Preston Falls A Novel
Preston Falls A Novel by David Gates, published by Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group on April 6, 1999, is a literary exploration of suburban masculinity and mid-life crises. This first edition, second printing, spans 352 pages and is presented in English. The narrative follows Doug Willis, who, instead of opting for conventional solutions to his mid-life struggles, finds himself arrested while camping with his family. Retreating to his farmhouse in Preston Falls, he attempts to escape his responsibilities, only to face the unraveling of his plans amid personal chaos.
Readers will encounter a story that delves into the complexities of love, family, and the challenges of middle age. As Doug’s life spirals into disarray fueled by substance use, his wife Jean grapples with the realities of supporting their family. The novel combines biting humor with a stark portrayal of personal turmoil, reflecting Gates’ keen observational skills and mastery of contemporary dialogue. Preston Falls offers a candid look at the darker aspects of life, making it a significant addition to the literary fiction genre.
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“Beautifully written…. Gates [has a] pitch-perfect ear for contemporary speech…and…[a] keen, journalistic eye.”–Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times
In this comic, fiercely compassionate novel, David Gates, whose first novel Jernigan was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, sends his protagonist on a visceral journey to the dark side of suburban masculinity, explores the claims youth makes on middle age, and the tenacious –at times perverse–power of love to assert itself.
When Doug Willis has a mid-life crisis, he doesn’t join a gym or have an affair. Instead he gets himself arrested while camping with his wife and kids, takes a two month leave of absence from his PR job, and retreats to his farmhouse in rural Preston Falls–where he plugs in his guitar and tries to shut out his life.
While his wife, Jean, struggles to pay the bills and raise their sullen, skeptical kids, Willis’s plans for hiatus crumble into Dewars-and-cocaine fueled disarray. A shattered window, an unguarded gun, and a shady small town attorney force a crisis–and Willis can’t go home again. With its biting humor and harsh realism, Preston Falls confirms David Gates as a talent in the tradition of Russell Banks and Richard Ford: a master of dark truths and private longings.
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