A Field Guide to the North American Family An Illustrated Novella [Paperback]

The very first work of fiction by the best-selling, acclaimed author ofCity on Fire--his piercingly beautiful treasure box of a novella about two families in the suburbs, now in a newly designed full-color edition

For years, the Hungates and the Harrisons have coexisted peacefully in the same Long Island neighborhood, enjoying the pleasures and weathering the pitfalls of their suburban habitat. But when the patriarch of one family dies unexpectedly, the survivors face a stark imperative: adapt or face extinction. In sixty-three interlinked vignettes and striking accompanying photographs, the novella cuts multiple paths--which can be reconstructed in any order--through the lives of its richly imagined characters. Part art object, part Choose Your Own Adventure,A Field Guide to the North American Familyis an innovative and deeply personal look at the ties that bind, as well as a poignant meditation on connection in a fragmented world.“Hallberg inhabits each of his characters completely, and there is some gorgeous image or turn of phrase on almost every page. Especially impressive are the voices of the kids in the story, which feel natural and true . . . A pleasure to read.” —New York Times Book Review

“Evocative of masters of American suburbia such as Updike, Cheever, Salter, and Richard Yates . . . Conjuring a dreamily filmic spell, with shades ofAmerican BeautyandThe Ice Storm,this is a work that can be approached (and rediscovered) a number of ways, all equally rewarding. It’s an ideal coffee table or bedside companion, to be dipped into for flashes of pleasure.” —The Independent(UK)
 
“Provocative . . . There’s no denying the author’s way with words . . . There’s virtuosity at work.” —Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

In this stunningly beautiful, cross-referenced explÓ.