First published 1973
Frederick Busch presents a collection of stories that examine the quiet struggles of ordinary Americans in the early 1970s. The characters navigate daily challenges that test their relationships and sense of purpose. A father watches his marriage dissolve while trying to connect with his distant son. A woman confronts the gap between her dreams and her reality as she tends to an aging parent. A young man returns from military service to find his hometown changed beyond recognition. These people face moments when breathing becomes difficult, when the weight of their choices makes simple existence feel impossible. Busch writes with precision about the small betrayals and unexpected kindnesses that shape his characters' worlds. The stories reveal how people endure when life strips away their certainties and forces them to find new ways forward.
Genres: short-stories, literary-fiction, american-fiction, 20th-century, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: character-driven, quiet-struggles
Period: 1970s
190 pages · Hardcover · Marion Boyars