The June pick for the LitReactor book club is a favorite of mine—They Don’t Dance Much by James Ross. Released in 1940, it was the only book Ross ever published, but it’s been lauded by authors like Raymond Chandler, William Gay, Daniel Woodrell, and Flannery O’Connor.
I wrote a lengthy piece for LitReactor about the history of the book, and the process of publishing it at MysteriousPress.com. Here’s a (very brief) excerpt:
Ross’ prose is both sharp and laconic. Lush with detail and stark in its representation of the human spirit. From page one, the book is shaded with a foreboding sense of dread—you know these people are on a collision course with tragedy. It’s just a matter of how they get there.
You can read the full piece here.
If you’re looking for something to read during the month of June, it’s not too late: Get the book here.
Rob Hart 