Back Talk: Stories

Beautifully crafted … the sentences in these stories are living and seamless, as if Lazarin had run her hand over them until they became smooth and gleaming with the evidence of her touch. -Carmen Maria Machado, The New York Times Book Review

From an award-winning writer, a stunning collection of stories about women’s unexpressed desires and needs, and the unexpected ways they resurface

In Floor Plans, a woman at the end of her marriage tests her power when she inadvertently befriends the neighbor trying to buy her apartment. In Appetite, a sixteen-year old grieving her mother’s death experiences first love and questions how much more heartbreak she and her family can endure. In Dinosaurs, a recent widower and a young babysitter help each other navigate how much they have to give-and how much they can take-from the people around them.

Through stories that are at once empathetic and unexpected, these women and girls defiantly push the boundaries between selfishness and self-possession. With a fresh voice and bold honesty, Back Talk examines how narrowly our culture allows women to express their desires.

Deceptively quiet but packs a powerful punch … The best collection I’ve read in years, from a phenomenal new talent. -Celeste Ng