In the opening story of this collection we are told of the suicide of Roy's father. The next two stories then follow the romantic entanglements of Roy's divorced parents. One of the most intriguing things happens about half-way through the collection when it becomes clear that Roy is fictionally inserting himself into his father's lonely life with moving and surprising outcomes. The author plays with ideas of how the bereaved reconfigure the lives of the deceased (reflecting back perhaps on what he is doing as an author), and the many ways that a child may sacrifice himself to his parent.

These are astute stories about the relationship that a son has with his father - the dialogue is so realistic, and the psychological observations feel true throughout. Highly recommended. ( )

I cannot believe I am the first LT member to review this book. As such, I am going to make a prediction: it is going to be big, very big. It is going to be big because it will do the rounds of reading groups, because it is very well written, and because of a thing that happens in the central long short story/ novella. My goodness! That thing! You will never forget it.

The book has garnered plenty of publicity due to its semi-autobiographical nature. Vann's father was a dentist in Alaska and he did commit suicide. The stories in the collection all play with this key event in the author's life. They do so in a style reminiscient of Tobias Wolff. In fact, I would say Vann strives a little too hard to achieve this style; but the work still gets 5 stars from me due to that startling thing to which I have alluded. The Alaskan setting too is fabulously sketched and lends the book a spectral, other-worldly feel. The Road meets The Shining via This Boy's Life! ( )