The wandering nerve

In these stories, an aging pop star questions whether he’s ever been in love and fends off an increasingly fanatical stalker. A woman who recently lost her best friend follows her dreams of being an actor, only to find herself pushed too far by an overbearing acting teacher. A man whose wife is obsessed with psychics and Chilean folklore unsuccessfully attempts to dissuade his wife of her beliefs, ultimately leading him to fear he’s losing touch with reality. The survivor of an emotionally abusive relationship is plagued by a mysterious illness whose symptoms terrify her into believing she might be a lycanthrope. A marine biologist cares for the only colossal squid ever successfully brought into captivity, while also caring for her housebound stepmother, who is consumed with the goal of living forever. The collection’s characters grapple with loss and confusion about how to ground themselves and remain connected in their closest relationships. Women’s experiences, the legacy of trauma in everyday life, and bodies as communicators of deep wisdom are primary themes linking the stories in this book. The voices of the characters surprise and destabilize what appears fixed as they struggle to heal and move forward, in cultures that are disquieted by their pain and in which societal barriers and world events are ever more complex, confusing, and difficult to navigate.