John Holman Knihy

The narrative follows Ray Fielding, a young black man navigating his formative years in the 1980s, and his tumultuous relationship with schoolmate Marie. Their passionate yet ill-fated marriage, defying family expectations, quickly unravels, highlighting themes of love, identity, and the impact of time on relationships. Each short story in the collection delves into different facets of Ray's life, exploring his growth and the challenges he faces as he grapples with his past and the complexities of adulthood.

In the tradition of Raymond Carver, this novel probes the lives of a black community living in the American South. On the surface is a gritty reality - people hang out, do deals, haul pick-up trucks and drive fancy cars - yet these situations are just waiting to boil over.