KGB Bar

Dale Peck reads from his novel: The Garden of Lost and Found.

Publisher: Mischief + Mayhem/OR Books.

History: Written from 1998 - 2000, The Garden of Lost and Found was twice scheduled for publication, first by a large press and then by a small one, that were both purchased and dissolved by larger corporations. Originally slated for a 2001 release, the book was shelved after HarperCollins purchased William Morrow and eliminated its Rob Weisbach Books imprint. This was in some ways fortuitous, as 9/11 completely changed the landscape of the novel, which is set only a few blocks from the World Trade Center. After shelving the book for five years, Peck revised it in 2005 - 2006 and sold it to Carroll and Graf, only to see that company purchased and disbanded by Perseus Books. Now, a decade after it was first completed, it’s finally seeing the light of day—assuming M+M and OR can avoid the curse that’s plagued its publishers.

“There is so much to say about this novel that the only way to begin is to draw a conclusion: it is brilliant. That said, its properties and attributes can be explained. Peck is a tough, outspoken literary critic (Hatchet Jobs, 2004) and a provocative novelist (Martin and John, 1992). His latest work of fiction is beautifully articulated; this writer appreciates language not for its tricks but for its power to genuinely stir heart and mind. Thematically, the novel is about finding yourself; in plot, it follows the exploits of a 21-year-old man, orphaned and having lived from pillar to post across the country, who inherits from the mother he never knew a large townhouse in New York City’s Lower Manhattan, in other words, a real-estate gold mine. James Ramsay, who is gay, believes himself to be infected with AIDS. His tenure in the Big Apple is truly at the mercy of the group of characters he rather inherits as the new owner of the house, including the building’s only tenant, an elderly black woman. The intricately worked out story line is rich in human concerns: survival (food and shelter, that is) and respect and love. Ensconced in his new home, but for how long he does not know (remember, he believes himself gravely ill), James’ primary focus is to learn about his mother and possibly even determine who his father is. This busy, compulsive novel, a deeply human and humanizing book, gathers lush detail as it gains speed.” — Brad Hooper, Booklist.
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Jonathan Dozier-Ezell hails from a collection of small towns in Alabama and came to New York City by way of The New School where he received his MFA last spring. A smattering of his short fiction can be found online at Terrain and DOGZPLOT. He is currently working on a novel set in one of those Alabama towns.

About the Series: KGB Bar Sunday Night Fiction

The KGB Bar Sunday Night Fiction showcases the finest in contemporary fiction from new and emerging writers.

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