Middle Men

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.&;