The Graybar Hotel: Stories

The Graybar Hotel: Stories

In this stunning debut collection, Curtis Dawkins, an MFA graduate and convicted murderer serving life without parole, takes us inside the worlds of prison and prisoners with stories that dazzle with their humor and insight, even as they describe a harsh and barren existence.

In Curtis Dawkinsâ€™s first short story collection, he offers a window into prison life through the eyes of his narrators and their cellmates. Dawkins reveals the idiosyncrasies, tedium, and desperation of long-term incarcerationâ€”he describes men who struggle to keep their souls alive despite the challenges they face.

In â€œA Human Number,â€ a man spends his days collect-calling strangers just to hear the sounds of the outside world. In â€œ573543,â€ an inmate recalls his descent into addiction as his prison softball team gears up for an annual tournament against another unit. In â€œLeche Quemada,â€ an inmate is released and finds freedom more complex and baffling then he expected. Dawkinsâ€™s stories are funny and sad, filled with unforgettable detailâ€”the barter system based on calligraphy-ink tattoos, handmade cards, and cigarettes; a single dandelion smuggled in from the rec yard; candy made from powdered milk, water, sugar, and hot sauce. His characters are nuanced and sympathetic, despite their obvious flaws.

The Graybar Hotel tells moving, human stories about men enduring impossible circumstances. Dawkins takes readers beyond the cells into charactersâ€™ pasts and memories and desires, into the unusual bonds that form during incarceration and the strained relationships with family members on the outside. Heâ€™s an extraordinary writer with a knack for metaphor, and this is a powerful compilation of stories that gives voice to the experience of perhaps the most overlooked members of our society.
Country USA
Brand Scribner Book Company
Manufacturer Scribner
Binding Hardcover
ItemPartNumber 46768630
ReleaseDate 2017-07-04
UnitCount 1
EANs 9781501162299

Country	USA
Brand	Scribner Book Company
Manufacturer	Scribner
Binding	Hardcover
ItemPartNumber	46768630
ReleaseDate	2017-07-04
UnitCount	1
EANs	9781501162299

The Graybar Hotel: Stories

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