First published 2010
Two boys grow up as friends in Scotland while across the Atlantic, two half-brothers navigate life in the American South. Their paths seem unrelated until strange events begin connecting their stories in unexpected ways. The Scottish pair face their own set of peculiar circumstances while the American brothers deal with family complications and regional tensions. As their tales unfold, an unusual collection of figures enters the narrative, from psychologist Carl Jung to silent film star Fatty Arbuckle, from ancient philosopher Socrates to actor Tony Randall. Love affairs complicate matters, greed drives decisions, and revenge plots simmer beneath the surface. Religious institutions come under scrutiny while Hollywood's influence spreads far beyond California. What begins as separate stories of friendship and brotherhood evolves into something larger, revealing how distant lives can intersect through the most unlikely circumstances. The four men discover that their seemingly random experiences form patterns that reshape their understanding of connection and meaning.
Genres: literary-fiction, american-fiction, 20th-century, contemporary, 21st-century, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, interconnected-stories
Setting: America, Atlantic Ocean, California, Scotland
Period: 20th Century, 21st Century
348 pages · Kindle Edition · Chronicle Books LLC