Maggie Brown & Others

Summary

In this powerful and virtuosic collection of interlocking stories, each one "[A] marvel of concision and compassion" (Washington Post), Peter Orner, a National Book Critics Circle Award finalist and "[M]aster of his form" (New York Times), takes the short story to new heights.  Through 44 compressed gems, Peter Orner, a writer who "[D]oesn't simply bring his characters to life, he gives them souls" (NYT Book Review), chronicles people whose lives are at inflection points, gripping us with a series of defining moments. Whether it's a first date that turns into a late-night road trip to a séance in an abandoned airplane hangar, or a family's memories of the painful mystery surrounding a forgotten uncle's demise, Orner reveals how our fleeting decisions between kindness and abandonment chase us across time. These stories are anchored by a poignant novella that delivers not only the joys and travails of a 40-year marriage, but an entire era in a working-class New England city. Bristling with the crackling energy of life itself, Maggie Brown & Others marks the most sustained achievement to date for "[A] master of his form" (New York Times). A New York Times Notable Book  Longlisted for the Simpson/Joyce Carol Oates Prize  An Oprah Magazine Best Book of 2019  Kirkus "Best Short Fiction of 2019"

©2019 Peter Orner (P)2020 Random House Audio