That's Not a Feeling
by Dan Josefson
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Pub Date Oct 02 2012 | Archive Date Oct 25 2012
Description
"Dan Josefson is a writer of astounding promise a . . . a bold, funny, mordant, and deeply intelligent debut." —David Foster Wallace, author of Infinite Jest
WINNER OF THE 2015 WHITING AWARD FOR FICTION
New York Times Editors’ Choice
Benjamin arrives with his parents for a tour of Roaring Orchards, a therapeutic boarding school tucked away in upstate New York. Suddenly, his parents are gone and Benjamin learns that he is there to stay. Sixteen years old, a two-time failed suicide, Benjamin must navigate his way through a new world of morning meds, popped privileges, candor meetings and cartoon brunches—all run by adults who themselves have yet to really come of age.
The only person who comprehends the school's many rules and rituals is Aubrey, the founder and headmaster. Fragile, brilliant, and prone to rage, he is as likely to use his authority to reward students as to punish them. But when Aubrey falls ill, life at the school begins to unravel. Benjamin has no one to rely on but the other students, especially Tidbit, an intriguing but untrustworthy girl with a "self-afflicting personality." More and more, Benjamin thinks about running away from Roaring Orchards—but he feels an equal need to know just what it is he would be leaving behind.
WINNER OF THE 2015 WHITING AWARD FOR FICTION
New York Times Editors’ Choice
Benjamin arrives with his parents for a tour of Roaring Orchards, a therapeutic boarding school tucked away in upstate New York. Suddenly, his parents are gone and Benjamin learns that he is there to stay. Sixteen years old, a two-time failed suicide, Benjamin must navigate his way through a new world of morning meds, popped privileges, candor meetings and cartoon brunches—all run by adults who themselves have yet to really come of age.
The only person who comprehends the school's many rules and rituals is Aubrey, the founder and headmaster. Fragile, brilliant, and prone to rage, he is as likely to use his authority to reward students as to punish them. But when Aubrey falls ill, life at the school begins to unravel. Benjamin has no one to rely on but the other students, especially Tidbit, an intriguing but untrustworthy girl with a "self-afflicting personality." More and more, Benjamin thinks about running away from Roaring Orchards—but he feels an equal need to know just what it is he would be leaving behind.
Advance Praise
"Dan Josefson is a writer of astounding promise and That's Not a Feeling is a bold, funny, mordant, and deeply intelligent debut."--David Foster Wallace, author of Infinite Jest
"I love That's Not a Feeling: it's a hugely moving and frequently hilarious portrait of an utterly bizarre world, taken on its own terms: the kind of school for the maladjusted and broken in spirit in which even the veterans admit that they don't really understand the school's philosophy, and that that's part of the school's philosophy, as well. For all of the place's comedy, though, we're never able to write it off, or write off its inhabitants: their helpless genius, when it comes to stymieing themselves, generates too much pathos for that. This is a book of enormous intelligence, and even more heart."--Jim Shepard, author of Like You'd Understand, Anyway
"If That's Not a Feeling were a fifth novel, it would be a triumph. As a first novel, it is an astonishment. Dan Josefson sails along the scary edge of perfection in this book, and does so with style, empathy, compassion, humor, and wisdom."--Tom Bissell, author of The Father of All Things
"I love That's Not a Feeling: it's a hugely moving and frequently hilarious portrait of an utterly bizarre world, taken on its own terms: the kind of school for the maladjusted and broken in spirit in which even the veterans admit that they don't really understand the school's philosophy, and that that's part of the school's philosophy, as well. For all of the place's comedy, though, we're never able to write it off, or write off its inhabitants: their helpless genius, when it comes to stymieing themselves, generates too much pathos for that. This is a book of enormous intelligence, and even more heart."--Jim Shepard, author of Like You'd Understand, Anyway
"If That's Not a Feeling were a fifth novel, it would be a triumph. As a first novel, it is an astonishment. Dan Josefson sails along the scary edge of perfection in this book, and does so with style, empathy, compassion, humor, and wisdom."--Tom Bissell, author of The Father of All Things
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781616951887 |
| PRICE | $15.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 369 |
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