The Problem You Have: Stories [Paperback]

The Sisyphean characters inThe Problem You Havemay not be pushing a giant rock up a hill, but they are unlikely to ever get where they are going. Yet despite knowing that, they push on and work with graceful resignation. In McBrearty’s newest collection a diverse group of characters encounter turning points. A minor criminal seeking warmth on a frigid night climbs through a farmhouse window to discover more than he ever expected. A dying soldier recalls the man he left behind. In one horrible afternoon, a college professor realizes the only sanctuary is love. An over-the-hill pitcher refuses to get off the mound. A young couple meets the couple they never want to become. Some of the stories hold dark themes, yet McBrearty masterfully infuses the work with humor and compassion, rendering the characters within them relatable. Even with themes of loss or what might have been, the collection sings notes of what might yet be, for both the characters and the reader.Robert Garner McBreartyis the author of a novella and four additional short story collections, includingWhen I Can’t Sleep. He is the recipient of several awards, including the Pushcart Prize and the Sherwood Anderson Foundation Fiction Award."Subtly amusing, unexpected, varied, and deeply reflective,The Problem You Haveis a consistently enjoyable assortment of McBrearty’s most deftly written pieces.""Robert Garner McBrearty’sThe Problem You Haveis a stunning collection of literary realism, often edgy realism, sometimes bordering on farce, both signature traits of McBrearty’s fiction… The characterization is brilliant, the style rich, and the depths of emotions McBrearty reaches make this a work of art many readers will treasure.""McBrearty’s gutsy, potent stories smoke with surprising turns and merciful insights."“Robert Garner McBrearty’sThe Problem You Haveis a stunning collection ofl#$