In the Land of the Living

A Novel

Fiction & Literature, Family Life, Literary
Cover of the book In the Land of the Living by Austin Ratner, Little, Brown and Company
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Austin Ratner ISBN: 9780316206105
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company Publication: March 12, 2013
Imprint: Reagan Arthur Books Language: English
Author: Austin Ratner
ISBN: 9780316206105
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Publication: March 12, 2013
Imprint: Reagan Arthur Books
Language: English

A dazzling story of fathers, sons, and brothers - bound by love, divided by history

The Auberons are a lovably neurotic, infernally intelligent family who love and hate each other-and themselves-- in equal measure.

Driven both by grief at his young mother's death and war with his distant, abusive immigrant father, patriarch Isidore almost attains the life of his dreams: he works his way through Harvard and then medical school; he marries a beautiful and even-keeled girl; in his father-in-law, he finds the father he always wanted; and he becomes a father himself. He has talent, but he also has rage, and happiness is not meant to be his for very long.

Isidore's sons, Leo and Mack, haunted by the mythic, epic proportions of their father's heroics and the tragic events that marked their early lives, have alternately relied upon and disappointed one another since the day Mack was born. For Leo, who is angry at the world but angrier at himself, the burden of the past shapes his future: sexual awakening, first love, and restless attempts live up to his father's ideals.

Just when Leo reaches a crossroads between potential self-destruction and new freedom, Mack invites him on a road trip from Los Angeles to Cleveland. As the brothers make their way east, and towards understanding, their battles and reconciliations illuminate the power of family to both destroy and empower-and the price and rewards of independence.

Part family saga, part coming-of-age story, In the Land of the Living is a kinetic, fresh, bawdy yet earnest shot to the heart of a novel about coping with death, and figuring out how and why to live.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

A dazzling story of fathers, sons, and brothers - bound by love, divided by history

The Auberons are a lovably neurotic, infernally intelligent family who love and hate each other-and themselves-- in equal measure.

Driven both by grief at his young mother's death and war with his distant, abusive immigrant father, patriarch Isidore almost attains the life of his dreams: he works his way through Harvard and then medical school; he marries a beautiful and even-keeled girl; in his father-in-law, he finds the father he always wanted; and he becomes a father himself. He has talent, but he also has rage, and happiness is not meant to be his for very long.

Isidore's sons, Leo and Mack, haunted by the mythic, epic proportions of their father's heroics and the tragic events that marked their early lives, have alternately relied upon and disappointed one another since the day Mack was born. For Leo, who is angry at the world but angrier at himself, the burden of the past shapes his future: sexual awakening, first love, and restless attempts live up to his father's ideals.

Just when Leo reaches a crossroads between potential self-destruction and new freedom, Mack invites him on a road trip from Los Angeles to Cleveland. As the brothers make their way east, and towards understanding, their battles and reconciliations illuminate the power of family to both destroy and empower-and the price and rewards of independence.

Part family saga, part coming-of-age story, In the Land of the Living is a kinetic, fresh, bawdy yet earnest shot to the heart of a novel about coping with death, and figuring out how and why to live.

More books from Little, Brown and Company

Cover of the book Frangipani by Austin Ratner
Cover of the book Early One Morning by Austin Ratner
Cover of the book The Wilderness by Austin Ratner
Cover of the book Catastrophic Happiness by Austin Ratner
Cover of the book Give Us a Kiss by Austin Ratner
Cover of the book Dead Before Dying by Austin Ratner
Cover of the book Sci-Fi Junior High: Crash Landing by Austin Ratner
Cover of the book The Loved One by Austin Ratner
Cover of the book The House of Broken Angels by Austin Ratner
Cover of the book A Guid Soldier by Austin Ratner
Cover of the book The Futilitarians by Austin Ratner
Cover of the book Weaponized by Austin Ratner
Cover of the book Like Family by Austin Ratner
Cover of the book The Monsters by Austin Ratner
Cover of the book An Almost Perfect Christmas by Austin Ratner
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy