by Jaimy Gordon
First published 1978
Jaimy Gordon's debut novel follows interconnected lives in 1970s America. The characters move through a world of shifting relationships and uncertain futures. Gordon writes with sharp observation about people caught between what they want and what they can actually have. The story examines how ordinary people make choices when facing limited options. Each character struggles with their own version of being stuck or trying to break free. Gordon captures the texture of American life in the late seventies, when old certainties were crumbling and new possibilities seemed both exciting and dangerous. The novel reveals how people create meaning in small moments even when larger dreams feel out of reach.
Genres: literary-fiction, american-fiction, 20th-century, contemporary
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: character-driven, slice-of-life
Setting: America
Period: 1970s
67 pages · Paperback · SUN