Sinking Bell

Sinking Bell is a collection of short stories by Bojan Louis that explore the violent collisions of love, culture, and racism in Flagstaff. The characters are day laborers, metalheads, motel managers, aspiring writers, and musicians, struggling with predatory or self-destructive impulses and striving to end cycles of abuse and remake themselves anew.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 22 February 2024
Publisher: Cinder House

Winner of a Before Columbus Foundation American Book Award, An NPR Best Book of 2022, Sinking Bell is a collection of interconnected short stories set in and around Flagstaff. The book explores the complex dynamics of relationships, cultures, and racism, featuring a diverse cast of characters.

The protagonist of the first story, an ex-con hired to fix up a school bus for a couple living off the grid in the desert, finds himself caught in the middle of their tumultuous relationship. As he works on the bus, he becomes increasingly aware of the cracks in their marriage and the underlying tensions that threaten to tear them apart.

In the second story, an electrician plans to take his young nephew on a hike in the mountains as a break from their motel room, where they live. However, his plans go awry when he meets an untrustworthy new coworker who has his own agenda. The hike becomes a test of trust and loyalty, as the electrician must navigate the treacherous terrain while keeping his nephew safe.

The third story revolves around a night custodian who works at a medical research facility. He shares his passion for death metal with a girl who shares his interest, but he soon realizes that he has revealed too much about his work. The girl becomes suspicious of his motives and begins to investigate him, leading to a dangerous confrontation.

The fourth story follows a relapsing addict who struggles to reconcile his desire for a White woman he meets in a writing class with his family expectations and traditions. The woman represents a chance for him to break free from his past and start a new life, but he must confront the consequences of his addiction and the cultural barriers that stand in his way.

The stories in Sinking Bell depict violent collisions of love, cultures, and racism. Through his gritty and searching fiction debut, Bojan Louis draws empathetic portraits of day laborers, metalheads, motel managers, aspiring writers and musicians, construction workers, people passing through with the hope of something better somewhere else. His characters strain to temper predatory or self-destructive impulses; they raise families, choose families, and abandon families; they endeavor to end cycles of abuse and remake themselves anew.

Sinking Bell is a powerful exploration of the human condition, offering a nuanced and compassionate view of the struggles and complexities of life. The book's characters are flawed and complex, their motivations often opaque, but they are all deeply human and relatable. Through their experiences, Louis explores the themes of love, loss, identity, and the search for meaning in a world that often feels overwhelming and uncertain.

In conclusion, Sinking Bell is a must-read for anyone who appreciates well-crafted fiction and wants to explore the depths of the human experience. With its powerful storytelling, nuanced characters, and thought-provoking themes, this book offers a glimpse into the lives of people who are navigating the complexities of love, culture, and racism in a world that is constantly changing.

Weight: 216g
Dimension: 200 x 130 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781915368546