A powerful, funny, and wise debut from a writer "Esquire" praises as the second coming of Denis Johnson.
In this widely acclaimed story collection, Jim Gavin delivers a hilarious and panoramic vision of California, in which a number of down-on-their-luck men, from young dreamers to old vets, make valiant forays into middle-class respectability. Each of the men in Gavin s stories is stuck somewhere in the middle, caught halfway between his dreams and the often crushing reality of his life. A work of profound humanity that pairs moments of high comedy with searing truths about life s missed opportunities, "Middle Men" brings to life unforgettable characters as they learn what it means to love and work and exist in the world as a man.
Hailed as a modern-day "Dubliners" ("Time Out" ) and reminiscent of Tom Perotta s best work ("The Boston Globe"), this stellar debut has the "Los Angeles Review of Books" raving, "Middle Men" deserves its hype and demonstrates a top-shelf talent. . . . A brilliant sense of humor animates each story and creates a state of near-continuous reading pleasure. "