Book Public: 'A History of Heartache' by Patrick Strickland

Book Public: 'The Things We Never Say' by Elizabeth Strout

What are the mysteries behind the quiet routines of one Artie Dam, a high school history teacher in Elizabeth Strout’s latest novel? The Things We Never Say explores isolation and the painful, fragile truths we keep hidden because we don't have the words to talk about them. And yet, this luminous novel gives us a lexicon of loneliness that challenges the fundamental idea that we can never truly know each other. Turns out, the beauty is in trying.

Book Public: 'A History of Heartache' by Patrick Strickland

Patrick Strickland discusses his story collection "A History of Heartache." These are stories set in North Texas that chart the small moments of grace, and the almost insurmountable mistakes boys inherit. These are gritty, sometimes violent stories, but there is a tenderness, too, and the knife’s edge here bends toward a kind of hope.

Book Public: 'Ghosts of Fourth Street' by Laurie Hertzel

Laurie Hertzel's memoir is an open, frank rumination on a brother's death and its reverberations throughout a family.

Book Public: 'Ashland' by Dan Simon

Dan Simon discusses his debut novel, "Ashland." Six characters tell their story about living in this mill town in New Hampshire. They share resonant, unforgettable stories about the place they all have in common. They grapple with life’s mysteries and reveal to readers the sheer beauty in their struggle and their will to live life with meaning.

Book Public: 'One Sun Only' by Camille Bordas

Camille Bordas discusses her story collection, One Sun Only. She also shares her thoughts on writing about loss, reading nonfiction for inspiration for writing fiction and balancing humor with the more serious subject matter of her stories.