The Leftovers

What if a few of us just suddenly disappeared, whoosh, this instant, for no apparent reason? Would a few of us crumble? Would some of us continue as we had before the world turned upside down, putting one foot in front of the other? The puzzled residents of Mapleton, who lost a great deal of their friends, neighbors, and loves in the infamous "Sudden Departure," must find that out. Because since then, everything has changed, including friendships, marriages, and even parent-child interactions.

The new mayor of Mapleton, Kevin Garvey, hopes to expedite the healing process and give his wounded city a newfound sense of purpose and optimism. Following the debacle, Kevin's own family has disintegrated: his son Tom has dropped out of college to follow a dubious prophet dubbed Holy Wayne, and his wife Laurie has left to join the Guilty Remnant, a domestic cult whose members sign a vow of silence. There's only Jill, Kevin's adolescent daughter, and she's not the lovely "A" student she once was. Kevin wants to assist her, but he's preoccupied with his developing friendship with Nora Durst, a lady who, on October 14, lost her whole family and is still in shock as she tries to go on and start again.

Tom Perrotta has written a shocking, thought-provoking work about love, connection, and loss. He has heart, knowledge, and a unique ability to highlight the problems present in everyday lives.