Anxious and alone, unable to sleep, this is a young woman’s neon lit story of fear, violence, casual work and drunken blackouts against the backdrop of casinos in Reno and Las Vegas; think early Tom Waits, “Nighthawks”, “Paris, Texas”.
Vlautin has such a way with a story and with people, especially their sadnesses: their search for compassion in this world. He operates in a space between Carver and Denis Johnson.
Quick read. Gentle read. There is no spare flesh on this story.
365 times 50 
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