Abstract
Novel Dialogue sends Martin Puchner (polymathic author of The Written World and most recently The Language of Thieves) out to speak with Pew author Catherine Lacey. They go a-wandering. Lacey's earlier works include a 2018 collection of short stories, Certain American States, and two novels: The Answers in 2017 and 2014's Nobody is Ever Missing, a delightful road novel set in New Zealand-always a sure way to win John's admiration. Martin starts by noticing the feral through-line in Catherine's work, a way that people escape or withdraw from socialization. And things go rapidly uphill and downhill from there. In short a rollicking rhythm prevails-you may want to listen while out rambling yourself. Even though Catherine proclaims "we are all housecats now."