Father Brother Keeper
Stories
-
- $19.99
-
- $19.99
Publisher Description
“This moving debut collection examines complicated family relationships in the rural American South . . . Rich with symbolism and rhythmic prose” (Publishers Weekly).
A Winner of the Mary McCarthy Prize in Short Fiction, this story collection set in rural Georgia investigates small moments that illuminate life-altering struggles: a man slipping into dementia is abandoned at a diner with his granddaughters; a farmer’s son discovers his love of carving wooden birds but buries his creations in shame; bait dogs are left to die, chained in the woods, when they grow too old to fight.
“Somber, beautifully wrought and closely observed, these 12 stories raise more questions than answers, leave out more than they say. As the title suggests, the characters’ lives are steeped in familial conflicts that test their faith in and love for each other.” —TheAtlanta Journal-Constitution
“Father Brother Keeper is marvelous. To read the work of Nathan Poole is to discover an immense, beautiful secret, rich with private histories and the rhythms of our complex, haunted world. These are stories to cherish, a debut to celebrate.” —Paul Yoon, author of the Mountain: Stories
“This is an impressively talented writer who belongs in the good company of Ron Rash and Philip Meyer.” —Benjamin Percy, author of Thrill Me: Essays on Fiction
“Heartfelt, lyrical, and moving, these stories make you feel the texture of your life alter while you’re immersed in them. This remarkable book announces the arrival of a brilliant young writer.” —Robert Boswell, author of The Half-Known World: On Writing Fiction
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This moving debut collection examines complicated family relationships in the rural American South. A majority of the stories are set below the Mason-Dixon line and several take place in or around Sparta, Ga. The book is unified by a theme of sons and daughters succeeding their father. In A Map of the Watershed," Jim is developing dementia. After his estranged daughter, Callie, comes back into his life, he suffers an episode that endangers Callie's three-year-old twin girls. The story concludes with a small but emblematic gesture that shows Callie accepting the impending role of caregiver for her father. In The Strength of Fields" a son is pushed into a fatherly role when his father abandons the family and runs to Florida. The young protagonist must become keeper of the family. Dramas in Poole's compilation feature skilled characterizations. In the title story, memories of Micah's father give the character depth, providing insight into Micah's decisions and his interactions with his brother, Issah, and sister-in-law, Elsie. Anchor Tree Passing" chronicles the history of the Shockley family and their pecan grove. These details shape the conflict in another story, Silas," between James Warren Shockley and his son, who is caught running naked through the grove at night. This is a fine collection, rich with symbolism and rhythmic prose.