Bausch, Richard

Set in the early 2010s, prior to the #MeToo era, Bausch’s novel seems to be saying something about predatory men, but it’s unclear where he stands on the subject, and there is no real payoff to that story thread.

Plumbing a nation that has lost its sense of purpose and direction, these stories chart the emotional and psychological damage that is produced by experiences under these conditions. Enthusiastically recommended for fans of literary fiction. [See Prepub Alert, 10/10/16.]

Recipient of the Pen/Malamud Award for his short fiction and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, and the American Library Association's W.Y. Boyd Prize for Peace, Bausch has created flawed characters searching for the courage to move forward through uncertainty. This dark, emotionally exhausting novel has the feel of a Tennessee Williams play, and though at times Natasha's stubbornness may test the reader's patience, it is a compelling read.