The Miracles of Ordinary Men

May 1, 2013

Sam, a high school English teacher who has been on a downward spiral since his fiancee left him two years ago, wakes up one morning to discover that he has sprouted wings on his back. It is unclear at first whether this is actually happening to him or if he suffering from a delusion. The wings are invisible to almost everyone, save a particularly empathic and attentive female student as well as his family's former priest, whom Sam seeks out after the sudden death of his mother. Sam's story is told in alternating chapters with that of Lilah, a lost soul who falls into an abusive affair with her violent and charismatic boss while trying to keep tabs on her beloved brother, a troubled youth who has taken to living on the streets of Vancouver. These two seemingly unconnected stories don't intersect until nearly the end of the book, culminating in a spectacular apotheosis. VERDICT A lyrical, powerful tale of good and evil that explores the nature of free will, faith, and redemption, this debut novel will appeal to fans of magical realism.--Lauren Gilbert, Sachem P.L., Holbrook, NY

Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2013
The stories of lost souls wandering in Vancouver, B.C., converge in Leduc's shadowy novel. Sam, a man in mourning, sprouts wings that only a handful of people can see. His metamorphosis continues after his mother passes away, and the majority of his earthly ties begins to disappear, along with his hair, fingernails, and mind. After a globe-trotting early adulthood, Lilah, a brooding young woman who is trying to escape her past, returns to Vancouver and starts a violent and masochistic relationship with her devilish boss, a man bent on punishing her missteps. Meanwhile, Lilah's sensitive little brother, Timothy, disappears into the dark city streets, hopelessly lost to some mysterious power. Leduc weaves the narratives of these three sad souls into a haunting novel that is tender and otherworldly, but if you're looking for a feel-good story about angels, go elsewhere. This novel is more melancholic than redemptive.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)