Through quirky plots, one-of-kind characters, and more than a few twists, the stories in Big Bend examine gentle-hearted men and their relationships. From made-in-heaven meetings to troublesome liaisons, Roorbach's characters experience romance in unexpected, sometimes disastrous ways.
In "Fog," a teenage boy learns hard lessons about canoes, the Gulf of Maine, sex, and love. A struggling young artist goes home for the holidays in search of succor for the stomach―and heart―with poor results in "Thanksgiving." Other stories recount the ultimately disastrous reunion of estranged friends, an unemployed architect's foolish courting with bad company, and a middle-aged rock star's struggle with the urge to settle down. In the tiitle story, "Big Bend," a grieving widower, troubled by his own waning years, is tempted by a seductively attentive birdwatcher no older than his daughter.
Poignant tales of hauntingly familiar situations, Bill Roorbach's stories are full of heart, romance, edgy humor, and the frequently concealed vulnerability of men.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
BILL ROORBACH's newest book, The Girl of the Lake, is a collection of stories that was longlisted for the 2017 Story Prize and finalist for the Maine Literary Award in Fiction, 2017. Also from Roorbach are the novels The Remedy for Love, a finalist for the 2015 Kirkus Prize, and the best-selling Life among Giants, which won a Maine Literary Award in 2012. Nonfiction books include Temple Stream, Summers with Juliet, and Into Woods. Roorbach was a 2018 Civitella Ranieri Foundation Fellow in Umbria. He lives in western Maine.
Immensely appealing . . . Roorbach's tender, affecting stories will leave you feeling as if you've come to understand your own missteps and misjudgments slightly better, and to forgive yourself a little more.
(Newsday)Roorbach is as raw and engaged a writer as you'll ever read . . . He rivals James Baldwin in his ability to miraculously open up rivers of male sentiment.
(Los Angeles Weekly )Here comes Bill Roorbach with nine good reasons to find the couch or some big chair. Reading these stories may be the reason we even have some of this furniture. Frankly, I recommend you take them into your house and meet these new people in Big Bend. They are as tender and troubled as we are, as charming, indecisive, nervous, blessed, crazy, and destined to survive, find love, miss it. I've been waiting for these stories for a while now.
(Ron Carlson)Readers will gobble these beautifully wrought, affecting stories, wanting more. . . . Roorbach falls, for me, into that small category of writers whose every book I must read, then reread.
(Jay Parini)An exceptional collection. . . . The characters are like people overheard at the next table or behind you in a line―people you instinctively want to pull for. . . . A quirky, clever, ironic, sympathetic, satisfying group of stories.
(David Walton)Bill Roorbach's stylish writing―with its surprising and generous observations about landscapes, internal and external―makes for great literature. What a pleasure to read these sharp, funny, sexy stories.
(Debra Spark)Roorbach's ability to convey the unexpceted whims of luck and happenstance and irony make these stories, like the best told around firelight or on front porches, take up residence in the listener. He is a storyteller's storyteller.
(Antonya Nelson)"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Shipping:
FREE
Within U.S.A.
Shipping:
US$ 4.25
Within U.S.A.
Seller: Better World Books, Mishawaka, IN, U.S.A.
Condition: Very Good. 1st. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects. Seller Inventory # 11931723-20
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: SecondSale, Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
Condition: Good. Item in good condition. Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc. Seller Inventory # 00070932462
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Yosemite Street Books, Tampa, FL, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good Plus. 2nd Edition. 2001 edition, (2e/1p), hb/8vo/174 pgs - Brown cloth and green paper on boards with green letters CONDITION: Very good plus with a very good, mylar covered dj - The title page has a small library stamp, and the dj has two small library stickers, o/w all else are tight, clean, unmarked, and not worn CONTENTS: Winner of the FLANNERY O'CONNOR AWARD for short stories! - Through quirky plots, one-of-a-kind characters, and many twists, these stories examine gentle-hearted men and their relationships. Seller Inventory # 09469
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: The Book Scouts, Sanborn, NY, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. First Edition. We're happy to combine shipping to save you some money. We're also always buying collectible book collections. Contact us for details. We're happy to provide pictures of any and all books for you, please just ask! American first edition, first printing. Contains number line 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. Virtually no wear to jacket. Jacket is NOT price clipped. Jacket is in a Mylar cover. Covers are clean and bright. Edges are sharp. No tears or creases. The book itself is in Near Fine condition. The binding is straight and tight. No remainder mark. Seller Inventory # ABE-774399450
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: AwesomeBooks, Wallingford, United Kingdom
Condition: Very Good. This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. . Seller Inventory # 7719-9780820322834
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: GoldenDragon, Houston, TX, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: very good. Very Good Copy. Fast Shipment. Seller Inventory # SilverDragon0820322830
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Bahamut Media, Reading, United Kingdom
Condition: Very Good. Shipped within 24 hours from our UK warehouse. Clean, undamaged book with no damage to pages and minimal wear to the cover. Spine still tight, in very good condition. Remember if you are not happy, you are covered by our 100% money back guarantee. Seller Inventory # 6545-9780820322834
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Nightshade Booksellers, IOBA member, Atlanta, GA, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. 1st Edition. First edition, first printing with full number line. Review slip laid in. A fine copy in a fine mylar protected DJ. See my photos of the book (more available upon request). The book is my possession and will ship securely packed in a cardboard box. Seller Inventory # 004586
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: GoldBooks, Denver, CO, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: very good. Very Good Copy. Customer Service Guaranteed. Seller Inventory # think_very_0820322830
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Mr Pickwick's Fine Old Books, Katoomba, NSW, Australia
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. First Edition. Size: Octavo (standard book size). Text body is clean, and free from previous owner annotation, underlining and highlighting. Binding is tight, covers and spine fully intact. No foxing in this copy. Dust Jacket is in very good condition, without tears or chips or other damage. Price clipped inside book. All edges clean, neat and free of foxing. Quantity Available: 1. Shipped Weight: Under 1 kilogram. Category: Fiction; ISBN: 0820322830. ISBN/EAN: 9780820322834. All our pictures shown here are of the actual item, not stock photos. Inventory No: 23696. For further info on this title, click on the "Contact Seller" button within this listing. We will try to reply within 24 hours. Otherwise you can order right now (inclusive of shipping options) from the "Add to Basket" button to the right. Seller Inventory # 23696
Quantity: 1 available