As promised in our Tuesday Rapid Fire roundup on IG, Our Country Friends is the basis for this week's Friday Five. At first, I thought - Chekhov. We're going to do a deep dive into Chekhov (always good to begin the week with high ambitions). Why? Well, Shteyngart's latest book, which Kirkus deemed "The Great American Pandemic Novel that only Shteyngart could write" begins in March 2020 and takes the uncertainty of those early days, head on. Instead of focusing on isolation, the novel follows a group of friends who come together from disparate locations to ride out the crisis together. New York Times reviewer Molly Young, among others, planted the Chekhov idea: "Chekhov’s stories “have an atmosphere as distinct as an odor,” as the translator Avrahm Yarmolinsky put it, and the same is true of the work of Gary Shteyngart, a writer comparably superb at demonstrating absurdity and generating pathos. In Shteyngart’s case I would characterize the signature odor as tangy, briny and instantly appetizing. His books should come with a free bag of salt and vinegar potato chips." Young proceeds to declare Shteyngart's fifth novel his finest. When summing it up behind the counter yesterday, I aimed for brevity: madcap, I replied in response to a query for my opinion. An absolutely delightful, absurd, madcap romp of a book.

Anyway, you wait with with bated breath — is that where I settled? Chekhov-inspired literature? In a word, no. Maybe riding on a high from several recent reunions, actually in-person events, I decided to go deep on that which so many of us currently crave: togetherness.

ON WITH IT THEN (you are thinking). Okay, here we go: first up, Second Place, Rachel Cusk. The gathering here is admittedly much smaller than the aforementioned Hudson Valley rendezvous but it does take place at a country house and focuses on a hotly anticipated artist guest whose arrival, along with an uninvited paramour, creates the sort of psychological tension Cusk serves up splendidly. Frustrated characters, cutting insightful prose, and disappointment abound in this, the latest from Cusk who may, or may not be, the queen of autofiction (it's fiction, so we'll never really know).

Another attempt at creating an ideal community is the 2003 National Book Award finalist, Drop City by T.C. Boyle. I love T.C. Boyle. That word I used earlier — madcap — works equally well for much of Boyle's work although I found this novel to be one of his less absurd (I use that word with the utmost admiration) works. The scene is set in 1970s California on a commune devoted to peaceful living. But why remain in sunny CA when one could find enlightenment in a more unforgiving, rustic environment, say, interior Alaska? As you might imagine, things quickly go awry in this excellent portrait of hippie life.

For those of you who would prefer to leave the dysfunctional gatherings behind, I recommend The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker. Not familiar with Parker? You might try your hand at her pandemic-produced podcast, Together Apart (an alternatively apt title for Shteyngart's novel). If you are struggling to figure out how to re-engage with others after so much time apart, this is a book you won't want to miss.

Ready for the left turn? From food activist and cookbook author Bryant Terry, Black Food. It's a gorgeous new volume that makes me want to gather a large group on a cold evening, cook up a storm and read aloud wisdom from a diverse array of voices from the African diaspora. More than 100 chefs, artists, activists, scholars, journalists, and poets contributed to this volume, a beautiful gathering on the page. I cannot wait to gather for this feast. Who wants to join me?

Barrett Bookstore and Random House invite you to join #1 New York Times bestselling author Dr. Brené Brown for a special, one-night-only event to launch Atlas of the Heart. Brené will be joined by special guest Priya Parker.

Your ticket includes admission to this exclusive event and a hardcover copy of Atlas of the Heart ($30 retail price), as well as sales tax, shipping, and handling (if applicable).

We can’t wait to see you there!

**This is a virtual event that will be hosted on Zoom - you will need access to a computer or other device that is capable of accessing and sufficient Internet access.**

**If you choose in-store pick up of the book, you will receive an e-mail from Barrett Bookstore when your book is ready to be picked up.**