Brand New Human Being - by Emily Jeanne Miller (Paperback)

About the Book

"A whip-smart first novel that gripped me with its wry humor and wonderfully real characters" (Curtis Sittenfeld, author of American Wife)

Book Synopsis

"Compelling . . . The strength of Brand New Human Being is its realistic portrayal of trauma and its aftermath." --Washington Post

Stay-at-home dad Logan Pyle is holding his life together by a thread: his larger-than-life father, Gus, has just died, his wife is distant, and his kindergarten-age son has regressed to drinking from a baby bottle and sucking his thumb. Complicating matters further is Bennie, Gus's beautiful young widow, with whom Logan has a troubled past. When the thread finally snaps, Logan's actions threaten to tear the family he treasures apart. Carried by Logan's wry, original voice, this moving debut follows one man's journey from child to parent.

"Introspective and honest . . . Miller's novel is sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking, but always a worthy, exciting read." --Siobhan Fallon, author of You Know When the Men Are Gone

"I devoured this novel. Miller's debut is funny, fast-paced and poignant, and it depicts a father-son relationship unlike any I've read before." --Jim Gavin, author of Middle Men

From the Back Cover

A fast-paced, first-rate book by an immensely talented new writer. Curtis Sittenfeld, author of Prep
Stay-at-home dad Logan Pyle is holding his life together by a thread: his larger-than-life father, Gus, has just died, his wife is distant, and his kindergarten-age son has regressed to drinking from a baby bottle and sucking his thumb. Complicating matters further is Bennie, Gus s beautiful young widow, with whom Logan has a troubled past. When the thread finally snaps, Logan s actions threaten to tear the family he treasures apart. Carried by Logan s wry, original voice, this moving debut follows one man s journey from child to parent.
Compelling . . . The strength of Brand New Human Being is its realistic portrayal of trauma and its aftermath. Washington Post
Introspective and honest . . . Miller s novel is sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking, but always a worthy, exciting read. Siobhan Fallon, author of You Know When the Men Are Gone
I devoured this novel. Miller s debut is funny, fast-paced and poignant, and it depicts a father-son relationship unlike any I ve read before. Jim Gavin, author of Middle Men
[insert author photo] Emily Jeanne Miller graduated from Princeton University, where she majored in religion. She has an MS from the environmental studies program at the University of Montana and an MFA from the University of Florida in Gainesville. She lives, writes, and teaches in Washington, D.C. Visit her website www.emilyjeannemiller.com.

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Review Quotes

"A fast-paced tale of family life."
-- Real Simple "What a treat to read Miller's whip-smart first novel. Brand New Human Being gripped me with its wry humor and wonderfully real characters, and kept me captivated until the last page. This is a fast-paced, first-rate book by an immensely talented new writer."
--Curtis Sittenfeld "Miller's debut novel tackles the meaning of parenthood in the modern world. Introspective and honest, it focuses on the small dramas inside Everyman's living room: the way all parents strive to be better than they are, the way a marriage can start to fray even with the best intentions, and the way love, however elusive, is always worth fighting for. Miller's novel is sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking, but always a worthy, exciting read."
--Siobhan Fallon, author of You Know When the Men are Gone "The strength of BRAND NEW HUMAN BEING is its realistic portrayal of trauma and its aftermath. Death, birth, disease and survival all have their messy consequences in these pages. Miller...is especially good at showing the sloppy nature of relationships in the wake of upheaval."
--Washington Post "Touching...Miller explores Logan's resentments and insecurities with sensitivity and nuance."
--Publishers Weekly "Miller is at her best in scenes with Logan and Owen together--dad's brutal honesty with his son about death in general (and Owen's near-death experience in particular) exposes the depths of his emotional frustration...the first-person-present narration gives the novel a breezy energy. A solid debut..."
--Kirkus Reviews "This respectable debut follows the mostly self-inflicted trials of Logan Pyle as he navigates the suddenly confusing waters of fatherhood, marriage, and complex family history...this coming-of-age novel for adults peels back [Pyle's] emotional layers as he tries to find firm ground in the shifting continents of his life."
--Booklist

About the Author

EMILY JEANNE MILLER studied religion at Princeton University and worked as a journalist for several newspapers before entering the Environmental Studies Program at the University of Montana. In 2002 she completed an MFA from the University of Florida.