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This Kind of Man - by Sean Murphy (Paperback)

This Kind of Man - by  Sean Murphy (Paperback) - 1 of 1
$18.49 sale price when purchased online
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Highlights

  • Iconoclastic, deftly crafted, original, memorable and thought-provoking, each one of the short stories comprising "This Kind of Man" is raised by author Sean Murphy to an impressive level of literary excellence.-Midwest Book Review"This Kind of Man, a suite of dramatic monologues and meditations, seems to pick up where Raymond Carver left off: anatomizing all the ways that American masculinity finds itself adrift, with a special thought for the women in the same lifeboat.
  • Author(s): Sean Murphy
  • 256 Pages
  • Fiction + Literature Genres, Short Stories (single author)

Description



Book Synopsis



Iconoclastic, deftly crafted, original, memorable and thought-provoking, each one of the short stories comprising "This Kind of Man" is raised by author Sean Murphy to an impressive level of literary excellence.

-Midwest Book Review


"This Kind of Man, a suite of dramatic monologues and meditations, seems to pick up where Raymond Carver left off: anatomizing all the ways that American masculinity finds itself adrift, with a special thought for the women in the same lifeboat. Murphy sees how we live so plainly and clearly that, in the best possible way, it hurts."-Louis Bayard, author of The Pale Blue Eye

THIS KIND OF MAN offers an unvarnished look at life in 21st Century America, excavating the complicated, tender, wild truth of what it is to be a man across generations and relationships. These stories interrogate the pressures and tensions of contemporary life, and the ways men grapple with them, often without success. Issues such as marriage, fatherhood, aggression, alcoholism, gender expectations, generational backlash, and the inexorable dread of death, abound.


Many of these stories live within a slow implosion of coping, and often failing, as well as those who refuse to succumb, addressing concerns oft-discussed, or not discussed enough, in mainstream print: gun violence, the recent history of coal country Appalachia, sports-related concussions, illegal immigration (and the jobs many of these ostensibly unwelcome folks are obliged to do), homelessness, and the inability of men to honestly connect or communicate.


Far from excusing or exonerating toxic males, this collection locates their violence (toward others, against oneself) in the context of a deadening culture and the false narratives that prevail in an exploitative, zero-sum game capitalist model, where those without are encouraged to quarrel with similarly overworked and underpaid, mostly blue-collar workers. We see that our received notions of manhood and masculinity are inculcated-from the beginning and by design-to ensure willing participation in a system where the overwhelming majority are excluded from the start. We witness the way these dysfunctions are handed down like inheritance, and how every cliché, from fighting to drinking to intolerance of dissent and distrust of others, is a carefully constructed trap, preventing solidarity, empathy, and love (for others, for one's self).



Review Quotes




Twenty-first-century manhood is a minefield - a terrain riddled with hidden dangers. A wrong word, a long-held grudge, even a mistimed joke can easily end in disaster. Traversing such explosive territory requires tremendous skill, a bucketful of courage, and no small amount of humor. Sean Murphy's This Kind of Man has all three, in spades.

-David McGlynn, author of One Day You'll Thank Me: Lessons from an Unexpected Fatherhood

This Kind of Man examines the moving target of modern masculinity and asks, from multiple angles, What is a man? The discourse around this question has been shockingly absent from the literary landscape, whether due to a lack of bravery or a certain paralysis that accompanies such an inquiry. Yet Murphy dives in head-first, offering stories that explore marriage, fatherhood, aggression, alcoholism, gender expectations, generational backlash, and more with nuance, humor, and an abundance of truth. His prose thrillingly invites us to think deeply. Instead of hiding from what it means to be a man today, he gives us a broad canvas from which to take in the answers, plural, to this essential question.

-Cheryl Della Pietra, author of Gonzo Girl

From yearnings never expressed by "strong and silent" types to competitive father/son relationships, veteran misogynists and burgeoning incels, Murphy's new collection looks straight at the worst traits of the white American male with a view to the future where these men can do better, be better, think beyond themselves. A timely, gripping read by a courageous writer.

-Courtney Maum, author of The Year of the Horses



Dimensions (Overall): 8.5 Inches (H) x 5.5 Inches (W) x .58 Inches (D)
Weight: .72 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Sub-Genre: Short Stories (single author)
Genre: Fiction + Literature Genres
Number of Pages: 256
Publisher: Unsolicited Press
Format: Paperback
Author: Sean Murphy
Language: English
Street Date: May 7, 2024
TCIN: 1003007458
UPC: 9781963115154
Item Number (DPCI): 247-39-5788
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
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Shipping details

Estimated ship dimensions: 0.58 inches length x 5.5 inches width x 8.5 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 0.72 pounds
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