Northline

FleeingLasVegasandherabusiveboyfriend,AllisonJohnsonmovestoReno,intentonmakinganewlifeforherself.Hauntedbythemistakesofherpast,andlackinganyself-belief,heronlycomfortseemstocomefromtheimaginaryconversationsshehaswithPaulNewman,andthecharactersheplayed.Butaslifecrawlsonandshefindswork,smallactsofkindnessstarttorevealthemselvestoher,andslowlythechanceofanewlifebeginstoemerge.Fullofmemorablecharactersandimbuedwithabeautifulsenseofyearning,"Northline"isanextraordinaryportraitofcontemporaryAmericafromawriterandmusicianwhoseworkhasbeenlaudedas"mournful,understated,andproudlysteepedinmentholsmokeandbourbon"("NewYorkTimesBookReview").