The Harder They Come

Publisher Marketing: Acclaimed "New York Times" bestselling author T. C. Boyle returns with a powerful, gripping novel that explores the roots of violence and anti-authoritarianism inherent in the American character. Set in contemporary Northern California, "The Harder They Come" explores the volatile connections between three damaged people an aging ex-Marine and Vietnam veteran, his psychologically unstable son, and the son s paranoid, much older lover as they careen towards an explosive confrontation. On a vacation cruise to Central America with his wife, seventy-year-old Sten Stensen unflinchingly kills a gun-wielding robber menacing a busload of senior tourists. The reluctant hero is relieved to return home to Fort Bragg, California, after the ordeal only to find that his delusional son, Adam, has spiraled out of control. Adam has become involved with Sara Hovarty Jennings, a hardened member of the Sovereign Citizens Movement, right-wing anarchists who refuse to acknowledge the laws and regulations of the state, considering them to be false and non-applicable. Adam s senior by some fifteen years, Sara becomes his protector and inamorata. As Adam s mental state fractures, he becomes increasingly schizophrenic a breakdown that leads him to shoot two people in separate instances. On the run, he takes to the woods, spurring the biggest manhunt in California history. As he explores a father s legacy of violence and his powerlessness in relating to his equally violent son, T. C. Boyle offers unparalleled psychological insights into the American psyche. Inspired by a true story, "The Harder They Come" is a devastating and indelible novel from a modern master." Review Citations: Booklist 02/01/2015 pg. 19 (EAN 9780062349392, Other) - *Starred Review Library Journal Prepub Alert 10/15/2014 pg. 66 (EAN 9780062349378, Hardcover) Publishers Weekly 12/01/2014 (EAN 9780062349378, Hardcover) Library Journal 12/01/2014 pg. 89 (EAN 9780062349378, Hardcover) - *Starred Review Kirkus Reviews 01/01/2015 (EAN 9780062349378, Hardcover) Booklist 02/01/2015 pg. 19 (EAN 9780062349378, Hardcover) - *Starred Review Entertainment Weekly 04/03/2015 pg. 66 (EAN 9780062349378, Hardcover) Shelf Awareness 04/07/2015 (EAN 9780062349378, Hardcover) BookPage 04/01/2015 (EAN 9780062349378, Hardcover) New York Times Book Review 04/12/2015 pg. 10 (EAN 9780062349378, Hardcover) New York Times Book Review 04/19/2015 pg. 26 (EAN 9780062349378, Hardcover) Contributor Bio:  Boyle, T Coraghessan T. CORAGHESSAN BOYLE was born and raised in New York's Hudson Valley and now lives near Los Angeles. He is the author of several novels and short story collections. His 1987 novel, "World's End", won the PENlFaulkner Award.