Praise for Surviving the Wreck

“A powerful novel, persuasive and unflinching.”
—The Philadelphia Inquirer

“…victorious and uplifting… a novel that should make its indelible mark in every reader’s mind.”
—The Harvard Independent

“A powerful novel, persuasive and unflinching.”
—The Philadelphia Inquirer

“In this finely crafted novel, Osborn depicts complex emotional and political territory…a strong and compelling book.”

—Louise Armstrong

author of "Kiss Daddy Goodnight"

“What we do for love is the theme of this novel. . . Osborn’s writing is lucid, pure, and intimate.”
—The Trenton Times

“Osborn’s story, told with exceptional and appropriate restraint, is. . . a psychological exorcism, a chance at rebirth.”
—The Washington Times

“A testimony to the power of truth and disclosure over secrecy.”

—Belles Lettres

“The aura of the dream sequences, the texture of the dialogue, the tactile longings conveyed by the fantasies, the shimmering quality of the memories, all are arresting and beautifully rendered.”
—The Women’s Review of Book

“…quite simply, a work of genius. Never before have the intricacies of family bonds been so honestly and so compellingly rendered.”

—Louise De Salvo

author of "Vertigo" and "Virginia Woolf: The Impact of Childhood Sexual Abuse on her Life and Work"

“A courageous and moving book.”
—New Jersey Monthly

“Surviving the Wreck is a chilling novel about the silences in ‘normal’ families, the pain behind those silences, and the need to turn silence into speech.”

—Alicia Ostriker

former New York State Poet Laureate

“Surviving the Wreck potently portrays…the divided alliances of the family set against the political tragedy of the Kennedy assassination. Beautifully written descriptions rivet the reader’s attention. . . A story…of survival and new beginnings.”

—Journal of Sex Education and Therapy

“Osborn writes with vivid imagery and a fine literary hand.”

—The Clinical Psychology of Women

“The contrast between the narrator’s understated …voice and the …physicality of the action is powerful.”
—Rutgers Magazine

“This masterfully executed novel. . . deals with the harrowing consequences of growing up in a family where everyone turns to the wrong person for affection. . . very engaging; highly recommended.”
—Library Journal

“In Osborn’s provocative text. . . the downward trajectory of historic public events. . . parallels the hidden corruption of the narrator’s household. It is… the strength of this novel that Osborn so successfully melds cultural memories of a generation to the personal recollections of her heroine.”
—San Diego Union-Tribune

“Rarely have the intricate and troubling dynamics of the family been conveyed as effectively as in Surviving the Wreck.”
—San Francisco Chronicle

“. . . an excellent book about family entrapment. What impresses me most is the fair treatment of the people involved—the incredible insight into the family dynamics. I highly recommend it.”
—Ralph H. Earle, Ph. D.

“This story succeeds in mirroring our most human concerns and offers hope.”
—Book Page

Praise for Elizabeth Bowen: New Critical Perspectives

“A splendid volume and an impressive contribution to the scholarship on Elizabeth Bowen … that will no doubt keep critics fascinated for years to come.”

—Irish Studies Review

“A very highly recommended addition to literary studies collections.”

—Midwest Book Review

“Osborn … advance[s] a series of sophisticated claims about mimesis … an impressive contribution.”

—Matthew Brown

Irish Studies Review

“A compelling… and valuable addition to the flourishing body of Bowen scholarship.”
—Modern Fiction Studies

“Osborn elaborates… new directions in Bowen criticism… The result is a homogeneity of critical approach… not typically encountered in such collections. Recommended.”
—Choice

“Well-moderated [and] dangerously intellectual … a tour de force.”

—Ian d’ Alton

The Irish Review

“[Osborn’s book] …offers something of great interest.”
—Études Irlandaises

“Highly competent and rewarding… Osborn’s essay is a tour-de-force.”
—The Irish Review

“A serious and well-informed work… that anyone writing about the author will want to know.”

—Irish Literary Supplement