A discontented great-grandmother unleashes chaos across post-apocalyptic California in this тАЬfuriously funnyтАЭ (Colum McCann) and moving adventure
This scorching take on power in America is Shirley JacksonтАЩs The Lottery meets Yorgos LanthimosтАЩ The Lobster: imagine a Mad Max caravan led by a bloodthirsty Betty White!
America in the near future is the same, but worse. ThereтАЩs no national or state government anymore. Only local authorities endure, and they barely function. The real glue holding whatтАЩs left of society together is death. In this America, everyone who dies is celebrated in a lengthy, undeviating funeral rite led by the oldest member of their community.
Maxine is one such elderтАФ99 years old and living in Lakeport, California. Dogged by chronic pain and burdened by grief, one day her discontent pushes her to change the words of the funeral rite and, contrary to her expectations, the entire community follows her lead. MaxineтАЩs rebellion begins to snowball, unleashing a spate of violence with consequences for the whole town, and eventually the country. Initially horrified, sheтАЩs soon intoxicated by her new powers, and finds herself leading funeral rites that resemble political rallies or orgies of violence more than solemn ceremonies. When she launches a pilgrimage across the California desert, it triggers a confrontation with the remaining institutional forces of the countryтАФa confrontation she may not survive.
A furiously funny take on contemporary America, as well as a moving meditation on grief and how it binds us together, this utterly propulsive novel marks an exciting new departure from the author of international bestseller Legend of a Suicide.
A discontented great-grandmother unleashes chaos across post-apocalyptic California in this тАЬfuriously funnyтАЭ (Colum McCann) and moving adventure
This scorching take on power in America is Shirley JacksonтАЩs The Lottery meets Yorgos LanthimosтАЩ The Lobster: imagine a Mad Max caravan led by a bloo...