Few writers write about tenderness as Bryan Washington does—unadorned tenderness that is full of heart and humor but steers clear from familiar sentimentalities and convenient solutions. With its deep understanding of human relationships, Palaver is a rare novel that offers companionship to solitary readers and lonely souls.”
—Yiyun Li, author of Wednesday’s Child
“Palaver is the pinnacle of what has become Washington’s classic approach to writing: care, humor, tenderness, and an embrace of human beings at their most vulnerable, lovely, and wounded. It’s such a joy to see the summation of his generosity of thinking and living actualized in the sentence. Fiction—no—life is better because Bryan is writing.”
—Ocean Vuong
“Gripping, beautiful, honest, unlike anything else on the bookshelf! A great work by one of America's greatest young writers, Palaver will break and remake your heart. A book I will sending to everyone I know."
—Andrew Sean Greer, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Less and Less Is Lost
“Palaver is an intimate, ambulatory, and deeply human reflection on family and home—on what we choose and what’s already chosen for us. It’s about our flawed attempts at loving and being loved, forgiving and being forgiven. It’s the rare novel that manages to be funny and sad and honest all at once—awake to the mundane miracles of our lives. Bryan Washington is one of a kind.”
—Rachel Khong, author of Real Americans