The Paris Years of Rosie Kamin

I was a Creative Writing student of Richard Teleky's not too long ago. Of course, as soon the novel was available, I rushed out to purchase it, and do no regret doing so. Teleky executes a wondrous ability to shape and reveal his characters through the minutiae of commonplace events, rich dialogue and psychological self-probing. In other words, he is able to take a complex personality and nail it down by a single sentence. Not many writers are capable of such a literary feat. Again and again Richard has proven to me - and to many of his students, both previous and recent - that his talent for writing itself is best shared not only with young aspiring writers, but with the world in its entirey.

I've read the book three times, and I bought it in hardcover to reread again. I just loved it. Rosie and her sister, her boyfriend Serge, their friends, Benyoub and his cousin, the streets of Paris, the worries Rosie has, the countryside scenes, are so realistic. I read the book, then a year later, I made my first trip to Paris. How Teleky described Paris was so exact, although very, and beautifully, subtle. I felt that I knew where I was. We stayed in the Marais district and felt I'd been there. We walked through the district where Rosie lived, and I knew where I was. I bought the book for my sister and she loved it, too. I'll give it as a gift again. I wish Richard Teleky would write more fiction.

Amid the common presumptuous indulgence to paris's irresistable romanic aroma this book delivers the bitter reality of life. A book that engulfs many existing but hidden dilemma in the city of love that many of us are just unaware of. A good read but not something that will lift your christmas spirit.

Teleky's fiction is both imaginative and emotive; his prose has a grace and natural verve that evokes the moment wonderfully.Teleky is a supreme original, although not--as far as I know--one of the original Supremes.A must read.