Book Review: American Spirits

A husband sells property to a mysterious, temperamental stranger, and is hounded on social media when he publicly questions the man’s character. A couple grows concerned when an enigmatic family moves next door, and the children start sneaking over to beg for help. Two dangerous criminals kidnap an elderly couple and begin blackmailing their grandson, demanding that he pay back what he owes.

Suspenseful, thrilling, and expertly crafted, American Spirits explores the hostile undercurrents of our communities and American politics at large, as well as the ways local tragedies can be both devastating and, somehow, everyday. Ushering the reader through the town of Sam Dent, Russell Banks has etched yet another brilliant entry into the bedrock of American fiction.

American Spirits will be published on March 5, 2024. Knopf Books provided an early galley for review.

A couple years ago, I read my first book by Banks - The Magic Kingdom. So when I saw his name along with this striking cover, I was instantly drawn to checking it out. This collection of three stories is the first posthumous release (Banks passed away in 2023).

First is Nowhere Man which tells of Doug Lafleur's growing conflict with businessman Yuri Zingerman. Things really escalate when Doug goes against Yuri's wishes, putting the two men at great odds. The tension turns up to eleven with a rather unexpected ending. For me, it makes a very pointed statement about rash and uncontrolled behaviors.

Next up is Homeschooling where Kenneth and Barbara Odell's involvement with their neighbors results in a very tragic ending. This one leaves the reader with so many unanswered questions regarding the Weber family, which reflects upon the notion that so often today people fail to really get to know others.

And, lastly, Kidnapped is a dark and twisting tale of family and failure, drugs and death. It reminded me of something that would be right at home in a Quentin Tarantino film, though delivered thankfully with less gratuitous violence.

Banks touches upon many topical themes in these stories including privacy, gun ownership, miscommunication and misinterpretations. Any one of the three stories could have been ripped from the headlines of recent years. There is a dark tone to them all; there are no happily ever afters here. Given the dark times of the last decade or so, these tragic tales do not come across as shocking as they could have. And that makes me a bit sad.