Bret Lott Bücher

Ein rasantes Familiendrama. Solche Helden gab's noch nie: Huger, ein fünfzehnjähriger Junge, wohnt mit seinem blinden Onkel in South Carolina, vierzig Meilen von der nächsten Stadt erntfernt. Alles, was seine Familie besitzt, ist ein Stück Land, das von einem Jagd-Club genutzt wird. Eines Tages wird dort die Leiche eines wohlhabenden Arztes gefunden mit - mit dem Hinweis, dessen Frau sei die Mörderin.§Huger und sein Onkel Leland ahnen, daß an der Geschichte so einiges nicht stimmt. Doch schon wenige Stunden nach dem Mord werden sie selbst zu Gejagten - weil Leland ein Geheimnis hat, daß er niemandem verraten will, nicht einmal Huger.

In this deeply affecting, beautifully crafted collection of short fiction, Bret Lott broadens his stylistic range, striking a surprisingly surreal tone with stark, hyperrealistic prose. As story after dazzling story deliberately takes you down a deceptively ordinary path, the arresting center of each startles your unsuspecting sensibility. Among the narrative gems is “Family,” in which a husband and wife bicker incessantly before realizing that their two children are missing, only to discover them in a surprising place–and in a disturbing condition. In “Everything Cut Will Come Back,” a long-distance phone call between two brothers takes a turn when their own tragic past crackles over the line. In “History,” a widow thinks she spots her son at the airport and is left instead with a simple memory of her late husband that resolves her grief. The innocence of three boys is lost when they witness a devastating winter tragedy in “The Train, the Lake, the Bridge.” Within these pages, adulterers are unceremoniously caught, epiphanies arrive during bizarre encounters, and characters move through everyday moments with a fortitude that elevates these stories almost to mythical status. Without a stroke of false sentimentality, The Difference Between Women and Men will leave you strangely shaken–and ever aware of the odd permutations of humankind.

The essay collection explores the rich multicultural tapestry of Israel and Palestine, highlighting stories of generosity and kindness. Through poignant narratives, it emphasizes the potential for lasting peace by showcasing the humanity and resilience of individuals in the region. The work serves as a heartfelt tribute to the power of compassion amidst conflict.

Writing lays bare the soul. All serious writers know that each word reveals something significant about themselves, granting outsiders a glimpse at their most cherished beliefs and foundational convictions. In this series of intimate reflections on life and writing, critically acclaimed and best-selling novelist Bret Lott explores the author's craft through five letters covering a range of fascinating topics, from exploring the value of literary fiction to discussing the humility of Flannery O'Connor. In the final and longest letter, Lott contemplates the death of his father and his struggle to convey his complicated thoughts and inexplicable emotions in words. Intensely personal and yet universally relatable, this powerful collection of essays will encourage and enrich writers and aspiring writers everywhere.