Wars in Iraq and in Afghanistan, a housing boom and bust: the past decade has taken its toll on the working-class Massachusetts town of Wequaquet, a place where love and pride are closely twinned and dangerously deployed. In his debut collection, Patrick Dacey recounts the lives of neighbors and friends as they brush up against each other, searching-privately and collectively-for an almost out-of-reach version of the American Dream. A lonely woman attacks a memorial to a neighbor's veteran son; a dissatisfied housewife goes overboard with cosmetic surgery on national television; a soldier writes home to a mother who is becoming increasingly unhinged. With a skewering insight and real warmth of spirit, We've Already Gone This Far takes us to a town like many towns in America, one that lives in the shadow of two long wars, plagued by both apathy and disquiet, but where life's strange intensity and occasional magic is still felt. Dacey delivers that rare and wonderful thing in American fiction: deeply-felt, deeply-imagined book about where we've been and how far we have to go.
Patrick Dacey is one of my favorite young American writers. The stories in" We've Already Gone This Far "are dangerous, funny, sometimes savage (the phrase 'lyrical hammers' comes to mind), but underneath it all beats a strangely kind and hopeful heart. Dacey is channeling both a terrifyingly dark view of America, as well as a movingly optimistic one, and he shows us that the truth of who we are lies in that very juxtaposition. Fast, poetic, edgy, full of tremendous affection for the things of the world.--George Saunders
"We've Already Gone this Far" is a strong, intelligent, deeply-felt book; Patrick Dacey is a beautiful and natural writer.--Mary Gaitskill
Whether a used-car salesman or past-his-prime coach or lonely mother of a deployed soldier, the characters in Dacey's collection are 'living on these images of the past' looking for something that glimmers just out of reach. A book that brims with unguarded humanity and quiet moments of communion, I couldn't stop reading it. Dacey is a masterful prose stylist, a vibrant and original new literary voice.--Rae Meadows, author of Mercy Train
"These thirteen stories are linked not just through place and character but also by their pursuit of a warped form of happiness. Together they provide a startling portrait of American life today. A daringly resonant collection with the best endings in the business." Courtney Maum
Patrick Dacey is one of my favorite young American writers. The stories in We've Already Gone This Far are dangerous, funny, sometimes savage (the phrase 'lyrical hammers' comes to mind), but underneath it all beats a strangely kind and hopeful heart. Dacey is channeling both a terrifyingly dark view of America, as well as a movingly optimistic one, and he shows us that the truth of who we are lies in that very juxtaposition. Fast, poetic, edgy, full of tremendous affection for the things of the world. George Saunders
"Patrick Dacey is a wonderfully talented writer, and among his many gifts is his willingness to explore the hole in the heart (and I believe we all have at least one if we've truly lived), and to find humor and grace in the sadness that surrounds it. We've Already Gone This Far is one of the best collections I've read in a long time." Donald Ray Pollock, author of" Knockemstiff" & "The Devil All The Time"
""
We've Already Gone this Far is a strong, intelligent, deeply-felt book; Patrick Dacey is a beautiful and natural writer. Mary Gaitskill
Whether a used-car salesman or past-his-prime coach or lonely mother of a deployed soldier, the characters in Dacey's collection are 'living on these images of the past' looking for something that glimmers just out of reach. A book that brims with unguarded humanity and quiet moments of communion, I couldn't stop reading it. Dacey is a masterful prose stylist, a vibrant and original new literary voice. Rae Meadows, author of "Mercy Train""
Patrick Dacey is one of my favorite young American writers. The stories in We've Already Gone This Far are dangerous, funny, sometimes savage (the phrase 'lyrical hammers' comes to mind), but underneath it all beats a strangely kind and hopeful heart. Dacey is channeling both a terrifyingly dark view of America, as well as a movingly optimistic one, and he shows us that the truth of who we are lies in that very juxtaposition. Fast, poetic, edgy, full of tremendous affection for the things of the world. George Saunders
"These thirteen stories are linked not just through place and character but also by their pursuit of a warped form of happiness. Together they provide a startling portrait of American life today. A daringly resonant collection with the best endings in the business." Courtney Maum
"Patrick Dacey's "We've Already Gone This Far" is a rock-solid and mercifully unpretentious collection of stories, the sort of book I'm always in search of, but rarely finding. This is a book about people who (mostly) do honest work for a living by a writer who knows how hard it is out here on the ground in America. Generous and beautifully written." Peter Orner
"Patrick Dacey is a wonderfully talented writer, and among his many gifts is his willingness to explore the hole in the heart (and I believe we all have at least one if we've truly lived), and to find humor and grace in the sadness that surrounds it. We've Already Gone This Far is one of the best collections I've read in a long time." Donald Ray Pollock
We've Already Gone this Far is a strong, intelligent, deeply-felt book; Patrick Dacey is a beautiful and natural writer. Mary Gaitskill
Whether a used-car salesman or past-his-prime coach or lonely mother of a deployed soldier, the characters in Dacey's collection are 'living on these images of the past' looking for something that glimmers just out of reach. A book that brims with unguarded humanity and quiet moments of communion, I couldn't stop reading it. Dacey is a masterful prose stylist, a vibrant and original new literary voice. Rae Meadows"
Featured in Brooklyn Magazine s 2016 Book Preview
Patrick Dacey is one of my favorite young American writers. The stories in We've Already Gone This Far are dangerous, funny, sometimes savage (the phrase 'lyrical hammers' comes to mind), but underneath it all beats a strangely kind and hopeful heart. Dacey is channeling both a terrifyingly dark view of America, as well as a movingly optimistic one, and he shows us that the truth of who we are lies in that very juxtaposition. Fast, poetic, edgy, full of tremendous affection for the things of the world. George Saunders
Excellent. . . ambitious and heartfelt . . .an impressive debut. While not every story is perfect, the best of them are harsh but beautiful reminders of the cost of wars not just the ones overseas, but the ones we wage against ourselves. Michael Schaub, "NPR"
""
"" [A] remarkable first short-story collection. . . .Dacey s naturalistic writing always feels clear-eyed and assured, his most mesmerizing stories capable of breaking free from their surroundings like a running back turning a short-yard gain into the improbable, tackle-breaking touchdown. "Style Weekly "(Richmond)
The title tells the tale: The characters in Dacey s debut collection have already gone this far, so they might as well keep going, just to see what s up ahead. "The Toronto Star"
Breathtakingly good . . . . Dacey has a special knack for leavening his prose with wickedly funny, satirical flourishes. . . .Dacey is an agile writer who mixes satire with scenes of great emotional depth and empathy. "Richmond Times-Dispatch"
An empathetic and strikingly original debut short story collection. "Kirkus," author feature
We've Already Gone this Far is a strong, intelligent, deeply-felt book; Patrick Dacey is a beautiful and natural writer. Mary Gaitskill
"Patrick Dacey's "We've Already Gone This Far" is a rock-solid and mercifully unpretentious collection of stories, the sort of book I'm always in search of, but rarely finding. This is a book about people who (mostly) do honest work for a living by a writer who knows how hard it is out here on the ground in America. Generous and beautifully written." Peter Orner
"In the keen, observational short-story style of writers such as George Saunders and Lauren Groff, We ve Already Gone This Far illuminates both the quotidian details and the profound strangeness of modern American life. Readers will find this set of mournful, biting, and resonant tales united not only by geography but also by Dacey s deep humanity towards his flawed characters." Booklist
Dacey s breakout collection shows that small towns can still yield big fictional rewards Despite the exhausted, drained characters, these tales of neighborly conflicts, professional and personal malaise, and family tragedy are marked by a certain buoyancy. In describing these frustrated lives, Dacey can be as funny as he is compassionate. Publishers Weekly
Irreverent poignant superb A fine debut collection from a storyteller who improves as the stakes get higher. Kirkus
"Patrick Dacey is a wonderfully talented writer, and among his many gifts is his willingness to explore the hole in the heart (and I believe we all have at least one if we've truly lived), and to find humor and grace in the sadness that surrounds it. We've Already Gone This Far is one of the best collections I've read in a long time." Donald Ray Pollock
"These thirteen stories are linked not just through place and character but also by their pursuit of a warped form of happiness. Together they provide a startling portrait of American life today. A daringly resonant collection with the best endings in the business." Courtney Maum
Whether a used-car salesman or past-his-prime coach or lonely mother of a deployed soldier, the characters in Dacey's collection are 'living on these images of the past' looking for something that glimmers just out of reach. A book that brims with unguarded humanity and quiet moments of communion, I couldn't stop reading it. Dacey is a masterful prose stylist, a vibrant and original new literary voice. Rae Meadows"
Featured in Brooklyn Magazine's 2016 Book Preview
"Patrick Dacey is one of my favorite young American writers. The stories in We've Already Gone This Far are dangerous, funny, sometimes savage (the phrase 'lyrical hammers' comes to mind), but underneath it all beats a strangely kind and hopeful heart. Dacey is channeling both a terrifyingly dark view of America, as well as a movingly optimistic one, and he shows us that the truth of who we are lies in that very juxtaposition. Fast, poetic, edgy, full of tremendous affection for the things of the world." --George Saunders
"Excellent. . . ambitious and heartfelt . . .an impressive debut. While not every story is perfect, the best of them are harsh but beautiful reminders of the cost of wars--not just the ones overseas, but the ones we wage against ourselves." --Michael Schaub, NPR
"[A] remarkable first short-story collection. . . .Dacey's naturalistic writing always feels clear-eyed and assured, his most mesmerizing stories capable of breaking free from their surroundings like a running back turning a short-yard gain into the improbable, tackle-breaking touchdown." --Style Weekly (Richmond)
"The title tells the tale: The characters in Dacey's debut collection have already gone this far, so they might as well keep going, just to see what's up ahead." --The Toronto Star
"Breathtakingly good . . . . Dacey has a special knack for leavening his prose with wickedly funny, satirical flourishes. . . .Dacey is an agile writer who mixes satire with scenes of great emotional depth and empathy." --Richmond Times-Dispatch
"An empathetic and strikingly original debut short story collection." --Kirkus, author feature
"We've Already Gone this Far is a strong, intelligent, deeply-felt book; Patrick Dacey is a beautiful and natural writer." --Mary Gaitskill
"Patrick Dacey's We've Already Gone This Far is a rock-solid and mercifully unpretentious collection of stories, the sort of book I'm always in search of, but rarely finding. This is a book about people who (mostly) do honest work for a living by a writer who knows how hard it is out here on the ground in America. Generous and beautifully written." --Peter Orner
"In the keen, observational short-story style of writers such as George Saunders and Lauren Groff, We've Already Gone This Far illuminates both the quotidian details and the profound strangeness of modern American life. Readers will find this set of mournful, biting, and resonant tales united not only by geography but also by Dacey's deep humanity towards his flawed characters." --Booklist
"Dacey's breakout collection shows that small towns can still yield big fictional rewards...Despite the exhausted, drained characters, these tales of neighborly conflicts, professional and personal malaise, and family tragedy are marked by a certain buoyancy. In describing these frustrated lives, Dacey can be as funny as he is compassionate." --Publishers Weekly
..".Irreverent...poignant...superb...A fine debut collection from a storyteller who improves as the stakes get higher." --Kirkus
"Patrick Dacey is a wonderfully talented writer, and among his many gifts is his willingness to explore the hole in the heart (and I believe we all have at least one if we've truly lived), and to find humor and grace in the sadness that surrounds it. We've Already Gone This Far is one of the best collections I've read in a long time." --Donald Ray Pollock
"These thirteen stories are linked not just through place and character but also by their pursuit of a warped form of happiness. Together they provide a startling portrait of American life today. A daringly resonant collection with the best endings in the business."--Courtney Maum
"Whether a used-car salesman or past-his-prime coach or lonely mother of a deployed soldier, the characters in Dacey's collection are 'living on these images of the past' looking for something that glimmers just out of reach. A book that brims with unguarded humanity and quiet moments of communion, I couldn't stop reading it. Dacey is a masterful prose stylist, a vibrant and original new literary voice." --Rae Meadows
