The Infinite Now

2017 USA Best Book Award Winner in Fiction: LGBT
2017 USA Best Book Awards Finalist in Fiction: Fantasy
2017 Today Show winter book selection
2018 Foreword Indies Awards Finalist in Adult Fiction—Fantasy
2018 Foreword Indies Awards Finalist in Adult Fiction—LGBT

“Replete with poignant details, Mindy Tarquini’s The Infinite Now is an engrossing tightrope walk over the relational lines that connect human beings to each other and to time itself…The Infinite Now’s potent sorcery doesn’t lie primarily in its forays into fantasy and myth, but rather in the humanity of its characters and the energy of its storytelling.”
Foreword Reviews, 5 out of 5 stars

“Mindy Tarquini beautifully weaves a tapestry of superstition, time, and hope in her most recent novel, The Infinite Now…Those who enjoy magical realism mixed with a bit of mystery will find themselves highly entertained by The Infinite Now, and the story reminds readers that hope and love are always good guides when we feel we’ve lost our way.”
— Manhattan Book Review (4 out of 5 stars)

On a rainy night in Philadelphia’s Ninth Street Market, sixteen-year-old Fiora, newly-orphaned by the 1918 influenza epidemic, is dumped at an old man’s door. Daughter of the local fortune teller, Fiora arrives with a little money, a lot of attitude, and her mother’s formidable reputation. The old man, a widowed shoemaker ticking down his clock, is the only person in their superstitious immigrant community brave enough to stand between Fiora and an orphanage.

Fiora’s a modern, forward-thinking young woman, uninterested in using old-world magic to make a way for herself—but when her mother’s magical curtain shows her that the old man will shortly die of a heart attack, Fiora panics, and casts her entire neighborhood into a stagnant bubble of time. A bubble where everything continues but nothing progresses—tomatoes won’t ripen, babies refuse to be born, and the sick suffer under the weight of a never-ending stream of unspent seconds. Not everything in the bubble is bad. Love, fresh and fascinating, ignites. Friendships take root. But as day drags into interminable day, the pressure inside the bubble world builds. Fiora must accept that not everything found can be kept, not everything saved will remain, and unless Fiora finds the courage to collapse the bubble, every one of her hopes will be trapped inside an unbearable, unyielding, unpredictable, and infinite Now.

Author: Mindy Tarquini

Publication Date: October 24, 2017

 

Description

2023 IPNE Book Awards Finalist: Legacy Fiction
2017 Foreword Indies Gold Medal Winner in Adult Fiction—Fantasy
2017 USA Best Book Awards Winner, Fiction: LGBT
2017 INDIES Book of the Year Finalist
2017 USA Best Book Awards Finalist, Fiction: Fantasy
2017 Foreword Indies Finalist in Adult Fiction—LGBT
2017 Today Show winter book selection

“Replete with poignant details, Mindy Tarquini’s The Infinite Now is an engrossing tightrope walk over the relational lines that connect human beings to each other and to time itself…The Infinite Now’s potent sorcery doesn’t lie primarily in its forays into fantasy and myth, but rather in the humanity of its characters and the energy of its storytelling.”
Foreword Reviews, 5 out of 5 stars

“Mindy Tarquini beautifully weaves a tapestry of superstition, time, and hope in her most recent novel, The Infinite Now…Those who enjoy magical realism mixed with a bit of mystery will find themselves highly entertained by The Infinite Now, and the story reminds readers that hope and love are always good guides when we feel we’ve lost our way.”
Manhattan Book Review (4 out of 5 stars)

“This book offers a well-researched and engagingly drawn portrait of a displaced Italian community in one of America’s most turbulent years. Fiora is a forceful, determined protagonist among an intriguing cast of supporting characters. The first-person descriptions of her life are both vivid and tender…A well-woven tapestry of history, character, and charming mystery.”
Kirkus Reviews

“Mindy Tarquini does a phenomenal job at capturing not only the feel of the time but the feel of people who would have lived there…This book reached out and struck right at my heart. I found myself falling in love – falling hard – with the story, at times nearly crying. If you want to lose yourself in a fantasy that feels all too real, look no further than The Infinite Now.”
San Francisco Book Review (5 out of 5 stars)

“Historical fiction is portrayed in a new way . . . Told in first-person prose, this novel blends history with science fiction. Those who enjoy a story that appeals to the mind (and STEM topics) will gravitate to this work. Teens will be immersed in the intricate world-building and pulled in by the fast pace . . .Twists and turns in the plot are unpredictable but still believable and will leave readers gasping for air each time the story changes course. Give this to teens interested in health and medicine, in addition to time travel and history buffs. VERDICT This is a title not to be missed.
School Library Journal

“Take a break from reality with this whimsical plot set in flu-ravaged 1918 Philadelphia for some spellbinding magic at your fingertips.”
Working Mother

“After wowing us in her debut offering, Mindy Tarquini impresses with The Infinite Now. With her second novel, Tarquini has established herself as a writer who excels with precise prose that creates a rich setting filled with feisty and unforgettable characters you wont want to part with when the story ends.
—Sandra Ruttan, Spinetingler Magazine

“A young woman’s dreams for a modern future clash with old-fashioned expectations in Mindy Tarquini’s The Infinite Now. Set in a lushly illustrated, stateside, Italian-immigrant community during the first world war, Tarquini’s sophomore novel reconnects readers to her signature spunky characters, settings simmering with magic, wry humor, and meticulous research. The cast of The Infinite Now carefully unravels the gamut of consequences of self-preservation, from superstition to protection to sacrifice, leaving readers with a renewed perspective on time, family, and, above all, hope.”
―Camille Griep, author of Letters to Zell and New Charity Blues

“Tarquini weaves a captivating tale that pulls you in from the very first page, eager to know the secrets the curious characters keep. Readers will enjoy Fiora, the witty, strong-willed lead, and aspire to use a few of her one liners in their own lives. The brilliant and thought-provoking story reminds us that family can be formed between the unlikeliest of souls, love can emerge amidst the most dismal backdrop of struggle, and miracles abound if we keep our hearts open to the possibilities waiting in the infinite now.”
―Stacey L. Tucker, author of Ocean’s Fire

“An enchanting cast of characters and an intricately woven plot come together to create the masterpiece that is The Infinite Now.”
―Buzzfeed (5 Reads for Fans of Erin Morgenstern)

“Tarquini uses words like a composer. Her word choices crescendo into sentences that read like majestic musical scores and artfully explore the angst, fears, and emotional struggles of a confused teenage girl… Overall, though, this is a beautifully written book with heart, humor, and just enough magic to make things a bit dangerous. Unexpected and poignant: I recommend it.”
―Historical Novel Society

“An easy read with likable characters and a story about love and acceptance, Tarquini’s latest…will captivate readers until the very end.”
BookList
“Swathed in layers of the unexpected, the seamless narration and multidimensional story delivers an endearing and powerful look at life and the choices we make.”
Books, Vertigo, and Tea
“As an original and deftly written novel that is a consistently and absorbing read from beginning to end, The Infinite Now reveals author Mindy Tarquini’s genuine gift as a narrative driven storyteller….Unreservedly and enthusiastically recommended, especially for community library collections.”
Midwest Book Review

About the Author

Raised by traditional people in a modern world, Mindy Tarquini is a second-generation Italian American who grew up believing dreams are prophecy, the devil steals lost objects, and an awkward glance can invite the evil eye. She is an assistant editor with The Lascaux Review and a member of the Perley Station Writers’ Colony. A native Philadelphian, Ms. Tarquini resides in Phoenix with her husband, where she divides her time between writing and wrestling with her bread machine. She does not have hindsight.

More Books by Mindy Tarquini

Title

Go to Top