Either Side of Winter

With a gloomy New York backdrop, Markovits’ second novel connects three deeply moving tales concerning suburban Manhattan-ites. A lonely schoolteacher is visited by her parents. Across town, her gay collegue has an unexpected visit from his past. Elsewhere a young girl has to face up to the realities of both her affair with her teacher and the imminent death of her father. Originally to be titled Fathers And Daughters, the notion of family is acutely dissected under a sometimes over-romantic microscope, giving the book the (not unpleasant) feeling that it should be turned into an Arthouse movie immediately. Often downbeat, yet beautifully written, this is a snapshot of the Big Apple that will not be easily forgotten.

A slow, beautiful book.