Bowlaway

A mysterious woman named Bertha Truitt is found unconscious in a cemetery in early 1900s New England, carrying nothing but candlepins and a bowling ball. She goes on to establish a bowling alley in the small town of Salford, Massachusetts, creating a space that defies the era's social conventions. The story follows multiple generations connected to Truitt's bowling alley through decades of transformation in American life. Characters move in and out of the narrative as marriages form and dissolve, fortunes rise and fall, and the bowling alley remains a constant presence in their interconnected lives. The narrative spans nearly a century, incorporating events from the Great Molasses Flood of 1919 through mid-century social changes. Through births, deaths, and reinventions, the bowling alley serves as both refuge and catalyst for the residents of Salford. McCracken's novel examines how chance encounters and unexpected events shape family legacies. The book considers themes of inheritance - both genetic and emotional - while exploring how physical spaces can anchor communities across time.

Readers describe Bowlaway as quirky and unconventional in structure, following multiple generations through a New England bowling alley. Positive reviews highlight: - McCracken's distinctive writing style and memorable turns of phrase - Complex female characters who defy expectations - Blend of historical details with magical realism elements - Dark humor throughout the narrative Common criticisms: - Too many characters to track - Meandering plot that loses focus - Abrupt shifts between storylines - Some readers found the writing style pretentious Ratings: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (5,800+ ratings) Amazon: 3.7/5 (250+ ratings) From reader reviews: "The prose is beautiful but the story feels disconnected" - Goodreads reviewer "Characters appear and disappear without resolution" - Amazon reviewer "Like a series of linked short stories rather than a novel" - LibraryThing review "The bowling alley setting delivers unexpected poignancy" - BookBrowse reader

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The Giant's House by Elizabeth McCracken The story of a librarian and a young man with gigantism shares the same careful attention to human oddities and unexpected connections.

Florence in Ecstasy by Jessie Chaffee A woman rebuilds her life in an old-world setting while navigating complex relationships and historical echoes.

The Sport of Kings by C. E. Morgan This sprawling family saga set around a bowling alley examines American myths and legacies through multiple generations.

🎳 Author Elizabeth McCracken comes from a family of bowlers and grew up hearing stories of candlepin bowling from her mother, who bowled in New England during the 1950s. 📚 The novel spans nearly 100 years of American history, from the turn of the 20th century through the end of World War II and beyond, weaving historical events into its narrative. 🎭 Candlepin bowling, central to the story, is a variation of bowling played primarily in Maritime Canada and New England, using narrower pins and smaller balls than traditional ten-pin bowling. ✍️ McCracken wrote much of Bowlaway while living in Berlin on a fellowship, drawing inspiration from being in a place where she felt like an outsider, much like her character Bertha Truitt. 🏆 The book received widespread critical acclaim and was named one of the best books of 2019 by NPR, Time Magazine, and The Washington Post.