Sky Below

From a rising literary star in the tradition of Carol Shields and A. S. Byatt comes this luminous story of a contemporary mans metamorphosis.Andrea Barrett and Michael Cunningham have lauded Stacey DErasmo for the beauty of her language and her ability to create worlds that leave a lasting impression. In her new novel DErasmo reaches back to Ovid for inspiration in this tale of how the mythic animates our everyday lives. At thirty-seven Gabriel Collins works halfheartedly as an obituary writer at a fading newspaper in lower Manhattan which since 9/11 feels like a city of the dead. This once dreamy and appealing boy has turned from a rebellious adolescent to an adult who trades in petty crimes.His wealthy older boyfriend is indulgent of himto a point. But after a brush with his own mortality Gabriel must flee to Mexico in order to put himself back together. By novels end we know all of Gabriels ratty little secrets but by dint of DErasmos spectacular writing we exult in the story of an imperfect man whotested by a world that is often too much for himrises to meet the challenge.