American Spirits is a collection of three short stories that take place in the fictional New England town of Sam Dent. My thanks go to NetGalley and Alfred A. Knopf for the review copy. This book is for sale now.

I wasn’t sure this book would be up to Banks’s usual standard, as it was published posthumously, more than a year following his death. Sometimes a successful author will have a book that isn’t their best, and they’ll toss it in a drawer in hopes of improving and publishing it later. When they die, their heirs find the book and seeing dollar signs, send it off to a publisher. Still, though, Russell Banks’s sloppy seconds are still going to be vastly better than your average successful author’s best effort, so I decided to take a look. And holy crap, it’s actually one of his finest.

One thing any uninitiated reader must know is the Banks is brutal. If the story seems to be leading up to something pretty bad happening, the unwary might anticipate that the author will pull it out of the water at the last minute in order to send the readers away with smiles on their faces. Banks doesn’t do that. With stories by Banks, the main question is whether all of the important characters are going to die, or only some of them. He is unflinchingly brutal, but oh honey, he does it so well that I wish I could thank him for it!

One of the things that underlies everything Banks writes is his deep knowledge of, and appreciation for, the working class. His own hardscrabble background most likely plays a role, but one way or the other, the struggles of the ordinary man or woman, usually living in rural parts or small towns in New England are depicted with such care, distilling vast amounts of tiny details into the briefest of spaces that I believe the character and I believe the setting. Banks is also, to the best of my knowledge, the first to set a story in a manufactured home or mobile home court.

The first story, “Nowhere Man”, is about a man that sells off part of his land to a newcomer, partially because of a private agreement that the two make, but that isn’t ever codified. The new owner eventually goes back on his word; the original owner is having none of it; and then all hell breaks loose.

The second, “Homeschooling,” is about an average family whose life is changed when newcomers with a somewhat bizarre parenting style move in next door; when the emaciated children sneak over at night to beg for food, they become involved.

The final story, “Kidnapped,” is about a couple of senior citizens that are kidnapped and held until the drugs that their grandson’s addicted mother has filched are returned.

When I read Banks, I tell myself not to get attached to the characters, but he’s smarter than I am, so I can’t help myself.

There is something deeply satisfying in reading an author that has the confidence to buck literary trends. I wish that Banks, who was twice nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, could have lived and written fiction forever, but the legacy he has left us is the next best thing. Highly recommended.

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced reader copy of American Spirits by Russell Banks. This isn't the typical book I would grab but honestly it was the cover that grabbed me. It is told in 3 interlocking stories all around a dying town, Sam Dent. I liked it - it was well written but sad and dark. If you're looking for something a bit different that does have a touch of politics in it, pick this up.

Pre-Read:

This book is a trio of connected short stories, which is one of my favorite forms. I expect more out of such collections than stories with shared themes. I like compelling connection that increases suspense and tension. I hope I find all the things I love about connected story collections in Russell Banks's American Spirits! *edit

Final Review:

Review summary and recommendations

I like a collection of connected stories, but I crave a significant connection that acts as a sort of pseudo-plot. The stories all share a setting and something else a little subtler. It really works for this series of political stories. Though I do not agree with the politics expressed herein, I appreciate Banks's capable writing and character development.

I recommend this book to readers of thrillers and mysteries, fans of small town politics trope, and conservative political idealists.

"But the Canadian sky seemed different from the American sky that hovered above his and Bessie's new log home... It was as if he was looking out from a different planet than friendly old planet Earth." (5:21:21)

Reading Notes

Three (or more) things I loved:

1. The reader, Danny Campbell, does good work here. His voice is smooth and smoky.

2. The character development here is interesting, and the changes often contribute in some direct way to the plot. It's really wonder writing. It's not character-driven, as my experience of such books is that plot development gives way to character development. Here, they develop in tandem.

3. The distinctive descriptive writing creates stories filled with beautiful moments.

4. Banks executes the connected short stories fairly well. They all take place in the same small town in New York state. But beyond that, the stories all refer back and forth to each other.

Three (or less) things I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.

1. The story, "Homeschooling," displays a misunderstanding of family services and its functions. At the same time, it could be that these views belong solely to the mmc, and not the narrator or author. This blending of distance makes an impact on the read.

2. "Homeschooling" has perspective issues, especially at the end, where a first-person plural POV comes out of nowhere, when most of the story had been third-person.

3. Well, the narrator in the final story, "Kidnapping," stigmatizes mental illness. That's a huge detractor for me. But it also fits with the rest of the book.

4. "But the Canadian sky seemed different from the American sky that hovered above his and Bessie's new log home... It was as if he was looking out from a different planet than friendly old planet Earth." (5:21:21) This is a very political book, and it's conservative (which I am not), but the politics are built into the stories so that their impact is seamless with the rest of the story. It also attempts to gather in opposing viewpoints, which is why I found the story initially accessible.

5. The final third of the last story is told in summary. It's so dry, and also cynical as f-ck, which combine into a miserable, featureless read. It was such a weird way to end a story and book which up to then had been forceful and jarring.

Rating: 🎅🤶🧑‍🎄.5 /5 kidnapped grandparents
Recommend? for certain readers, sure
Finished: Dec 16 '24
Format: digital, NetGalley; audiobook, Libby
Read this book if you like:
🐘 conservative politics
⁉️ mystery thrillers
📃 parables
🪢 narrative twists

Thank you to the author Russell Banks, publishers Knopf, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of AMERICAN SPIRITS. I found an accessible copy (audiobook) on Libby. Read by Danny Campbell. All views are mine.
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A few words about the stories:
1. "Nowhere Man" - A really smart exploration of gun politics in a small forested town in US. This feels like a parable, it's well-done. Heartbreaking ending!
2. "Homeschooling" - A clever, creepy story about the politics of neighbors and how our neighbors impact our politics, and how little we ever really know about them. This is based on a true story, I'm pretty sure. I remember the story details.
3. "Kidnapped" - A bleak piece about grandparents who get kidnapped for something involving their grandson.

A lot of bad stuff is going on in a rural upstate New York town where everyone is very gung-ho about Trump and the Second Amendment. There are three very loosely related stories.

In “Nowhere Man” a father’s ties to the land that he sold leads to a tragedy for his family. The deer hunting scenes were brutal. “Homeschooling” is about a family that moves next to a reclusive lesbian couple with 4 adopted African American children. This story had to have been based on a true story that actually occurred in California, but that isn’t mentioned in the book. Since I had read about that incident I knew exactly where this sad story was headed. “Kidnapped” barely held my interest. A grandson’s misdeeds lead to the kidnapping of his grandparents.

This is not the right time for me to read about anyone who likes Trump, so that definitely influenced my impression of the book. The stories were also relentlessly bleak. However, I thought that the writing was fine. 3.5 stars

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing company for this Digital Advanced Readers Copy! I thoroughly enjoyed it!

The three novellas in American Spirits are geographically and somewhat politically connected, following Trump-supporting residents of Sam Dent, NY. In the moment, some of the MAGA connections seem extraneous, but ultimately they are important. Regardless of how you feel about Trump, MAGA, or his supporters, the stories in American Spirits do not attempt to sway you either way; rather, it's just part of the characters' mindsets. This collection is bleak and will stay with you.

Very clever. Loved the interlocking stories, they kept me riveted. So happy to see Russell Banks back at the top of his game.

I should be this book's ideal reader but some of the stories are "ripped from the headlines" in very specific ways ala Law & Order and if you know the origin stories it took a lot from the book. I'm a Banks fan, but this one wasn't for me.

What an interesting book by author Russell Banks. He has quite the body of works but this is my first book to read by him.

From the same small town in upstate New York, three different short stories from three different time periods, we read three different stories.
NOWHERE MAN - The first one is about a family that needed to sell most of the land inherited by their grandfather and the person who bought the property next to the original owner's grandson and family. The majority property owner makes like more and more difficult for this family who still sees this land as part of his family.
HOMESCHOOLING - The second story is about a young couple moving to this same area hoping to make this home and town their home for the kids to grow up. The next door neighbors are a little different, but as time goes by, they grow more and more concerned as the neighbor kids start to come over late at night.
KIDNAPPED - The third story is about an elderly couple who raised their grandson after his father was killed in the war and his drug-using mother left him. Their grandson is now working and living on his own but remains devoted to his grandparents. Two armed men show up at the grandparents' house and things get very intense.

Things tend to wrap up quickly with short stories and some story lines seemed predictable or quite tragic, but I still had trouble putting this book down.

My thanks to Net Galley and Knopf for an advanced copy of this e-book which published March 5, 2024.

"American Spirits" by Russell Banks is a captivating, devastating, and insightful collection of short stories that Banks collected while living part-time in Keene, New York.

There were so many twists, turns, and intertwining connections throughout that I really wasn't expecting, a couple left me frankly agape. But then again, I really do expect Banks to deliver something profound, when I think about it.

Once again, the writing showcases the author's exceptional talent and deep understanding of the human condition and American culture.

Sadly, he passed in 2023.



https://www.npr.org/2024/03/10/1237083926/russell-banks-posthumous-novel-american-spirits

I love the way Banks tells three stories set in the same upstate New York small town and gives the reader a look at a subset of America we don't often get to see. It is a portrait of MAGA and how and why they came to embrace a man like Donald Trump. Dark, raw and depressing, I learned so much about our current reality from these fictional characters.

Thanks to Knopf and NetGalley for the copy to review.

I don’t think I knew that this was a collection of short stories when I requested it, since they generally aren’t my favorite to read. I don’t like getting invested in characters or storylines and having them just end so suddenly.
There were three stories in this book, all of which shared a setting, that being a small town in central New York. They were also similarly pessimistic and bleak. I’m not someone who must have a happy ending for every story, but I also don’t necessarily need a collection of miserable outcomes.
Thanks to #netgalley and #knopf for this #arc of #americanspirits in exchange for an honest review.

What a great compilation of 3 short stories that didn't go together but had the same places and undertones. Stories are mostly dark of current social issues; all can be interpreted in many ways. I didn't think I'd enjoy this book as much as I did and was sorry to read that the Author had passed in 2023. Thank you to Netgalley, Knopf and the Author for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Selling Pitch:
Do you want to read the most mundane everyday horror stories about Trump supporters in small-town America?

Pre-reading:
Don’t know nothing about this book but I like the cover.

Thick of it:
The liberals are the ones he’s blaming for not shutting down his neighbor’s guns? H’okay.

And title drop.

Oh, this better not be a pro-Trump book. I'll leave.

I feel like this counts as a Sam. (It most definitely does.)

Well, who’s the narrator? (We never find out, but also it doesn’t matter. It’s just a stylistic choice to make it read like you’re being told a story in a dive bar.)

I love when people are described by their cars like it means absolutely anything to me. (This isn’t a criticism. I’m just pointing out that I’m a certified idiot.)

You can’t tell me he almost has a unibrow, and then tell me he’s conventionally attractive.

Mmm sounding a little gay there, bestie.

I feel like the kid is gonna try to shoot someone and they’re gonna shoot the little kid

Oh look, I was right. How boring.

1/5 just dumb

I don’t think this collection is gonna be for me. It seems like it’s just why would these good Americans vote for Trump? But they’re like not good. They’re just racist to begin with. You know it’s kinda like fuck around and find out.

They irritate him because they’re self-sufficient without a man. It’s not fucking rocket science.

Honestly, fuck these small towns.

I’m so confused who this book is for because I don’t think anyone who’s picking this up has failed to critically think about how Trump supporters come about.

1/5 tries and fails to be morally ambiguous

This one is already better. It has much better irony. Like dur hur, I’m a Trump supporter. I have my guns for a home invasion. And then they’re fucking useless in a home invasion. Poetry.

Oh bestie, true crime 101: if you see their faces, you are not leaving alive.

God, his mom is shit.

Lol, the dogs def die in this book.

Moraine

3/5 a morbid little everyday horror short story. Could use more horror in my opinion, but worth the read.

Post-reading:
Overall, kind of a flop.

I understand why the author is credited for writing everyday horror. I don’t think it’s enough horror to truly be considered horror. I think it’s just mediocre bummers.

I’m confused who this book is for. I don’t think Trump supporters are rushing out to pick this up. But then, if it’s meant for liberals who read, I don’t think they're in need of books to humanize Trump voters. I think most of that audience is already deeply aware of how and why people become embroiled in pervert nationalism. It just kind of reads like ignorant and racist people think they’re goddamn American heroes. They're just doing their best! And it’s like they’re actively harming other people, fuck ‘em. Read a book. I struggle to have empathy for that.

The first short story’s plot was painfully obvious from the get-go. I’ve read it a couple times before and this is a much less successful iteration with almost nothing to add to the conversation.

The second story teetered on interesting, but there wasn't enough ironic interaction or dialogue to really give you that moral ambiguity that it’s clearly aiming for.

The third story is easily the strongest. It feels like familiar true crime. It’s not enough to be a full story for me. I’m not sure what you would add to it to make me care while still keeping it realistic. Maybe some point-of-view chapters with the detectives and local cops, maybe a prison guard, maybe a reporter? It has good thematic elements and social commentary on the justice system and it’s excellent political irony. There’s just not enough oomph to make a real impact.

But even that story and then the collection as a whole, all feels a bit like fucking duh. These people are poor and dumb and face the consequences of their own actions, and the situations that they’re stuck in. Peak fuck around and find out. Except there’s very little fucking and mostly just spinning your wheels in small-town America. It’d be more tragic if they weren’t such assholes.

I think it’s a skippable collection, but if you’re really into the genre, the third story is worth reading.

Who should read this:
Political commentary fans
Black Mirror pedophile episode fans

Do I want to reread this:
No

Similar books:
* The Merry Spinster by Daniel M. Lavery-purposely difficult to interpret, dark fairytale retellings
* The Men Can’t Be Saved by Ben Purkert-white men create their own problems
* Anxious People by Fredrik Backman-people are more than your first impressions of them, everyone’s struggling with something, book promotes empathy
* Bear Town by Fredrik Backman-small town politics, social commentary, book promotes empathy
* You Have a Friend in 10A by Maggie Shipstead-everyday horror, feminist, short story collection
* There Is No Death in Finding Nemo by Jeffrey M. Feingold-morbid short story collection
* People Who Talk to Stuffed Animals Are Nice by Ao Omae-short stories about mental illness, gender commentary
* Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird by Agustina Bazterrica-dark short story collection
* Games and Rituals by Katherine Heiny-angry sad girl short stories
* Day by Michael Cunningham-family drama, covid commentary
* How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu-interconnected standalone short stories, sci-fi spin, covid commentary

American Spirits by Russell Banks offers a glimpse into the lives of ordinary Americans navigating the complexities of modern society. Through a series of interconnected stories, Banks captures the essence of the human experience, delving into themes of identity, loss, and redemption. While the writing is undeniably skillful and the characters are well-drawn, the narrative structure may leave some readers wanting more cohesion and depth. Additionally, certain storylines feel rushed or underdeveloped, preventing the reader from fully immersing themselves in the world Banks has created. Despite these criticisms, American Spirits remains a solid literary effort, showcasing Banks' keen observations of the human condition and his ability to evoke empathy for his characters' struggles. Fans of Banks' previous work may find moments of brilliance in this collection, but newcomers might not find it as captivating.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of American Spirits by Russell Banks.

I have a lot of questions about these short stories. At least one of them comes from a true story, so I wonder if the other two were also based on real events. How much was truth, how much was fiction? And also, why moderate them at all, why not just tell these stories as they happened, they were truly stranger than fiction.

My second question, why so many politics. In my opinion, it did not add much to the story. I don't need to read about a guy grabbing his MAGA cap, that's not helpful to me, just tell me the story. I may have missed something, but I'm not sure what the author was trying to do with that.

Honestly, great stories, fun, exciting, pretty crazy stuff, but like I said, it left me with questions.

Banks, a master storyteller, presents three stories about residents of Sam Dent, a rural town in upstate New York. These are conservative citizens who believe in God, country, and Donald Trump. Some are barely making ends meet, others have scrimped and saved, and managed to make their dreams come true only to find nightmares seeping in. Life is hard; bad things happen to good people, and that's certainly true in these tales. They're depressing, and sad, and very hard to put out of your mind.

Russell Banks’s book, published after his death last year, is a collection of three connected stories. As usual, it is a pleasure to read his prose. And while I fully appreciate his skilled writing style, the stories were all a bit too dark for my taste. This was a quick and engaging read and certainly shows that even small towns have a bleak and shady side. All is not exactly as it appears and perhaps a lot of people can’t be trusted. The characters may remind you of people you know but Banks has surprises with each of the vignettes. Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for an advanced readers copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

An interesting collection of short stories that depict life in small town in upstate New York. Banks describes quiet desperation with elegance. These characters made me sad in their reality in today’s world.

Thank you Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, Knopf for allowing me to read and review American Spirits on NetGalley.

Published: 03/05/24

Stars: 3.5

Three short stories/novellas? I don't know the distinguishing criteria. The synopsis is spot on: These are dark.

Banks did tell three stories. They were short; however, he wrote effectively. I separated them over as many days so I could enjoy each one. I had a rollercoaster of emotions during the last two. I choked up and teared up during both. The first story didn't have the same effect on me.

I would pick up more of his work.

I would gift this in the fall -- cool weather -- a fire with a glass of your favorite drink.