Spuyten Duyvil Press Releases

	Fiction Non-Fiction Poetry Film Art MEB Authors Press Events Distribution Contacts	LOST IN PARADISE Jackpot is part of a trilogy, a psychological triptych that takes on the moral and social conflicts women often face in contemporary American life. Jackpot is the first novel to tell the story of a female casino gambler. In her pursuit of success and “the good life,” Maggie, the 26-year-old protagonist, pivots on a fulcrum of despair as she struggles to gain entry into the world of the powerful and brutal. Abandoned by her elusive friend, Robin, Maggie succumbs to ultimate self-abnegation in the false paradise of a Caribbean resort, while her intelligence grasps all too clearly the ever-closing trap. “The genius of the narrative” – writes novelist Jane Delynn – “is its vivid and hypnotic prose.” In the words of essayist Phillip Lopate, Jackpot is “wickedly readable, psychologically astute and drolly knowing.” TSIPI KELLER was born in Prague, raised in Israel, and has been living in New York since 1974. Her short fiction, and her poetry translations, have appeared in many journals and anthologies; her novels, The Prophet of Tenth Street (1995) and Leverage (1997) were translated into Hebrew and published by Sifriat Poalim. (Currently, The Prophet of Tenth Street is being translated into German.) Keller’s translation of Dan Pagis’s posthumous collection, Last Poems, was published by The Quarterly Review of Literature (1993), and her translation of Irit Katzir’s posthumous collection, And I Wrote Poems, was published by Carmel in 2000. Among her awards are A National Endowment for the Arts fellowship, two New York Foundation for the Arts grants, and an Armand G. Erpf award from Columbia University. Press Reviews for Keller’s The Prophet of Tenth Street: "The Prophet of Tenth Street could serve as a basis for a Woody Allen movie: introspective characters, a New York arena, Jews and gentiles, occasional quotes of selected excerpts from the literary canon....Many readers will identify with Keller's characters." (Yaakov Yoseph, Yediot Ahronot, 3/27/96), "Marcus Weiss, the protagonist of The Prophet of Tenth Street, is a man obsessed with books, and "his" authors. His girlfriend, Gina, constantly tries to bring him down to earth and show him what real life is all about.... His interior world is rich, and his literary knowledge and respect for the written word are admirable....One enjoys the richness of Keller's language, her descriptive powers, and the complex shaping of her characters." (Osnat Blayer, Ma'ariv, 2/2/96). "Keller's cinematographic descriptions bring to mind Bergman, Antonioni, and even Andy Warhol.” (Reuven Miran, Ha'aretz, 6/12/96) Press Reviews for Keller’s Leverage: "It is the small details which combine to impart the larger picture. This principle always works when I read a good story, and this is what takes place in Tsipi Keller's novel.... What makes Leverage an important book is the testing of predominant human values and their modern expression in a highly competitive and consumptive society....The addiction to power and material goods exact their price. The author is good at depicting and enhancing the delusions of her characters....The relationships between the women in the novel is an important element. Friendships are closely examined and are found wanting....At the opening of the novel there's an Emily Dickinson quote: "How odd the Girl's life looks/Behind this soft Eclipse." Dickinson, in her restrained diction, augurs the muted cry of our protagonist, Carla Mosser." (Maya Bejerano, Ha'aretz, 10/29/97) “On its face, Leverage is about an ambitious woman who pursues a banking career in a cold, calculated fashion...The author has chosen to depict Carla as "one of the boys." She is shrewd, ruthless and power-hungry....This is a story of hierarchy, and a network of relationships based on mutual interests....In some respect, Leverage is a disconcerting book. Where we expect a gender war where the woman demands and achieves equal rights, we get a different equation. Less attractive? Possibly. More sober? Absolutely." (Liora Goldenberg-Stern, Arei Hamifratz, 9/12/97)

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LOST IN PARADISE

Jackpot is part of a trilogy, a psychological triptych that takes on the moral and social conflicts women often face in contemporary American life.

Jackpot is the first novel to tell the story of a female casino gambler. In her pursuit of success and “the good life,” Maggie, the 26-year-old protagonist, pivots on a fulcrum of despair as she struggles to gain entry into the world of the powerful and brutal. Abandoned by her elusive friend, Robin, Maggie succumbs to ultimate self-abnegation in the false paradise of a Caribbean resort, while her intelligence grasps all too clearly the ever-closing trap.

“The genius of the narrative” – writes novelist Jane Delynn – “is its vivid and hypnotic prose.” In the words of essayist Phillip Lopate, Jackpot is “wickedly readable, psychologically astute and drolly knowing.”

TSIPI KELLER was born in Prague, raised in Israel, and has been living in New York since 1974. Her short fiction, and her poetry translations, have appeared in many journals and anthologies; her novels, The Prophet of Tenth Street (1995) and Leverage (1997) were translated into Hebrew and published by Sifriat Poalim. (Currently, The Prophet of Tenth Street is being translated into German.) Keller’s translation of Dan Pagis’s posthumous collection, Last Poems, was published by The Quarterly Review of Literature (1993), and her translation of Irit Katzir’s posthumous collection, And I Wrote Poems, was published by Carmel in 2000. Among her awards are A National Endowment for the Arts fellowship, two New York Foundation for the Arts grants, and an Armand G. Erpf award from Columbia University.

Press Reviews for Keller’s The Prophet of Tenth Street:

"The Prophet of Tenth Street could serve as a basis for a Woody Allen movie: introspective characters, a New York arena, Jews and gentiles, occasional quotes of selected excerpts from the literary canon....Many readers will identify with Keller's characters." (Yaakov Yoseph, Yediot Ahronot, 3/27/96),

"Marcus Weiss, the protagonist of The Prophet of Tenth Street, is a man obsessed with books, and "his" authors. His girlfriend, Gina, constantly tries to bring him down to earth and show him what real life is all about.... His interior world is rich, and his literary knowledge and respect for the written word are admirable....One enjoys the richness of Keller's language, her descriptive powers, and the complex shaping of her characters." (Osnat Blayer, Ma'ariv, 2/2/96).

"Keller's cinematographic descriptions bring to mind Bergman, Antonioni, and even Andy Warhol.” (Reuven Miran, Ha'aretz, 6/12/96)

Press Reviews for Keller’s Leverage:

"It is the small details which combine to impart the larger picture. This principle always works when I read a good story, and this is what takes place in Tsipi Keller's novel.... What makes Leverage an important book is the testing of predominant human values and their modern expression in a highly competitive and consumptive society....The addiction to power and material goods exact their price. The author is good at depicting and enhancing the delusions of her characters....The relationships between the women in the novel is an important element. Friendships are closely examined and are found wanting....At the opening of the novel there's an Emily Dickinson quote: "How odd the Girl's life looks/Behind this soft Eclipse." Dickinson, in her restrained diction, augurs the muted cry of our protagonist, Carla Mosser." (Maya Bejerano, Ha'aretz, 10/29/97)

“On its face, Leverage is about an ambitious woman who pursues a banking career in a cold, calculated fashion...The author has chosen to depict Carla as "one of the boys." She is shrewd, ruthless and power-hungry....This is a story of hierarchy, and a network of relationships based on mutual interests....In some respect, Leverage is a disconcerting book. Where we expect a gender war where the woman demands and achieves equal rights, we get a different equation. Less attractive? Possibly. More sober? Absolutely." (Liora Goldenberg-Stern, Arei Hamifratz, 9/12/97)