Guests on Earth

By Lee Smith,

Book cover of Guests on Earth

Book description

"Reading Lee Smith ranks among the great pleasures of American fiction . . . Gives evidence again of the grace and insight that distinguish her work." -Robert Stone, author of Death of the Black-Haired GirlIt's 1936 when orphaned thirteen-year-old Evalina Toussaint is admitted to Highland Hospital, a mental institution in…

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Why read it?

1 author picked Guests on Earth as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I was mesmerized by the blending of fact and fiction in this book. The main character, Evalina, goes to live at a famous mental institution in Asheville, NC, where she becomes acquainted with Zelda Fitzgerald, the wife of F. Scott Fitzgerald. It's a coming-of-age story with twists and turns, exploring the balance of needs and wants that we all encounter. A trip to Asheville, NC, coincided with reading the book, which made the setting really special for me.

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