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Publication Date: August 16, 2022
Publisher: Atmosphere Press
List Price: $17.99 Paperback
ISBN-13: 978-1-63988-451-3
Grant explores one man’s quest for the meaning of life in this outstanding tale. With his eternal wanderlust for the unknown, the forty-five-year-old nameless protagonist gets in the Volvo station Wagon and leave his suburban home and young family behind to go on a trip, visiting the familiar places from his youthful days. On his way, he meets his long-lost uncle Glen who takes him on a continent-spanning exhilarating adventure where they meet Civil War generals and a legendary Navajo among others. But the answers he is seeking still elude him. The first-person narrative, which is full of asides, engrossing anecdotes, and foreshadowing, is sentimental, funny, and true to life. Grant’s characters grow and expand, including Uncle Glen, Claire, and Lucy, but the primary focus remains on the protagonist, who with his inquisitive personality and relentless wanderlust for the unknown, remains an engrossing protagonist. His melancholy demeanor, which stays true through all of his growth, may frustrate some readers. Still the midlife-coming-of-age story will keep readers engrossed until the end. At once a literary coming-of-age story, travelog, and recipe book, the book delves into philosophical themes of meaning of life, purpose, love, family, relationship, and what truly makes a life worth living. A remarkable book that deserves to be savored and pondered.
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Categories: Fiction
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