Fitting Ends (Ballantine Reader's Circle)

Fitting Ends (Ballantine Reader's Circle)

Thirteen sharp, poignant stories detailing the almost panicked angst of the American generation as they approach thirty, from the New York Times bestselling author of Among the Missing “Remarkable . . . solid, moving, and pitch-perfect . . . Each story is a marvel of complexity, dense with meaning and nuance.” —The Cleveland Plain Dealer Struggling with gaps between youthful expectations and adult experiences, these characters long for understanding and acceptance—but are thwarted by failed love, family disruptions, numbing work, and sexual confusion. Hailed by the San Francisco Chronicle as “one of those writers who possesses an uncanny and seemingly otherworldly understanding of the human condition,” Dan Chaon is a promising voice in fiction—and this collection showcases his unique talent. “Powerful . . . A writer to savor . . . Dan Chaon shows a marked affinity in both setting and sensibility with fellow Midwesterners Wright Morris and Willa Cather.” — Chicago Tribune “Remarkable . . . Each story is a marvel of complexity, dense with meaning and nuance. . . . Very few first works are as solid, moving, and pitch-perfect as Chaon’s.” —The Cleveland Plain Dealer “[An] often perceptive, lucid voice.” —The New York Times Book Review “The best of these stories . . . possess a rare, disorienting force. When you look up from them, the quality of light seems a little different. It’s a reminder to those of us who have almost forgotten what literature can sometimes do.” — Boston Book Review “The most honest, observant and timely book written this year about the American generation now approaching thirty . . . Chaon speaks with clarity of feeling, and more than a little oddball wit, about the lives of those left behind the demographic curve of America—men and woman with pointless jobs, doughy faces, soured relationships, bad credit. . . . Each story pulls you into its subtle emotional vortex, largely because of Chaon’s knack for simple but poignant detail.” —New York Newsday Fitting Ends is the first collection of fiction by the acclaimed author of the National Book Award finalist Among the Missing and now appears in this newly revised edition with two never before collected stories.   Written before Among the Missing and originally published by Northwestern University Press, Fitting Ends features thirteen stories detailing the almost panicked angst of the American generation now approaching thirty.  Struggling with gaps between youthful expectations and adult experiences, these characters long for understanding and acceptance?but are thwarted by failed love, family disruptions, numbing work, and sexual confusion.    Chaon is one of the most promising new voices in fiction, and this re-issued collection offers further evidence of his unique talent. ?The best of these stories . . . possess a rare, disorienting force. When you look up from them, the quality of light seems a little different. It?s a reminder to those of us who have almost forgotten what literature can sometimes do.? ?Boston Book Review ?The most honest, observant and timely book written this year about the American generation now approaching thirty . . . Chaon speaks with clarity of feeling, and more than a little oddball wit, about the lives of those left behind the demographic curve of America?men and woman with pointless jobs, doughy faces, soured relationships, bad credit. . . . Each story pulls you into its subtle emotional vortex, largely because of Chaon?s knack for simple but poignant detail.? ?New York Newsday ?Remarkable . . . Each story is a marvel of complexity, dense with meaning and nuance. . . . Very few first works are as solid, moving, and pitch-perfect as Chaon?s.? ?The Cleveland Plain Dealer ?[AN] OFTEN PERCEPTIVE, LUCID VOICE.? ?The New York Times Book Review Fitting Ends is the first collection of fiction by the acclaimed author of the National Book Award finalist "Among the Missing and now appears in this newly revised edition with two never before collected stories. Written before "Among the Missing and originally published by Northwestern University Press, Fitting Ends features thirteen stories detailing the almost panicked angst of the American generation now approaching thirty. Struggling with gaps between youthful expectations and adult experiences, these characters long for understanding and acceptance--but are thwarted by failed love, family disruptions, numbing work, and sexual confusion. Chaon is one of the most promising new voices in fiction, and this re-issued collection offers further evidence of his unique talent. "The best of these stories . . . possess a rare, disorienting force. When you look up from them, the quality of light seems a little different. It's a reminder to those of us who have almost forgotten what literature can sometimes do." "--Boston Book Review "The most honest, observant and timely book written this year about the American generation now approachi