This series delves into the intricate dynamics of family relationships and the personal quest for identity amidst a whirlwind of ambition. Follow a protagonist whose meticulously constructed life begins to unravel with the unexpected return of an enigmatic mother. The narrative explores themes of success, betrayal, and the unavoidable confrontation with the past, forcing characters to re-evaluate their desires and the very foundations of their existence.
An only child in a typical middle-American family, T is unusual only in his interest in, and talent for, making money. But when events conspire to leave T isolated again he starts to lose faith in people and civilisation and turns to nature instead, developing a strange and powerful obsession with endangered animals...
The story follows Hal, an IRS bureaucrat, who is perplexed by his wife's fixation on her missing employer. In a drunken moment, he sets off on a surreal tropical adventure to locate the man, leading to an unexpected affair with a captivating German woman. Lydia Millet crafts a beautifully written narrative that explores themes of parenthood's emotional complexities and the quirks of human behavior, making for an engaging and insightful read.