Normal

You won't find storybook families in these twelve wonderfully daring stories by Lucia Nevai. Over and over, Nevai's characters, from an urbane ex-hippie in Manhattan to a disabled war veteran in rural Louisiana, miss in their attempts to connect with the people they love most. But in the midst of all the missed connections, something remarkable (and often very funny) happens. In the tradition of Amy Bloom, Ellen Gilchrist, and Francine Prose, Nevai brings us unforgettable families in twelve versions of " normal" that we can all recognize. " Skewed and shrewd, Ms. Nevai makes a delightful tour guide to the fallout of the nuclear family."--The New York Times Book Review; " A writer of uncommon potency and reach."--Publishers Weekly, starred; " Nevai is a real talent with a ready wit and a steady gaze."--Kirkus Reviews.