This is a novel that has received more positive national attention from literary critics than most recent first novels. It centers on the question of whether to go home to the mountains or not. The protagonist, Henry Aster, is raised in a mansion outside a remote North Carolina, town. His father is a lawyer who spends the evenings writing in his library, and Aster flees. Conversations he has as he is courting a young woman lead him to reconsider his decision to leave. :”Rich and complex . . . Lewis is a master of creating a sense of place.” – Kirkus Reviews. “Charming, absorbing, and assured.” – Publishers Weekly. “A stunning debut novel rich in character and place, steeped in literature and music, and fraught with family drama.” – Shelf Awareness. “Majestic and rich with the textures of Life. This is a debut so assured in its sense of place and history that it will leave you in awe of what Lewis has accomplished.” – Paul Yoon. “Phillip Lewis is a very talented writer, and his debut deserves a wide and appreciative readership.” —Ron Rash. The author, Philip Lewis, was raised in Ashe County, North Carolina’s northwestern most county, and now is a lawyer in Charlotte.
New York: Hogarth/Crown/Penguin Random House, a 2018 paperback reprint of a 2017 release. 348 pages. Trade paperback