A striking new collection of ten short stories and two novellas that
explores the idea of property in every meaning of the word, from the
acclaimed New York Times bestselling author of the National Book Award
finalist So Much for That and the international bestseller We Need to
Talk About Kevin.
Intermingling settings in America and Britain, Lionel Shriver's first
collection explores property in both senses of the word: real estate and
stuff. These pieces illustrate how our possessions act as proxies for
ourselves, and how tussles over ownership articulate the power dynamics
of our relationships. In Lionel Shriver's world, we may possess people
and objects and places, but in turn they possess us.
In the stunning novella "The Standing Chandelier," a woman with a
history of attracting other women's antagonism creates a deeply personal
wedding present for her best friend and his fiancée--only to discover
that the jealous fiancée wants to cut her out of their lives. In
"Domestic Terrorism," a thirty-something son refuses to leave home,
resulting in a standoff that renders him a millennial cause célèbre. In
"The ChapStick," a middle-aged man subjugated by service to his elderly
father discovers that the last place you should finally assert yourself
is airport security. In "Vermin," an artistic Brooklyn couple's purchase
of a ramshackle house destroys their once-passionate relationship. In
"The Subletter," two women, both foreign conflict junkies, fight over a
claim to a territory that doesn't belong to either.
Exhibiting a satisfying thematic unity unusual for a collection, this
masterful work showcases the biting insight that has made Shriver one of
the most acclaimed writers of our time.
