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THE ICE HOUSE

Laura Lee Smith

"reminiscent of such novelists as Richard Russo and Jennifer Egan" (Tampa Bay Times)

From a writer who's been praised for her “intelligence, heart, wit” (Richard Russo, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Empire Falls), The Ice House follows the beleaguered MacKinnons as they weather the possible loss of the family business, a serious medical diagnosis, and the slings and arrows of familial discord.

Johnny MacKinnon might be on the verge of losing it all. The ice factory he married into, which he's run for decades, is facing devastating OSHA fines following a mysterious accident and may have to close. The only hope for Johnny's livelihood is that someone in the community saw something, but no one seems to be coming forward. He hasn't spoken to his son Corran back in Scotland since Corran's heroin addiction finally drove Johnny to the breaking point. And now, after a collapse on the factory floor, it appears Johnny may have a brain tumor. Johnny's been ordered to take it easy, but in some ways, he thinks, what's left to lose? This may be his last chance to bridge the gap with Corran?and to have any sort of relationship with the baby granddaughter he's never met.

Witty and heartbreaking by turns, The Ice House is a vibrant portrait of multifaceted, exquisitely human characters that readers will not soon forget. It firmly establishes Laura Lee Smith as a gifted voice in American fiction.

Laura Lee Smith is the author of the novel HEART OF PALM. Her short fiction has appeared in BEST AMERICAN SHORT STORIES; NEW STORIES FROM THE SOUTH; THE YEAR'S BEST; NEW ENGLAND REVIEW; and other journals.
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Published 2017-12-01 by Grove Press

Comments

...reminiscent of such novelists as Richard Russo and Jennifer Egan, but this heartbreaking, heartwarming novel is an original.

Smith's gift for irresistibly charming, flawed characters is once again in evidence in this tale of good people and strong marriages tested by life's cruel roadblocks, human nature, and the limits of love.

THE ICE HOUSE has been named a Bookreporter, Goodreads, and Amazon pick for best fiction for the month. It was also named by BBC America in their Top Ten Books to Read in December.

Laura Lee Smith's novel THE ICE HOUSE is a majestic reconciliation story that follows a father and son's relationship from Florida to Scotland A spirited cast makes up the foundation of Smith's delicately spun story of family, loyalty, and the difficult choices people make when forgiving someone.