The Angel on the Roof

The Stories of Russell Banks

By: Russell Banks

Narrated by: Robert Fass

""At his shattering best. . . Banks offers answers that are tough, honest, and inevitable without being simple. . . . A book that is not to be missed."" —New York Times

With The Angel on the Roof, acclaimed author Russell Banks offers readers an astonishing collection of thirty years of his short fiction, revised especially for this volume and highlighted by the inclusion of nine new stories that are among the finest he has ever written.

As is characteristic of all of Bank's works, these stories resonate with irony and compassion, honesty and insight, extending into the vast territory of the heart and the world, from working-class New England to Florida and the Caribbean and Africa. Broad in scope and rich in imagination, The Angel on the Roof affirms Russell Banks's place as one of the masters of American storytelling.

Not For Everyone

I was drawn to this book/author by two of his short stories that I had heard elsewhere (both of which are found in this book). In hindsight, those somewhat twisted stories reveal a larger theme here, one where the author self-indulgently drones on about his miserable childhood and life. If you’re not into blue-collar, hockey playing, beer-swilling New England trailer park losers who cheat on and beat up their wives, then this may not be the book for you. I stuck with this book simply because I had paid for it, even though I nearly quit it many times. That said, it grew on me, especially after I realized that there were some connecting themes among characters. Also, I should point out, because I grew up with an alcoholic father, I recognize many of these miserable people, and that was a bit triggering for me. Regardless, Robert Fass’ narration was fantastic, especially his many unique voice characterizations.