Theory of Remainders

by Scott Carpenter

Overview

At fifty-two, psychiatrist Philip Adler is divorced, alone, and gutted of passion. When a funeral draws him back to his ex-wife's homeland of France, the trip reunites him with a trauma he has struggled to forget: the brutal death of his teenage daughter fifteen years earlier. Prodded by his former brother-in-law and stirred by the unspent embers of his marriage, he embarks on a mission to resolve lingering questions about this past, hoping to heal himself along the way. The search leads to a disturbed man who may hold more answers than anyone expects-if only Philip can hear what he's trying to say.

A suspenseful literary novel set in the lush backgrounds of Normandy, Theory of Remainders explores the secret ties between love, trauma, and language.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780988904903
Publisher:	Winter Goose Publishing
Publication date:	05/22/2013
Pages:	286
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

A professor of literature at Carleton College (MN), Scott Dominic Carpenter is the author of the recent collection This Jealous Earth (MG Press 2013), which was described as “charmingly nostalgic” (Publisher's Weekly) and “incredibly moving” (The Rumpus). The New Podler Review named it a “Best Book of 2012,” and author Siri Hustvedt called the collection “psychologically acute and elegantly written… By turns sad, funny, tender, and alarming.” A Pushcart Prize nominee, Carpenter has published broadly in literary journals. His work has been included in Best Indie Lit New England 2012.
His website is at www.sdcarpenter.com.

What People are Saying About This

Tripp Ryder

Carpenter creates an incredible sense of place as he evokes Normandy and its people. The writing, elegant and subtle, draws the reader into this thoroughly gripping tale. —Tripp Ryder, President, Midwest Independent Booksellers Association

Alison Feigh

There are no easy solutions when trauma is at the heart of the story… Theory of Remainders provides the reader with an emotionally rich portrayal of the experience of loss that looks past easy solutions and instead digs deep into human connections. —Alison Feigh, Jacob Wetterling Resource Center

Alice LaPlante

This beautifully written psychological thriller does more than keep us on the edge of our seat. Theory of Remainders explores the nature of familial relationships—how essential they are to our humanity, and how difficult it is to survive their loss. —Alice Laplante, Author of Turn of Mind.

Editorial Reviews

For anyone who values a literary novel of substantial depth in character development, language, sense of place and reader engagement, Theory of Remainders ranks as a must-read.

Minnesota Prairie Roots

Every so often a reader comes upon a book that welcomes him like an old friend. The words flow, and the characters become real so quickly and easily that before you know it you are fully engrossed in the tale. Such is the case with Scott Dominic Carpenter's Theory of Remainders, a rare and wondrous novel.

Readers Favorite

Fully realized characters, a remarkable fluency of language, wit, and an extensive comprehension of French culture and history make this literary novel a stellar achievement. (Starred Review)

Kirkus Reviews