Tom Perrotta Livres

What if a number of people suddenly vanished without explanation? This is the reality for the citizens of Mapleton, who grapple with the aftermath of the Sudden Departure, losing friends, neighbors, and loved ones. The event has disrupted every aspect of life—marriages, friendships, and parent-child relationships are all affected. Kevin Garvey, the new mayor, seeks to heal his traumatized community and restore hope. However, his own family has disintegrated: his wife, Laurie, has joined the Guilty Remnant, a cult that practices silence, while his son, Tom, has dropped out of college to follow a dubious prophet named Holy Wayne. Only Kevin’s teenage daughter, Jill, remains, but she is far from the model student she once was. As Kevin attempts to support her, he finds himself drawn to Nora Durst, a woman who lost her entire family on October 14th and is struggling to rebuild her life. Through heart and intelligence, the narrative explores the complexities of love, connection, and loss in the wake of tragedy, highlighting the challenges faced by ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances.

A brilliantly funny novel from the author of The Abstinence Teacher' and Little Children', made into an acclaimed film starring Reece Witherspoon and Matthew Broderick.

Presents twenty of the best works of short fiction of the past year from a variety of acclaimed sources.

A collection of stories focuses on suburban nuclear families, including "Senior Season," "Nine Inches" and "The Smile on Happy Chang's Face."

New York Times bestseller!From the bestselling author of The Leftovers and Little Children comes a penetrating and hilarious new novel about sex, love, and identity on the frontlines of America's culture wars. číst celé

A group of parents, trapped in middle-class stability, deal with marriage, kids and their suburban life in very different ways. Now a box-office smash, 'Little Children' is a unique mix of the comical and the compassionate.

Tracy Flick is a hardworking assistant principal at a public high school in suburban New Jersey. Still ambitious but feeling a little stuck and underappreciated in midlife, Tracy gets a jolt of good news when the longtime principal, Jack Weede, abruptly announces his retirement, creating a rare opportunity for Tracy to ascend to the top job. Energized by the prospect of her long-overdue promotion, Tracy throws herself into her work with renewed zeal, determined to prove her worth to the students, faculty, and School Board, while also managing her personal life--a ten-year-old daughter, a needy doctor boyfriend, and a burgeoning meditation practice. But nothing ever comes easily to Tracy Flick, no matter how diligent or qualified she happens to be

Stonewood Heights is the perfect place to raise children: it’s got good schools, solid values and a healthy real estate market. Parents in the town are involved in their children’s lives, and often in other children’s lives, too—coaching sports, driving carpool, focusing on enriching experiences. Ruth Ramsey is the high school human sexuality teacher whose openness is not appreciated by all her students—or their parents. Her daughter’s soccer coach is Tim Mason, a former stoner and rocker whose response to hitting rock bottom was to reach out and be saved. Tim’s introduction of Christianity on the playing field horrifies Ruth, while his evangelical church sees a useful target in the loose-lipped sex ed teacher. But when these two adversaries in a small-town culture war actually talk to each other, a surprising friendship begins to develop. The Abstinence Teacher illuminates the powerful emotions that run beneath the placid surface of modern American family life, and explores the complicated spiritual and sexual lives of ordinary people. It is elegantly and simply written, characterized by the distinctive mix of satire and compassion that has become Perrotta’s trademark.

Tom Perrotta introduces a memorable young protagonist, Buddy, in this unsentimental and often hilarious collection of short stories. Set in a working-class town in New Jersey during the overlooked Seventies, Buddy navigates the complexities of race relations, sex, family dynamics, and, of course, haircuts. The decade's cultural landscape, marked by platform shoes, hard rock, and the lingering effects of the Vietnam War, serves as a backdrop to Buddy's universal coming-of-age experiences. Critics praise Perrotta's sharp vision, with Bret Lott noting the refreshing quality of his storytelling amidst a sea of bland narratives. Tobias Wolff highlights the collection's wit and humanity, likening it to Philip Roth's work and recognizing Perrotta as a significant new voice in literature. Buddy's journey to manhood unfolds through encounters with friends and foes like Sammy Rizzo, Neil Duffy, and Cockroach, as they navigate the halls of Warren G. Harding Regional High School, sports fields, and their neighborhood. This world is fraught with challenges such as teen pregnancy and violence, yet it also brims with warmth, humor, and insight. Readers of all ages will find resonance in Buddy's experiences, evoking both empathy and hope.