Paul Theroux, the master teller of tales, presents twenty new, delicious and disturbing stories. In 'Minor Watt', a famous art collector publicly destroys his most valuable works, enjoying the feeling of power it gives him - until he meets his match. In 'Our Raccoon Year' a divorced father wages war on the animals which invade his property after his wife leaves. Richly imaginative, often sharp as a knife, these stories will entertain as much as they unsettle. Enjoy! Theroux understands, often with devastating effect, how dramas both big and small can produce catastrophic and lasting psychological consequences.' Guardian 'Cracking, delicious tales, scattered with gems . . . from the off this collection had me grinning.' Big Issue 'Dazzling, brilliant. Combines the traveller's hawk-eye with the novelist's keen insight.' New Statesman 'Exquisite, frightening. Astute observations of place and pin-sharp portraits of people. A vastly enjoyable collection by a writer in complete control of his art.' Financial Times 'Theroux's work is like no one else's. A series of characteristically dark and sharply focused snapshots from the world that Theroux has observed - and invented.' New York Times Book Review
Industry Reviews
Plumbing the depths of eccentricity and violence swilling beneath the surface of ordinary American life, Theroux understands, often with devastating effect, how dramas both big and small can produce catastrophic and lasting psychological consequences * Guardian *
Skilful and unsettling * Independent *
Twenty delicious tales . . . from the off, this collection had me grinning. Scattered with gems infused with Theroux's international knowledge * Big Issue *
Quirky, unpredictable fun and pure literary entertainment * Sunday Sport *
As cool as Somerset Maugham . . . as observant, intuitive, wry, inventive and eloquent as Graham Greene * Sunday Times *
Theroux is fluent, witty and almost faultlessly able to deliver a satisfying story -- Melvyn Bragg
One of the most accomplished and worldly-wise writers of his generation * The Times *
Always a terrific teller of tales and conjurer of exotic locales, he writes lean prose that lopes along at a compelling pace * Sunday Times *
With its unsettling strangeness, precisely drawn characters and geographical sweep, Mr Bones is a psychologically complex, vastly enjoyable and nuanced collection by a writer in complete control of his art * Financial Times *
There's more than a whiff of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness about these tales, by turns savage, funny, unsettling * The Times *
Mr Bones is a series of characteristically dark and sharply focused snapshots from the world that Paul Theroux has observed - and invented * New York Times *
Suave and accomplished * Washington Times *
Mr Bones showcases the author's virtuoso storytelling abilities, as he tells stories of tricky situations, slippery personalities and unsettling motives * Seattle Times *
