A collection of short stories from the contemporary American master
whom the New York Times declared "the most compassionate fiction
writer working today."
Suffused with Russell Banks's trademark lyricism and reckless humor, the
twelve stories in A Permanent Member of the Family examine the myriad
ways we try--and sometimes fail--to connect with one another, as we seek
a home in the world.
In the title story, a father looks back on the legend of the cherished
family dog whose divided loyalties mirrored the fragmenting of his
marriage. "A Former Marine" asks, to chilling effect, if one can ever
stop being a parent. And in the haunting, evocative "Veronica," a
mysterious woman searching for her daughter may not be who she claims
she is.
Moving between the stark beauty of winter in upstate New York and the
seductive heat of Florida, Banks's acute and penetrating collection
demonstrates the range and virtuosity of both his narrative prowess and
his startlingly panoramic vision of modern American life.