Night of the Living Rez

by Morgan Talty

Narrated by Darrell Dennis

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Pub Date Jul 05 2022 | Archive Date Jul 06 2022

RB Media | Recorded Books

Essays & Collections | General Fiction (Adult) | Multicultural Interest

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Description

Set in a Native community in Maine, Night of the Living Rez is a riveting debut collection about what it means to be Penobscot in the twenty-first century and what it means to live, to survive, and to persevere after tragedy.

In twelve striking, luminescent stories, author Morgan Talty—with searing humor, abiding compassion, and deep insight—breathes life into tales of family and a community as they struggle with a painful past and an uncertain future. A boy unearths a jar that holds an old curse, which sets into motion his family’s unraveling; a man, while trying to swindle some pot from a dealer, discovers a friend passed out in the woods, his hair frozen into the snow; a grandmother suffering from Alzheimer’s projects the past onto her grandson; and two friends, inspired by Antiques Roadshow, attempt to rob the tribal museum for valuable root clubs.

A collection that examines the consequences and merits of inheritance, Night of the Living Rez is an unforgettable portrayal of an Indigenous community and marks the arrival of a standout talent in contemporary fiction.

Advance Praise

"Talty’s debut collection, full of surprising drama, offers a fresh view of the precarious lives of marginalized people in the 21st century." --The New York Times

"A perfect mix of funny, sad, timely, and intense, this one has something for everyone." --The Boston Globe

"Ingenious. . . . Unforgettable." --Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"Talty is adept at unearthing his characters’ emotions. . . . these stories reveal the hardships facing a young Native American in contemporary America." --Kirkus, Starred Review

"Masterful. . . . brilliant, chiseled stories." --Foreword Reviews, Starred Review

"Astounding. . . . accomplished. . . . Night of the Living Rez is proof that Talty is an important new writer to watch." --Esquire

"Unearths grace amid strife. . . . Talty, with his ear for natural, almost musical dialogue, compels you to keep listening." --Vulture

"In these searing, devastating and often darkly funny stories, we come to know a community of Native people living on a Maine Penobscot reservation in all of their complexity and drive for survival. There's family tragedy, struggle with drugs and deep poverty, but there's also children with a plucky spirit, adults who grapple for purchase against all odds and an abiding love that will stay with you for a long time." --Good Housekeeping

"A stunning debut. . . . These characters and their world shimmer with the precise details Talty so expertly showcases." --LitHub

"Talty’s debut collection, full of surprising drama, offers a fresh view of the precarious lives of marginalized people in the 21st century." --The New York Times

"A perfect mix of funny, sad, timely...