First published 2015
Charles D'Ambrosio turns his attention to subjects that might seem unconnected but reveal themselves as pieces of the same puzzle. He examines Native American whaling traditions, steps inside a Pentecostal hell house, considers the case of Mary Kay Letourneau, and reflects on J.D. Salinger's work. Most frequently, he returns to his own family, mining their stories with the same careful attention he brings to everything else. This collection gathers eleven essays from his cult favorite book Orphans alongside new and previously uncollected pieces. D'Ambrosio writes with precision and emotional openness, finding humor in devastating circumstances. Each essay carries his distinctive voice while exploring entirely different terrain. The book offers readers access to writing that has been passed hand to hand among devotees for years, work that demonstrates why D'Ambrosio has earned recognition as one of today's finest essayists.
Genres: essays, non-fiction, biography-memoir, cultural-studies
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: personal-narrative, thematic-exploration
Setting: Native American Whaling Traditions, Pentecostal Hell House
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
368 pages · Paperback · Text Publishing