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9781736309377

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""The Sterns are Listening begins in the summer heat in NYC, a heat without relief, a heat where 'hope seems futile.' But hope is at the core of Wells's excellent debut novel where the Stern family-- frayed to the breaking - must find a way to move forward. How Wells manages to make this tender and painful novel also filled with humor and generosity is part of the novel's magic and his deep compassion as a writer. It is such a compelling read - I sat down and didn't do another thing until I was done."" --Victoria Redel, author of Before Everything ""The Sterns Are Listening is a novel, but that doesn't mean it doesn't predict what is sure to happen in the next few years, which is the invention of hearing aids for boomers who went to too many loud concerts back in the day.... As with many a business venture, especially ones involving family members, chaos ensues, but things work out nicely in the end. In between, you'll laugh and probably also drag your knuckle down the side of your nose a time or two, and if you're like me, you'll also think about getting your hearing checked. But weren't those concerts fun? So's this novel."" --David Kirby, author of Help Me, Information ""I loved The Sterns Are Listening. Giorgio/Mark is a wonderful creation, both maddening and appealing and the story's truth teller, a little like the son in Revolutionary Road, but from inside the family. Benjamin's plight is compelling, and Wells captures the baffling nature of parenthood especially well.... And yet there is a well-earned sweetness at the end. A terrific novel."" --Scott Lasser, author of Say Nice Things about Detroit ""In The Sterns are Listening, Jonathan Wells creates an astutely observed family saga, by turns funny, others poignant, always compelling; Wells cuts to the heart of what it means to belong in family, and all the mess and guts that entails."" --Ali Millar, author of The Last Days and Ava Anna Ada ""In The Sterns Are Listening, Jonathan Wells gives us a touching, beautifully observed and very funny portrait of a 21st century Manhattan family sliding slowly down the American dream. Benjamin Stern's wife is turning Italian, his teenage son is coming out of a forced exile, and his brother is trying to enlist him in a scheme to market flashy hearing aids to aging rock n roll fans. If you ever wondered what became of the next generation of Glasses and Angstroms, listen to The Sterns."" --Bill Flanagan, author of Fifty in Reverse

"""The Sterns are Listening begins in the summer heat in NYC, a heat without relief, a heat where 'hope seems futile.' But hope is at the core of Wells' excellent debut novel where the Stern family-- frayed to the breaking - must find a way to move forward. How Wells manages to make this tender and painful novel also filled with humor and generosity is part of the novel's magic and his deep compassion as a writer. It is such a compelling read - I sat down and didn't do another thing until I was done."" --Victoria Redel, author of Loverboy"

"""The Sterns are Listening begins in the summer heat in NYC, a heat without relief, a heat where 'hope seems futile.' But hope is at the core of Wells's excellent debut novel where the Stern family-- frayed to the breaking - must find a way to move forward. How Wells manages to make this tender and painful novel also filled with humor and generosity is part of the novel's magic and his deep compassion as a writer. It is such a compelling read - I sat down and didn't do another thing until I was done."" --Victoria Redel, author of Before Everything ""The Sterns Are Listening is a novel, but that doesn't mean it doesn't predict what is sure to happen in the next few years, which is the invention of hearing aids for boomers who went to too many loud concerts back in the day.... As with many a business venture, especially ones involving family members, chaos ensues, but things work out nicely in the end. In between, you'll laugh and probably also drag your knuckle down the side of your nose a time or two, and if you're like me, you'll also think about getting your hearing checked. But weren't those concerts fun? So's this novel."" --David Kirby, author of Help Me, Information ""I loved The Sterns Are Listening. Giorgio/Mark is a wonderful creation, both maddening and appealing and the story's truth teller, a little like the son in Revolutionary Road, but from inside the family. Benjamin's plight is compelling, and Wells captures the baffling nature of parenthood especially well.... And yet there is a well-earned sweetness at the end. A terrific novel."" --Scott Lasser, author of Say Nice Things about Detroit ""In The Sterns are Listening, Jonathan Wells creates an astutely observed family saga, by turns funny, others poignant, always compelling; Wells cuts to the heart of what it means to belong in family, and all the mess and guts that entails."" --Ali Millar, author of The Last Days and Ava Anna Ada ""In The Sterns Are Listening, Jonathan Wells gives us a touching, beautifully observed and very funny portrait of a 21st century Manhattan family sliding slowly down the American dream. Benjamin Stern's wife is turning Italian, his teenage son is coming out of a forced exile, and his brother is trying to enlist him in a scheme to market flashy hearing aids to aging rock n roll fans. If you ever wondered what became of the next generation of Glasses and Angstroms, listen to The Sterns."" --Bill Flanagan, author of Fifty in Reverse"

Author Information

Jonathan Wells has published two collections with Four Way Books, Train Dance and The Man With Many Pens. His poems have appeared in The New Yorker, Ploughshares, AGNI and The Academy of American Poets Poem-A-Day program, and many other journals.

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