MAHJONG AT MARA'S
THE FAMILIES YOU ARE BORN INTO AND THE FAMILIES YOU CHOOSE
Seventeen years after losing her soulmate on 9/11, Lila, a nurse's aide, and her teenage son Dante find comfort in unexpected friends—a group of Mahjong-playing octogenarians.
MAHJONG AT MARA'S is a story about Suburban New Jersey, the classic example of a patchwork community. Nearby neighborhoods made up of people from different ethnicities and economic backgrounds—meeting at the local gas station, grocery store, and café—exchanging brief moments of politeness, both sincere and forced. People we rarely imagine sharing much more than small talk with … until we do.
Available on Amazon in softcover, e-book, and audiobook editions.
SHOPREVIEWS
"A touching, multifaceted story about unexpected connections fostered by a shared love of an ancient game. Each member of this found family weaves a colorful thread into the novel's greater tapestry."
—Heather Frimmer, author of Bedside Manners and Better to Trust
"In Mahjong at Mara's, Debra Green paints a complex portrait of characters—from teens to seniors, widowers to single moms—who persevere through a year filled with life, death, college applications, grow houses, new romances, orchids, and even a dognapping. Fans of Clare Pooley and Elyssa Friedland will love this portrait of the hope that comes from human connection."
—Andrea J. Stein, author of Typecast
"Debra Green's Mahjong at Mara's is a beautiful portrait of mainstream America, spanning age groups from teenagers to the elderly. Protagonist Lila's life is central—though several secondary characters are so well drawn that they could also claim leading roles. This novel is a delight to read."
—Adele Holmes, MD, author of Winter's Reckoning
"For those of us missing community in these uncertain times, when we've had way too much of our own company, Debra Green's hopeful novel serves as a reminder that when we take a risk and reach out to each other, we may find we have more in common than we ever thought possible. Mahjong at Mara's is a sometimes lighthearted, sometimes serious, but always heartwarming reminder that maybe, just maybe, all you need is love, understanding—and a little friendly rivalry."
—Deborah K. Shepherd, author of So Happy Together
"Mahjong at Mara's, Debra Green's generous, warmhearted new novel, weaves a compassionate tale of intergenerational connection and support. In the wilds of New Jersey, a hodgepodge of souls, including a group of Jewish and Italian retirees, a Black healthcare worker, her sixteen-year-old son, his friends, and a reluctant mob operative, come together over mahjong for the benefit of all. Green deftly handles her large cast of characters, building each individual story arc toward a thrilling, suspenseful climax. Exciting and wise, Mahjong at Mara's shows us that, regardless of age, everyone has something to teach and something to learn. It's a worthy lesson. This book will linger long after you've turned the last page."
—Gail Lehrman, author of Across Seward Park
"No matter who we are or where we come from, life can be a difficult and often lonely journey. Debra Green's Mahjong at Mara's is the heartwarming story of how an unlikely group of people comes together and forges ties that might overcome entrenched biases and a near tragedy."
—Heidi Hackford, author of Folly Park
"Mahjong at Mara's showcases Debra Green's stunning talent for intertwining the stories of individuals whose starkly different lives are shaped by the impacts of their unique dreams and vulnerabilities. It also reveals the delicate beauty and fragility that underlie complex and often unexpected relationships."
—Robin Rosen Chang, author of The Curator's Notes
"Debra Green's Mahjong at Mara's skillfully takes an ensemble of diverse characters and briskly intermingles their lives, the way mahjong tiles come together and separate to bring players victory—or defeat. Young and Black, old and white, or Other, the characters draw the reader along on a journey well worth traveling together."
—Esther Erman, author of Rebecca of Salerno