"Each story is uncommonly good. . . surprising, lively writing and
believably human characters. . . . Banks has a terrific eye, mordant yet
affectionate, for the bric-a-brac and the pathos of the American dream."
-- Washington Post Book World
In this series of related short stories, acclaimed author Russell
Banks offers gripping, realistic portrayals of individual Americans and
paints a portrait of New England life that is at once dark, witty, and
revealing.
Get to know the colorful cast of characters at the Granite State
Trailerpark, where Flora in number 11 keeps more than a hundred guinea
pigs and screams at people to stay away from her babies, Claudel in
number 5 thinks he is lucky until his wife burns down their trailer and
runs off with Howie Leeke, and Noni in number 7 has telephone
conversations with Jesus and tells the police about them.