Spanning three decades against the backdrop of the Jewish community in the north end of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Holding My Breath is a poignant coming-of-age tale told from the point of view of Beth Levy, the youngest in a household of two generations of strong Jewish women.
There's her mother, Goldie, who upholds the family's middle-class values and traditions at home and in the community; her aunt Carrie, who has a secret past; and her beautiful, wild, and rebellious aunt Sarah. Noticeably absent is her uncle, Phil, who died tragically during the Second World War.
As Beth grows up, she finds herself navigating between the old world and the new, and the mounting pressure to conform only feeds her longing to escape.
A bold and tender debut from a fresh and exciting voice.
Praise for Holding My Breath:
“Compelling—richly drawn?Holding My Breath is a deft debut. Ludwig has the gifts to launch beyond the predictable.” “The Globe and Mail
“A polished work from a new voice in Canadian literature.” “Halifax Chronicle Herald
“Her sensitive and detailed exploration of character, combined with her skill at evoking the specificities of time and place, create something to which everyone can relate.” “Winnipeg Free Press
“First-time novelist Ludwig nails the genre?. In Holding My Breath, Ludwig captures the complexity of love, as it relates to personal happiness but also responsibility to family, friends and community.”
?Jewish Independent
"Holding My Breath is calm and absorbing, its themes handled with delicacy. The writing is precise and each lyrical moment is earned."
?Telegraph (UK)

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