The Guard

The GuardWinner of the European Union Literature Prize, Peter Terrin's The Guard is a haunting novel of perceived oppression by the an omnipresent, but unknown, authority. In the near future, Harry and Michel live in the basement of a luxury apartment block, guarding the inhabitants. No one goes outside. The world might be at war, it might even have been plunged into nuclear winter. No one knows. But one weekend, all of the residents leave the block, one by

and reproduced as we were "meant to" fail to recognize that we were never perfectly suited to our environment

where an abandoned girl collides with a disgruntled ménage of circus freaks Kitty Hayward and her mother are ready to experience the spectacles of Coney Island's newest attraction

including smell

On this lonely island with no chance of escape

who is as rational as she is dreamy

Joanne Rocklin's masterful novel deftly builds a story about family

and sometimes babies followed

Most people have no idea how the network works

it uncovers some fascinating insights and explodes some myths

Even as he struggled with dramatic emotional and physical changes

The soldiers could form well-disciplined fighting units

or a leisurely weekend brunch