"Abundance" is a novel that follows the story of Henry and Junior, who have been reduced to living out of a pick-up truck. After a disastrous altercation, father and son are sent into the night, struggling to hold things together. The novel is a tense, yet tender portrait of a father and son trying to escape life on the margin. It is highly emotional and compassionate, with an ending that broke my heart. The book has received critical acclaim, with many reviewers praising its beauty, honesty, and unexpected grace.
Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 03 February 2022
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Douglas Stuart's debut novel "Abundance" has been longlisted for the National Book Award for Fiction and selected by The Telegraph as one of the four best debuts of the year. The novel is a tense yet tender portrait of a father and son trying to escape life on the margin. Determination and despair collide in this unforgettable debut, with an ending that broke my heart.
The emotions and feelings in this story were just written so beautifully. Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ described it as "extremely heartbreaking," constantly having a pit in their stomach. My heart hurt so much. I loved it!
The story follows Henry and his son, Junior, who are evicted from their trailer on New Year's Eve and have been reduced to living out of a pick-up truck. Six months later, things are even more desperate. Henry, barely a year out of prison for selling drugs, is down to his last pocketful of cash, and little remains between him and the street. But hope is on the horizon: today is Junior's birthday, and Henry has a job interview tomorrow.
To celebrate, Henry treats Junior to dinner at McDonald's, followed by a night in a real bed at a discount hotel. For a moment, as Junior watches TV and Henry practises for his interview in the bathtub, all seems well. But after Henry has a disastrous altercation in the parking lot and Junior succumbs to a fever, father and son are sent into the night, struggling to hold things together.
Each chapter of the novel begins with the amount of money in Henry's pocket, showing how literally father and son's fortunes can turn on a dime. The novel is deeply emotional and compassionate, showing the struggles of a father trying to provide for his son and keep them together in the face of adversity.
What people are saying about "Abundance" is testament to the power of the novel. Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ described it as "Will haunt you long after you set the book down." The novel's emotional depth and the characters' struggles will stay with readers long after they finish the book.
Douglas Stuart's debut novel "Abundance" is a must-read for anyone who loves literary fiction and is interested in exploring the complexities of father-son relationships and the struggles of poverty. The novel's emotional impact and the beauty of its writing make it a truly unforgettable debut.
Weight: 396g
Dimension: 145 x 226 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780349702698