In Fear of Praise

Food. Alcohol. Pornography. The films of Aki Kaurismäki. These are Gordon’s addictions. He’s divorced, he’s depressed, and his dog is dead. (Of lesser concern, his career as a professor of film studies is coming to an end.) There isn’t much left of his life to ruin. That is, until the daughter he always knew he had—but never wanted to meet—comes mysteriously creeping into the picture.

Her name is Dresden, and her mother is dying. Gordon would rather not engage. But romantic embarrassments wi...