by Richard Ford
First published 2006
Frank Bascombe has built a successful real estate business on the Jersey Shore by fall 2000. He believes he has entered what he calls the Permanent Period, a stable stretch where life will follow predictable patterns. His children are grown, his career flourishes, and he expects his remaining years to unfold without major upheavals. But as the Bush-Gore election creates national uncertainty, Frank faces a convergence of personal crises. A non-traditional Thanksgiving approaches with his scattered family. His marriage encounters serious strain. Medical concerns threaten his health. The Presidential race hangs unresolved, mirroring the instability creeping into his own life. Frank discovers that his fifties bring unexpected complications rather than the settled existence he anticipated. The challenges pile up around him like scattered flowers, forcing him to confront how much control he actually has over his carefully constructed world.
Genres: american-fiction, contemporary, 21st-century, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: character-study, slice-of-life
Setting: Jersey Shore, United States
Period: 2000
296 pages · Paperback · Vintage