If I Die in Ohio - Seth Borgen

The stories in If I Die in Ohio are, as the title suggests, about desire and its bedfellow, regret. Seth Borgen's gift is his ability to deliver surprise, both through his impressive range of premises--from a restless young man who falls for his ice sculptor neighbor to a religious woman discovering the pleasures of sex and smoking pot--and through the depth and nuance with which he taps emotion. This collection is every single thing I hope for in stories: expansive yet incisive, compassionate, and beautifully written. Seth Borgen is an exceptional storyteller. n -- LORI OSTLUND, New American Fiction Prize Judge and author of After the Parade Seth Borgen's If I Die in Ohio is a beautifully crafted collection--but what makes Borgen's stories truly remarkable is how he deftly deconstructs kitschy Americana down to its ugly little core. A dynamic debut: read this book. n -- NICK WHITE, author of Sweet & Low and How to Survive a Summer These stories remind me why I love stories. Borgen is a master observer and isn't afraid to use his power of spying for good, for the good of us all. Read him now and thank me later. n -- TOM FRANKLIN, author of Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter and Hell at the Breech These are the kind of heartbreaking, vulnerable tough-guy--and trying-to-be-tough guys, and the occasional trying-to-be-tough gals--stories we haven't seen the likes of in a long time. They made me think of Richard Yates, God rest his beautiful soul, and of Ray Carver. What does it mean to be a man, to be a husband, to be a father, to be good? Seth Borgen has a light hand with these heavy questions, and these stories brought me damn near close to tears too many times to count. n -- MICHELLE HERMAN, author of Devotion and Stories We Tell Ourselves Whether walking the blistered streets of Tijuana, lying on an Ohio lakefront beach, or sipping champagne at a glittery Paris soirée, Borgen's sharp prose and pitch-perfect details will lead you through stories you never saw coming. Along the way you'll meet deeply flawed (but unflinchingly honest) characters you can't help but like, even as they make choices you would never recommend. If I Die in Ohio is so beautifully unexpected, brimming with lines you'll want to read again and again (and then again). Do yourself a favor, and let Borgen surprise you in all the best ways. n -- ANNE CORBITT, author of the Nilsen Literary Prize recipient Rules for Lying