JR: When I first discovered Adam Ross it came in the form of Mr. Peanut, his debut novel. From there things moved very quickly, and now Adam Ross is waiting in the wings with his second book, a collection of short stories, Ladies & Gentlemen.
I am in the cat bird seat here, and feel very lucky to have this rare chance to look at these stories months before they goes on-sale. To watch Mr. Ross thread the needle with a short story, instead of the giant masterpiece that was his debut, is great fun.
In the first story, ‘Futures,’ we meet a man looking for a job. He is not unlike other people you know, he might even be a little bit like you. David Applelow is desperate and answers an advertisement in the newspaper for a kind of salesman; lucrative earnings and unlimited growth are promised. David races to the first interview. It’s at this moment that I felt like I was standing next to David. I was in the office with the other people, especially when he stepped through the door to meet Ms. Samuel. The way David describes her to us, well, I could not agree more. Adam Ross has a unique talent of creating a completely comfortable space for his readers to occupy. This is a spot where you can smell the perfume on the secretary, the pressure of waiting for the job interview to start, and how hope is just a feeling.
I will have more about this collection once we get closer to on sale, but I’m here to tell you that Adam Ross is on the rise.
7 Responses to “An Adam Ross Preview”
January 26, 2011
NanceyLooking forward to this one. I have agreed with almost 100% of your reviews here. Except for ‘The Signal’.
January 26, 2011
Tweets that mention An Adam Ross Preview « Three Guys One Book -- Topsy.com[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Alfred A. Knopf, Joe Foster and SLA London, Adam Ross. Adam Ross said: The following PREVIEW has been approved for ALL AUDIENCES. http://bit.ly/gSaNjT [...]
January 26, 2011
MorganSounds great. I’m starting Mr. Peanut today, on your advice.
January 27, 2011
Jonathan EvisonJR can pick ‘em!
January 27, 2011
Bites: Mike Birbiglia in a Window, “Barney’s Version,” Justin Taylor Talks Porn and the End of the World | Vol. 1 Brooklyn[...] Three Guys One Book discuss Adam Ross. [...]
February 11, 2011
The Official Website of Adam Ross, Author of Mr. Peanut[...] cover by Peter Mendelsund (who also designed Mr. Peanut’s Lite Brite skull) is fabulous and Jason Rice, of Three Guys One Book, did a nifty write-up on the book’s first story, with more, he promises, to come. It’s also [...]
June 20, 2011
c preading Mr Peanut now.