{"product_id":"9781609090685","title":"The Constellations","description":"It’s 1974 in DeKalb County, Illinois and the planets have failed to align for Roy Conlon. Widowed and broke, his eight-year-old son Eric is suddenly a mystery to him. The boy has become aware of a sky awhirl with stars and of the universe outside his small-Midwestern town. And as powerful forces pull Eric away, Roy’s efforts to hold onto his son are threatened by weakness, guilt, and his participation in a foolish crime.   Enter \u003ci\u003eThe Constellations\u003c\/i\u003e, a novel of the diverging paths of a father and his son, and how each copes with the loss of the woman whose love and guidance held them together. Roy and Eric’s parallel journeys take them through a landscape populated by long shot players and kitchen sink philosophers, by ruthless thieves and fierce protectors. A compelling novel of small town America in the shadow of Vietnam and Watergate, Cunningham’s spare prose and deftly drawn heroes complete a portrait of our country reminiscent of Mark Richard and Jim Shepard. Scarred, divided, and damaged, his characters represent all of our false promises and failed dreams.","brand":"Northern Illinois University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47134064345328,"sku":"9781609090685","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781609090685_p0.jpg?v=1763837661","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781609090685","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}