empathetic, I AM MY BELOVEDS is the work of a superior storyteller, making real a lifestyle that might be as close as your own bedroom door.
About the Author :
Jonathan Papernick was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. He is the author of the acclaimed short story collection The Ascent of Eli Israel, another collection, There is no Other, and the novels The Book of Stone and I Am My Beloveds. His work has received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal and has been translated into Spanish and Italian. Papernick has taught fiction writing at Emerson College since 2007 and serves as Senior Writer-in-Residence in the Department of Writing, Literature and Publishing. He has two sons and lives with his wife in Providence, Rhode Island.
Review :
"I Am My Beloveds is a compulsive read, at turns heart-wrenching, angry, funny, and sweet, but always smart and vivid. Papernick is a master of growing empathy from the smallest detail, in doing so has crafted a winning protagonist in Ben Seidel, who I was eager to follow, warts and all, wherever his misadventures in open marriage might lead."--Sara Novic, New York Times bestselling author of True Biz
"I Am My Beloveds is a remarkable work of fiction. While the plot summary may suggest that readers are in for a titillating view into the hazy world of open relationships, the story is more profound. Papernick treats his characters with incredible empathy, rather than voyeurism, as they explore the possibility of having more than one "beloved." His writing is striking and poignant too, and I was gripped from the outset. The novel is wonderfully unpredictable at each turn, mimicking the natural, flowing evolution of relationships as they enter new phases. Ben and Shira are intimately engaged outside of their own marriage, but their connection is the beating heart of the novel. In this way, I Am My Beloveds is a love story at its core."-- "Canadian Jewish News"
"I Am My Beloveds is a warm, funny, thoughtful, and often heart-wrenching portrait of a modern couple testing the boundaries of their relationship, while exploring the outer limits of their love for each other. It's an engaging and timely read, perfect for a generation of readers much more open to the allure (and pitfalls) of polyamory."--Lana Harper, author of Payback's a Witch
"I Am My Beloveds, Jon Papernick's latest novel, is about many things: love and the lack of it, the passage of time and, most importantly, how we live now. I am full of admiration for this writer and his daring imagination. He is a truly gifted novelist, and this is his finest book."--Steve Yarbrough, author of The Unmade World and The Realm of Last Chances
"Imagine the propulsive plot of a telenovela - but with multidimensional characters who feel achingly real. The combination is rare and irresistible, and Papernick has pulled it off. I disagreed with every choice that every character made in this audacious (and very sexy) book, and that's exactly what made me keep reading, because Papernick made me care about each person he summoned to life in it. In an era where we dismiss everyone who doesn't think like we do, I am My Beloveds offers radical curiosity and empathy."--Dara Horn, author of Eternal Life and People Love Dead Jews
"Jon Papernick's new novel is an intimate portrait of the way an increasing number of us live now. I Am My Beloveds is up to the sexual second. It is fervent, fearless and funny. It may change the way you look at your neighbor's windows after dark."--Melvin Jules Bukiet, author of After and Strange Fire; editor of Neurotica: Jewish Writers on Sex
"Jon Papernick's storytelling is always compelling. Enticing, surprising, and provocative all at once."--Kevin Allison, Risk! podcast and MTV's The State and Reno 911
"Part Le Ronde and part Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice, two very different couples intersect a brave new world through surrogacy, fidelity, pregnancy, aging parents, faith and loss. Raucous, revolutionary and also, so much fun."--Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling novelist of With or Without You, Pictures of You, Cruel Beautiful World, Days of Wonder
