Alice Boatwright, Collateral Damage
Porter Square Books, Friday, July 20, 2012 at 7pm
In these three linked novellas, Boatwright explores the lasting effects of the Vietnam War on people living in its shadow – both those who fought and those who didn’t. These moving stories from one of American history’s most divisive eras show us that Vietnam may not be as far behind us as we think. Who goes to war and why — and the consequences for them and the people who love them — are issues that we still face today.
1968: Getting Out — When Toby Woodruff is drafted, he tries to find a middle ground between “going in” and “getting out” of the war and nearly loses his life.
1982: If I Should Stay — A Thanksgiving celebration brings out the tensions in the Percy family as they all try to put the 1960s and the war behind them.
1993: Leaving Vietnam — When Vietnam begins to reopen to the West, Sarah Shepherd has a chance to see the world as her brother Walter last glimpsed it.
“These are engrossing stories told with considerable artistry, full of recognition and sympathy.” Diane Johnson, Author of Le divorce
Alice K. Boatwright is the author of dozens of stories, published in journals such as America West, Mississippi Review, Penumbra, Stone Canoe, and Storyglossia. As an award-winning writer about public health and education, she has traveled around the world and currently divides her time between Paris and the U.S. Work on this book was supported by two professional development grants from the University of California, Berkeley and residencies at Hedgebrook and the Djerassi Resident Artists Program. A finalist for the Flannery O’Connor Award for Short Fiction, Collateral Damage is her first book.
Location: Street: Porter Square Shopping Center Additional: 25 White Street City: Cambridge, Province: Massachusetts Postal Code: 02140 Country: United States (added from IndieBound)… (more)
1968: Getting Out — When Toby Woodruff is drafted, he tries to find a middle ground between “going in” and “getting out” of the war and nearly loses his life.
1982: If I Should Stay — A Thanksgiving celebration brings out the tensions in the Percy family as they all try to put the 1960s and the war behind them.
1993: Leaving Vietnam — When Vietnam begins to reopen to the West, Sarah Shepherd has a chance to see the world as her brother Walter last glimpsed it.
“These are engrossing stories told with considerable artistry, full of recognition and sympathy.” Diane Johnson, Author of Le divorce
Alice K. Boatwright is the author of dozens of stories, published in journals such as America West, Mississippi Review, Penumbra, Stone Canoe, and Storyglossia. As an award-winning writer about public health and education, she has traveled around the world and currently divides her time between Paris and the U.S. Work on this book was supported by two professional development grants from the University of California, Berkeley and residencies at Hedgebrook and the Djerassi Resident Artists Program. A finalist for the Flannery O’Connor Award for Short Fiction, Collateral Damage is her first book.
Location: Street: Porter Square Shopping Center Additional: 25 White Street City: Cambridge, Province: Massachusetts Postal Code: 02140 Country: United States (added from IndieBound)… (more)
4
