“Gruntwork is a serious (and humorous) illumination of love and work, reminiscent of the best of Richard Yates and Joe Meno. In prose that sings and with a rare intelligence, Luke Sweeney, tells the story of a troubled marriage, and through it of a generation searching for meaning in an age dominated by materialism and deadened by thwarted expectations. Will the couple at the heart of this story
achieve the American dream or find meaning on a higher plane? Read this riveting tale and find out.”—Sterling Watson, author of The
Committee and Night Letter
“I was immediately drawn into Gruntwork, a fresh and wonderfully vivid novel that hits the ground running. If you have ever worked in a corporate cube farm (and I have) the protagonist’s struggles in his stultifying insurance company job will ring true. The book is just long enough, and unlike many contemporary novels, not bloated. The action accelerates in the last part of the novel and sustained my interest all the way. This book engages with themes of work, class, geography, ambition, artistic talent, addition, and marriage.
No easy answers are provided, just as in messy real life.”
—Alice Persons, publisher and editor of
Moon Pie Press
“Gruntwork tells the story of a man redefining his life amidst the upheaval of everything he had built and trusted. Luke Sweeney’s novel is vividly rendered, astonishingly well-written, visceral, unflinching, and empathetic. An engaging and compelling read, not to be missed.”
—Gale Massey, author of
The Girl from Blind River