Suffused with Russell Banksâs trademark lyricism and reckless humor, the twelve stories in A Permanent Member of the Family examine the myriad ways we tryâand sometimes failâto connect with one another, as we seek a home in the world.
In the title story, a father looks back on the legend of the cherished family dog whose divided loyalties mirrored the fragmenting of his marriage. âA Former Marineâ asks, to chilling effect, if one can ever stop being a parent. And in the haunting, evocative âVeronica,â a mysterious woman searching for her daughter may not be who she claims she is.
Moving between the stark beauty of winter in upstate New York and the seductive heat of Florida, Banksâs acute and penetrating collection demonstrates the range and virtuosity of both his narrative prowess and his startlingly panoramic vision of modern American life.