These thirteen stories centre around the battle against self-destruction; the struggle to transform loss into meaning; and the difficulty of connecting with others. The characters are losers, loners, also-rans, junkies: men who have dropped out, don't fit or who are desperate for a second chance. Although they invariably speak the language of failure, disappointment and regret, they direct us beyond the pessimism to the point where we find comedy as dark as congealed blood and, without fail, an undimmed faith in humanity's capacity for forgiveness, hope and atonement.
These stories are beautifully crafted and they will make you laugh while breaking your heart.
