American Purgatorio - Hardcover

Haskell, John

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0374104328 ISBN 13: 9780374104320

Publisher: Farrar Straus & Giroux, 2004

Synopsis

A man's life is turned upside down when he enters a convenience store and loses his family--an event that will precipitate a nationwide search and a journey into the dark recesses of a man's soul. A first novel.

About this title

Review:

"Make no mistake: this is not an ordinary novel . . . [it's] a literary affirmation of fiction's potential to go beyond mere scene . . . and tap into the deepest roots of human motive."--"San Francisco Chronicle"
"Gutsy, weirdly engrossing . . . Turn the last page and you'll realize that this strange, moving book has done just what a first novel should: It has left an impression."--"The New York Times Book Review"
""
"One of those books that sets the reader's mind in new directions."--"Houston Chronicle"
"All suspicions are now confirmed. Haskell is a terrific writer."--"The Buffalo News"

Make no mistake: this is not an ordinary novel . . . [it's] a literary affirmation of fiction's potential to go beyond mere scene . . . and tap into the deepest roots of human motive. "San Francisco Chronicle"

Gutsy, weirdly engrossing . . . Turn the last page and you'll realize that this strange, moving book has done just what a first novel should: It has left an impression. "The New York Times Book Review"

One of those books that sets the reader's mind in new directions. "Houston Chronicle"

All suspicions are now confirmed. Haskell is a terrific writer. "The Buffalo News""

"Make no mistake: this is not an ordinary novel . . . [it's] a literary affirmation of fiction's potential to go beyond mere scene . . . and tap into the deepest roots of human motive." --San Francisco Chronicle

"Gutsy, weirdly engrossing . . . Turn the last page and you'll realize that this strange, moving book has done just what a first novel should: It has left an impression." --The New York Times Book Review

"One of those books that sets the reader's mind in new directions." --Houston Chronicle

"All suspicions are now confirmed. Haskell is a terrific writer." --The Buffalo News

From the Back Cover:

Jack's wife has disappeared. She was in the car when they stopped for gas, he knows that much. He walked back from the counter, and then . . . Jack can't remember. But Anne has gone. John Haskell's American Purgatorio is an extraordinary debut novel; haunting, comic and achingly poignant. It's a road trip into the heart of a country and a man, a travelogue of loss and redemption, a Pilgrim's Progress for a godless world.

'Terrific' Sunday Telegraph

'Truly astounding and unquestioningly original, besides being a gripping read. Quite simply, a miracle of a novel' John Burnside, Scotsman

'Fresh, light, deep, sad, funny' Tim Pears

'Haskell's debut novel is like nothing else you'll read this year' GQ

'Sad, funny and elegiac' Independent on Sunday

'From the Don Delillo school of fiction - in which diamond-hard craftsmanship is matched with an acute eye for the banalities of modern life' The Times

'A book that swims amongst the deep unknown but is alive with an understated wisdom, humour and tenderness' I-D

About this edition

• Publisher: Farrar Straus & Giroux
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0374104328
• ISBN 13: 9780374104320
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 239