The New Order
Stories
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
“Bender's willingness to go deep, to burrow down into what's right and wrong about 21st century America and Americans, is a mirror that draws us in and does not allow us to look away." —Los Angeles Times on Refund
The National Book Award finalist for Refund returns with a new collection of stories that boldly examines the changes in American culture over the last two years through the increasing presence of violence, bigotry, sexual harassment, and the emotional costs of living under constant threat.
In the title story, the competition between two middle school cellists is affected by a shooting at their school, and it is only years later that they realize how the intrusion of violence affected the course of their lives. In ""This Is Who You Are,"" a young girl walks the line between Hebrew school and her regular school, realizing that both are filled with unexpected moments of insight and violence. In ""Three Interviews,"" an aging reporter must contend with her dwindling sense of self and resources, beleaguered by unemployment, which sets her on a path to three increasingly unhinged job interviews. In ""Mrs. America,"" a candidate for local office must confront a host of forces that threaten to undermine her campaign and expose her own role in the dissonance between what America is and what it should be.
The New Order explores contemporary themes and ideas, shining a spotlight on the dark corners of our nature, our instincts, and our country.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Bender's incisive collection (following Refund) touches on a range of hot-button issues from gun violence and political xenophobia to sexual harassment and economic downturn. In "Where to Hide in a Synagogue," preparations for protecting a temple from hate crimes lead two old friends to renegotiate their relationship. "Mrs. America" follows a woman's campaign for office in North Carolina, which devolves into a slanderous mess when she incorporates her opponent's dog into attacks on his viability for office. Aside from the dystopian "The Department of Happiness and Reimbursement" and the parablelike "The Cell Phones," Bender's stories maintain a grounded, subdued realism. The great strength of the collection lies in her ability to examine the ramifications of violence and casual cruelty on individuals and communities. The title story is perhaps the most successful at this: following a shooting, members of a middle school orchestra audition for their deceased peer's seat, an assignment with lifelong repercussions for the survivors. "There were many types of violence in the world, some quieter," the speaker notes. This is a thoughtful, timely collection.
