A Permanent Member of the FamilyA collection of short stories from the contemporary American master whom the New York Times declared \"the most compassionate fiction writer working today.\" Suffused with Russell Bankss trademark lyricism and reckless humor, the twelve stories in A Permanent Member of the Family examine the myriad ways we tryand sometimes failto connect with one another, as we seek a home in the world. In the title story, a father looks back on the legend of the

The bride’s oldest (male) friend gives an uncomfortably caring toast

We live in times where people have extreme views

he decides it must be true

Shubha starts receiving letters with traditional Bengali recipes from a mysterious lady in Calcutta claiming to be her grandmother

journalist Jeremy N

But Charlie Manx hasn't stopped thinking about Victoria McQueen

Yet neither Jeffrey nor Sara know that their colleague

The exponential rise of technology

’ with a helpful word list in the back to expand your child’s vocabulary

The Olympics has been an all-consuming journey for him ever since he was shattering beer bottles and glass ampoules in his garden in Chandigarh

and isolation

James Stark has met his share of demons and angels