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April 15, 2012
In a collection of stories spanning medieval France and a suburban housing development after Judgment Day, Hemley, known best for his nonfiction works (Do-Over!, 2009), explores the ubiquitous presence of secrets and lies. A Portuguese spy on Magellan's voyage intentionally (and comically) mistranslates Magellan's diplomatic speeches to a group of tribesmen. A Jewish creative-writing fellow at Notre Dame selects a new writer for the department based on his minority status, only to discover that he is a fraud and a lunatic. In one of the more surreal offerings, a rural family hides the fact that their son Charles is a mute, telepathic pig boy until he sneaks out at night, wreaking havoc and somehow transforming their farm into a life-size version of a Monopoly property. While these 11 eclectic stories seem unrelated on the surface, Hemley manages to bridge the gaps by highlighting the common experience of having to face the truth and deal with the consequences. In an exciting return to fiction, Hemley, touching and funny, creates sympathetic characters who are deeply flawed but just as deeply human.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)