{"product_id":"2940149232529","title":"Somewhat Close To Normal","description":"You. Me. Us. We. Them. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe human connection is such a delicate thing. It turns the word “them” into the word “us”. It turns the term “me” into “we”. People all go through the same basic experiences: birth, love, friendship, trust, death. People all experience happiness, sadness, frustration, anger, and hopelessness. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWe all have moments of strength and moments of weakness. Moments where we can stand alone and ones where we must stand together. Whether it is triumph or tragedy, remembering how similar we are is the key to that connection. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is a story about love after loss. This is a story about standing up for right against wrong. This is a story about reaching out to others in a time of need. This is a story about finding hope in what seems like absolute despair. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is a story about You, Me and Us. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSomewhat Close To Normal is Our Story. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e--------------------------------------------\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e*Back of the Book Description*\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSet during the shroud 9\/11 cast over the nation, Ebonye Gussine’s debut novel showcases lifelong Queens, Bronx, and Brooklyn residents who struggle for orientation in their irrevocably transformed world. For all, 9\/11 sparks a time of forced beginnings, as each person learns to cope with loss as they face a society of newly intensified prejudice. An ensemble of native New Yorkers is unknowingly drawn together by the mysterious Gabriel, who haunts key moments of their lives as he struggles to reassemble his own fragmented existence. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut hope lies at the center of the story: hope for people too damaged to hope for themselves, and for those forced to continue on through racism, addiction, and the fragility of human connection. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLovingly crafted, Gussine’s characters alternately charm, exasperate, and mystify. The novel culminates in a perspective-shifting revelation that is both hard-won and organically earned, presenting a clear and engaging meditation on living after loss.","brand":"August Rose Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47149043548400,"sku":"2940149232529","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940149232529_p0.jpg?v=1763714220","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940149232529","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}