Elroy Nights

I've been reading Barthelme since his first collection of stories - the mesmerizing 'Moon Deluxe' - and ELROY NIGHTS is his finest work yet. It's a masterpiece. Measured, beautiful, heartbreaking, and deeply felt.If there were any justice in the world, this new novel would sweep the literary awards. My fear, however, is that publishing insiders will continue to reward their own mediocrity.The story does travel some of the same paths as Barthelme's other work, but the language here is more mature, richer than anything else in his catalog. As always, the characters are remarkable, smart, sassy, and brutal. And impossible not to watch.The climax of the story is shocking, and the sweet denoument plays honest and forlorn.I can't recommend it enough.