Photo by Elizabeth Rendfleisch
Mark Wisniewski
The compelling stories of two disparate protagonists collide in Mark Wisniewski’s memorable new novel Watch Me Go. First there is Deesh, a Bronx-based junk hauler who moves trash but asks no questions, even when the contents of a huge oil drum smell suspiciously like human remains. And then there is Jan, a 20-year-old aspiring horse jockey who unexpectedly finds herself in the throes of a racetrack gambling ring. As both characters’ lives spin quickly out of control—Deesh on the run from the law accused of murder and Jan entwined in organized crime—their seemingly divergent tales come together in a shocking climax. In Watch Me Go, Wisniewski has created an enthralling thriller centered around a pair of vulnerable individuals teetering on the brink of survival. This is an irresistible story told with smart prose and thoughtful narratives. It is at once a meditation on love, loss and the price of justice.
Wisniewski has won a Pushcart Prize and Tobias Wolff Award and has published more than 100 short stories. Additionally, his poetry has appeared in The Iowa Review and other prestigious publications. Watch Me Go is his third novel. He will appear at Boswell Book Co. at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7.
Book Happening
Cristina Henriquez
7 p.m., April 8
Lynden Sculpture Garden
2145 W. Brown Deer Road
A unique portrait of modern-day immigration is at the center of Cristina Henriquez’s new novel The Book of Unknown Americans. After a medical tragedy befalls a Mexican family, they decide to leave everything behind with hopes of healing in America’s great land of opportunity and resources. The Book of Unknown Americans is a mixture of fictional storytelling and testimonials from hundreds of real people who have made the trip north from all parts of Latin America. It is a work of art that is richly stirring and poignantly honest. Henriquez will speak at an event co-sponsored by Boswell Book Co. and Bronze Optical.
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