The World Beneath A Novel
The World Beneath by Aaron Gwyn, published by W. W. Norton in April 2009, is a novel that unfolds in the small town of Perser, Oklahoma. The story begins with Sheriff Jerry Martin receiving a troubling call about the disappearance of a fifteen-year-old boy named J.T., who has a complex background and is known for causing trouble. As Sheriff Martin embarks on a desperate search for J.T., the investigation brings to light unresolved issues from his own past, intertwining personal and community struggles.
Readers will encounter a dual narrative that also follows Hickson Crider, a veteran of the Iraq War, who becomes fixated on a mysterious, seemingly bottomless crevice in his backyard. This obsession not only shapes his life but also serves as a significant element in Sheriff Martin’s investigation. The novel delves into themes of war, violence, and faith, presenting a rich tapestry of human experience and emotion. With 216 pages of literary fiction, The World Beneath offers a thought-provoking exploration of the connections between individuals and their environments.
Official synopsis Publisher
One cold November morning in Perser, Oklahoma, Sheriff Jerry Martin receives a disturbing call: a local fifteen-year-old has disappeared. The boy, J.T., who is half Mexican, half Chickasaw and has been raised by his grandmother, is known for starting trouble. Sheriff Martin sets out on a fevered search, determined to find J.T., even as the hunt reopens wounds from a traumatic event in his past. In a seemingly parallel but ultimately intersecting story, Hickson Crider, a veteran of the first Iraq war, discovers a mysterious crevice, perfectly round and seemingly bottomless, in his backyard. The hole becomes Hickson’s obsession–and an ominous clue in Sheriff Martin’s investigation.Aaron Gwyn’s perceptive, quietly beautiful prose is “reminiscent of Flannery O’Connor” (Kirkus Reviews), engaging us in a tale that is both savage and burning with heart, about the after effects of war, violence, faith, and random acts of devotion.
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