First published 2007
From cowboys to strippers, Gilbert's characters pursue singular American pilgrimages. A tough East Coast girl dares a western cowboy to run off into the Rocky Mountains. A family of Hungarian-immigrant magicians struggle for redemption in Pittsburgh. A dying old woman contentedly surveys her lifetime of promiscuity. In the face of impossible odds, an ignorant laborer runs for president of his mafia-controlled union. With humor, dignity, and unerring authenticity, Gilbert explores the revelations of diverse and memorable characters.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, american, contemporary
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, unlikely-heroes
Setting: United States
Period: 20th Century
240 pages · Paperback · Riverhead Books