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Published May 2012
192 pages
Genre: Short Stories
Publication Information
From the highly acclaimed author of Atlas of Unknowns (2009), a bravura collection of short stories set in locales as varied as London, Sierra Leone, and the American Midwest that captures the yearning and dislocation of young men and women around the world.
In "Light & Luminous," a gifted instructor of Indian dance falls victim to the vanity and insecurities that have followed her into middle age. In "Tonto and the Undertaker," a widower copes with his loss by cruising Kentucky highways and burying roadkill. In "The Scriptological Review" a damaged young man obsessively studies his father's handwriting in hopes of making sense of his suicide. And in "What to Do with Henry," a white woman from Ohio takes in the illegitimate child her husband left behind in Sierra Leone, as well as an orphaned chimpanzee who comes to anchor this strange new family. With Aerogrammes, Tania James once again introduces us to a host of delicate, complicated, and beautifully realized characters who find themselves separated from their friends, families, and communities by race, pride, and grief.
"Starred Review. Although most of the characters in these nine immaculately crafted short stories share a common native land - Kerala in southern India - their range of emotions is brilliantly diverse." - Publishers Weekly
"This is a satisfying collection for lovers of short fiction from a refreshingly authentic new voice." - Library Journal
"At every turn, James' prose is crisp, observant and carefully controlled… James projects a deep emotional intelligence." - Kirkus Reviews
"Fleeting ties and temporary alliances underscore James' zestful exploration of the elusive connections inherent to most relationships… Lushly exploring themes of identity and recognition, singularity and community, James crafts taut, complete worlds populated by complex yet recognizable characters who ultimately achieve catharsis and obtain enlightenment, often through unplanned and unconventional methods." - Booklist
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Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Photo: © Elliott O'Donovan
Tania James is the author of three works of fiction, most recently the novel The Tusk That Did the Damage. Tusk was named a Best Book of 2015 by The San Francisco Chronicle, The Guardian, and NPR, and shortlisted for the International Dylan Thomas Prize and the Financial Times Oppenheimer Award. Her short stories have appeared in One Story, The New Yorker, Granta, Freeman's Anthology, Oxford American, and other venues. James is an associate professor of creative writing at George Mason University, and lives in Washington DC. Her fourth novel, Loot, will be published June 2023.
Name Pronunciation
Tania James: TAHN-ya
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