


Paula Champa
A "vividly detailed debut. . . [an] intellectual yet deeply human examination of what it means to live as well as to die." —Booklist
“Champa’s story is ultimately about time, memory and change, hope and regret. It is wrapped around an old-fashioned mystery. It is also about what a car can mean emotionally to its owner and driver.” —NYTimes.com >
Chosen as a Notable Design Book of 2013 —Designers & Books >
"Moving, psychologically complex and passionately written.... Champa delves into individual souls and emotions in her riveting, layered tale that holds its surprises right up until the end." — Sam Coale, The Providence Journal
"Compelling." —Publishers Weekly >
“An immensely thoughtful novel…. gorgeous, intelligent writing…. Champa’s ambitious debut provides plenty of food for thought. I may never look at cars in quite the same way again.” —Scrinanbbles.blogspot
“[T]he book’s insights about art and design are stunning at times. Champa suggests that if design inhabits our lives at all, then we have a responsibility to become custodians to our own potential for encountering beauty.” —Style Weekly
"This deeply resonant novel is not for car lovers only. The Beacon serves as a metaphor for all the things that humans project their hopes, dreams and identities into. It also perhaps alludes to the bodies that carry us through this world, beautiful shells housing interchangeable engines."—TheMetaphysicalCircus.com
“The story, at its heart, is a lush character study that examines universal themes of life, death, grief, and change through an automotive lens….a real page-turner.” —Driveshaft
"This novel brings together a love of vintage cars with more profound thoughts on life and death... [O]nce it takes hold the book will keep you captivated until the surprising ending... If you enjoy a thoughtful and challenging story with a few “aah-ha” moments when suddenly the author’s true intent shines forth, this will be a very satisfying read." —TheCalifornian.com
"This book, it's a good one.... While this is a novel that revolves around a car, it is not a novel about a car. Instead, it is a search for answers and purpose while facing loss...." —River City Reading
Read some articles & interviews about the book >