“Await Your Reply” by Dan ChaonThe lives of three strangers interconnect in unforeseen ways–and with unexpected consequences–in acclaimed author Dan Chaon’s gripping novel. Miles Cheshire longs to get on with his life, but he can’t stop searching for his troubled twin brother, Hayden, missing for ten years. Lucy Lattimore sneaks away from the small town of Pompey, Ohio, with her charismatic former history teacher, arriving in Nebraska, in the middle of nowhere, to figure out the next move on their path to a new life. Ryan Schuyler, after learning some shocking news, walks off the Northwestern University campus, hops on a bus, and breaks loose from his existence, which suddenly seems abstract and tenuous. "Await Your Reply" is a literary masterwork with the momentum of a thriller in which pasts are reinvented and the future is both seductively uncharted and perilously unmoored.
Read or listen to this year's book and join us for one of the many events scheduled throughout September. Learn more about author Dan Chaon and “Await Your Reply”.
We are now accepting submissions for “If I Weren’t Me,” our flash fiction writing contest!
Contest eligibility and other details are available in our contest announcement, or go directly to the entry form to submit your story – in 250 words or less – of self transformation, secret identity or an imagined fresh start. Good luck, and happy writing!
In “Await Your Reply,” identities are worn and shed like clothing. Some identities are invented, but others are stolen. Want to learn more about identity theft and how to protect yourself? Read on.
Looking for some good books to read while you “Await” for this year’s One Read programs to begin? Subscribe to one or more of our email newsletters to receive a list of new titles to explore. Each month you’ll learn about new titles at your library, with links directly to our catalog so you can see the items’ availability, reviews by other readers and place an item on hold. Get suggestions for book club picks or learn about the latest bestsellers and newest releases! Sign up at the library’s web site today.
Issues of identity permeate this year’s One Read selection, “Await Your Reply,” with characters seeking new starts and trying on others’ lives. If you’ve ever wanted to become someone else—and who hasn’t?—this is your chance to dream big, in 250 words or less. Tell a tale of self transformation. Spin a yarn about a secret identity. Slip into someone else’s skin and write a short “flash fiction” piece about an imagined fresh start. Submit your story now through September 20.
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