The Untogether by Jeb Loy Nichols
ISBN: 978-0-9555272-4-1
Lee is a grown man with a sweet tooth and a mild case of uniform fetish. A phone call from a distant hospital summons him to the bedside of his father, Arthur; a man he barely knew. He seeks solace in his father's nurses, despite being told they attend mandatory training on not dating the bereaved. With Rita, he discovers she's more interested in Jesus. With Ann, Lee finds himself on random circling routes along country roads, looking for her missing dog Quincy. When his eccentric mother Pet shows up, she starts to spill gin and family secrets. Do these explain why their only photo of Arthur is a shadow cast from behind the camera?
A love story – intimate, warm, drily humorous, The Untogether is a pithy novel on fatherhood, addiction and “insurmountable opportunities". It is also about the missing parts of our lives, and the things we fill them with.
Look inside: Chap 1 (PDF)
Delightful novel... the writing is spare and charming... with an easy, gentle pace... nice touches of conversational fantasy and wit... convincing and enjoyable.” The Morning Star
A small book with a huge heart..[a] wry and tender narrative... explores the relationships, past and present, between mother, father and son.... All of the characters – each one beautifully portrayed – are struggling to find their place... The Untogether is a poignant, desolate, funny, gently uplifting book that explores human frailties and failings with immense generosity of spirit. Nichols is not afraid to address 'the leaden mess of life', the enduring damage caused by wrong choices and the necessity of living with their consequences, but nor does he ever give up hope of change and redemption. Suzy Ceulan Hughes, www.gwales.com
A master of saying plenty in few words and sharply economical discourse... [this novel] is a diverting love story glimpsed in the cracked wing mirror of a subverted American road trip. Susie Wild, New Welsh Review
“The car leapt into third; something iridescent fell from the dash and mixed with the rain that puddled on the floor. The puddle hopped toward me and offered pull tabs, candy wrappers, caramel popcorn. I drove in what I hoped was a committed fashion, hugging the top of the speed limit, taking the bypasses, offering no hope for squirrels and stray dogs.