Book: The Voice of America by Rick DeMarinis - Short Story Collection

Hardback, 1991, deckled edges. Dust jacket has signs of wear but otherwise this copy is in great condition. No yellowing, no page rips, no dog-ears. "A collection of stories about 20th-century life in America, features characters struggling to maintain their grip on sanity despite the ravages of depression, boredom, illness, middle age, and a faltering economy. Humorous and bizarre and bittersweet." It's been a few years since I read this but I remember DeMarinis having a talent for yanking in the reader and making the characters and details vivid and solid. Set in the late 1940s through the 1990s, these characters are living on the margins and trying their damnedest to find solace and redemption in the chimera of the American Dream. As with all books, this is a product of its era but the basics here continue to be relevant, and this collection taught me a lot about strong writing style.