About the book
Kathryn Scanlan's Kick the Latch vividly captures the arc of one woman's life at the racetrack--the flat land and ramshackle backstretch; the bad feelings and friction; the winner's circle and the racetrack bar; the fancy suits and fancy boots; and the \"particular language\" of \"grooms, jockeys, trainers, racing secretaries, stewards, pony people, hotwalkers, everybody\"--with economy and integrity.
Based on transcribed interviews with Sonia, a horse trainer, the novel investigates form and authenticity in a feat of synthesis reminiscent of Charles Reznikoff's Testimony. As Scanlan puts it, \"I wanted to preserve--amplify, exaggerate--Sonia's idiosyncratic speech, her bluntness, her flair as a storyteller. I arrived at what you could call a composite portrait of a self.\" Whittled down with a fiercely singular artistry, Kick the Latch bangs out of the starting gate and carries the reader on a careening joyride around the inside track.
Editions of Kick the Latch
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780811232005
Read an Excerpt
Kathryn Scanlan's Kick the Latch vividly captures the arc of one woman's life at the racetrack--the flat land and ramshackle backstretch; the bad feelings and friction; the winner's circle and the racetrack bar; the fancy suits and fancy boots; and the \"particular language\" of \"grooms, jockeys, trainers, racing secretaries, stewards, pony people, hotwalkers, everybody\"--with economy and integrity.
Based on transcribed interviews with Sonia, a horse trainer, the novel investigates form and authenticity in a feat of synthesis reminiscent of Charles Reznikoff's Testimony. As Scanlan puts it, \"I wanted to preserve--amplify, exaggerate--Sonia's idiosyncratic speech, her bluntness, her flair as a storyteller. I arrived at what you could call a composite portrait of a self.\" Whittled down with a fiercely singular artistry, Kick the Latch bangs out of the starting gate and carries the reader on a careening joyride around the inside track.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kick the Latch about?
Kathryn Scanlan's Kick the Latch vividly captures the arc of one woman's life at the racetrack--the flat land and ramshackle backstretch; the bad feelings and friction; the winner's circle and the racetrack bar; the fancy suits and fancy boots; and the \"particular language\" of \"grooms, jockeys, trainers, racing secretaries, stewards, pony people, hotwalkers, everybody\"--with economy and integrity.
Based on transcribed interviews with Sonia, a horse trainer, the novel investigates form and authenticity in a feat of synthesis reminiscent of Charles Reznikoff's Testimony. As Scanlan puts it, \"I wanted to preserve--amplify, exaggerate--Sonia's idiosyncratic speech, her bluntness, her flair as a storyteller. I arrived at what you could call a composite portrait of a self.\" Whittled down with a fiercely singular artistry, Kick the Latch bangs out of the starting gate and carries the reader on a careening joyride around the inside track.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Kick the Latch?
Fiction > Fiction: literary and general non-genre
Where can I read a sample of Kick the Latch?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780811232005
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Kick the Latch?
Kathryn Scanlan
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Kick the Latch is available as paperback(ISBN 9780811232005)
Where can I buy Kick the Latch online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Kick the Latch from below
Where can I buy Kick the Latch?