by Kim Harrison
First published 2016
In the title novella, an aging Montana writer finds himself caught between literary fame and domestic chaos. He shares his home with an estranged wife who delivers constant verbal sparring matches. His impulsive purchase of a sow leads to an unplanned litter of piglets that overrun his property. The writer must navigate the complications of literary success while managing his unconventional household. In "Eggs," a Montana woman recalls her childhood visits to her grandparents' London country house, where she collected eggs. Decades later, childless and yearning, she attempts to conceive. The final novella follows retired Detective Sunderson as he investigates a peculiar cult. The group believes they can achieve enlightenment by howling alongside howler monkeys at the local zoo. Sunderson must unravel their bizarre practices while working as a private investigator. These three stories explore the absurdities of aging, desire, and human connection.
Genres: short-stories, literary-fiction, contemporary, novella
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: literary-success, unconventional-family
Setting: Montana, London
Period: contemporary
255 pages · Hardcover · Grove Press