Living in the Weather of the World - (Vintage Contemporaries) by Richard Bausch (Paperback)

About the Book

"In these thirteen indelible stories, Richard Bausch once again proves himself a modern master. From the prize-winning novelist and universally acclaimed short story writer ("Richard Bausch is a master of the short story"--The New York Times Book Review), thirteen unforgettable tales that showcase his electrifying artistry. Bausch plumbs the depths of familial and marital estrangement, the violence of suicide and despair, the gulfs between friends and lovers, the complexities of divorce and infidelity, the fragility and impermanence of love. Wherever he casts his gaze, he illuminates the darkest corners of human experience with the bright light of wisdom and compassion, finding grace and redemption amidst sorrow and regret. Bausch's stories are simply extraordinary"--

Book Synopsis

In stories by turns suspenseful, comic, subtle, and profound, Richard Bausch probes the fault lines of daily life. At three in the morning a man tries not to wake his sleeping wife while fielding calls from his suicidal mistress. A successful real estate agent with two grown sons tries an online dating service on a whim and is surprised by the complicated result. And after being held up at gunpoint, a police officer commiserates with his assailant about their unhappy marriages. Wherever he casts his gaze, Bausch illuminates shades of human experience that defy understanding.

Review Quotes

"Every word feels perfect. The stories here aren't just entertaining; they demonstrate just how exciting and resonant . . . short fiction can be." --Houston Chronicle

"Taut and dark, saturated with moments of longing and regret. . . . Bausch, a short-story master, writes beautiful sentences, and though his tales center around . . . moments of reckoning and despair, they pulse with something glowing and true." --The Boston Globe

"[Living in the Weather of the World] puts the reader in mind of Flannery O'Connor's ability to open out a story into dangerous, unknown territory. . . . That Bausch can deliver . . . convincing humanity, no matter the initial angle of ascent, is a testament to his powers of technique and observation." --The New York Times Book Review

"Surprising, diverting, and endearing. . . . Every one of these stories is a treasure. . . . [Bausch] is king of the genre in America." --The Buffalo News

"Masterly. . . . This is a sublime collection." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"The current collection of 14 stories from Bausch, considered one of our living masters of fiction, demonstrates the author's lightning-quick ability to develop complex, unique characters and situations. . . . The weather in Bausch's world is never better than overcast, but his craftsmanship lights up something fine in the gloom." --Kirkus Reviews

"Bausch is one of my favorite short storytellers of all time. . . . [Living in the Weather of the World, ] dives once again into the darkest and most relatable depths of relationships between husbands and wives, ex-spouses, friends and lovers, parents and children, all against the backdrop of a world that is beautiful, fragile, and impermanent. Every thoughtfully executed story will give you something to think about." --E. Ce Miller, Bustle

"Superb . . . Bausch offers readers a disturbing portrait of contemporary America. . . . Plumbing a nation that has lost its sense of purpose and direction, these stories chart the emotional and psychological damage that is produced by experiences under these conditions." --Library Journal (starred review)

About the Author

Richard Bausch is the author of twelve novels and eight previous volumes of short stories. He is a recipient of the REA Award For The Short Story, the PEN/Malamud Award, a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Award, the Literature Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and The Dayton Literary Peace Prize for his novel Peace. He is past Chancellor of The Fellowship of Southern Writers, and his work is widely anthologized, including in Pushcart Prize Stories, The O. Henry Awards, Best American Short Stories, and New Stories from the South. He is on the Writing Faculty of Chapman University in Orange, California.

www.richardbausch.com