Patrick Curry

Like the two other books, introspective and relevant, but with bloodthirsty zombies. Heavy on plot twists and characters like Upon This Pale Hill and rich in imagery and wordplay like Typical Tragedies. Definitely meant for struggling people who like action and escapism with messages.

Obvious Leonard Cohen inspiration with a little something for everyone with a taste for the dark and meaningful. Likes to turn a phrase. Gets under the skin quickly with Day That She Remarried, nods to the "high school" reputation poetry has for many, waxes nostalgic on simple pleasures and relationships, shakes fist at our topsy-turvy job market and political discourse, Nine Inch Nails reminiscent song lyrics, a section of bittersweet haiku, and finishes with apocalyptic-themed works. Thoughtful and hopeful.

This is something of a Catcher in the Rye for the early 21st Century. While it starts with a morose and cynical view, it journeys through many conflicts (family, relationships, politics, starting a career, dealing with trauma, etc) to ultimately arrive at an answer to its question about "what does it mean to do good" - and is surprisingly optimistic in that answer. Perhaps wide-eyed idealism really needs that conflict to mean something.