First published 1984
Lawrence Thornton crafts a story that examines how the past refuses to stay buried. The novel follows characters grappling with the aftermath of trauma and the weight of memory. Set against the backdrop of America coming to terms with war's consequences, the narrative weaves between different perspectives and time periods. Characters struggle to reconcile their present lives with haunting recollections that shape their choices. The story delves into how people attempt to rebuild their identities when fundamental beliefs have been shattered. Thornton explores the tension between wanting to forget and needing to remember. The novel reveals how individuals cope with loss while searching for meaning in a world that seems to offer little comfort or certainty.
Genres: fiction, american-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, contemporary, 21st-century
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, unreliable-narrator
Setting: America
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
224 pages · Hardcover · UNKNO
Content warnings: mental-illness