Certain American States

Certain American States is a collection of twelve short stories set across various locations in the United States. The narratives follow characters who find themselves at turning points or moments of disruption in their lives. The stories deal with relationships in flux - marriages ending, friendships evolving, and family bonds being tested. Characters navigate loss, displacement, and the struggle to connect with others in meaningful ways. Many of the stories take place in transitional spaces like motels, temporary apartments, and unfamiliar cities. The characters often exist in psychological states of uncertainty or suspended animation between past and future versions of themselves. The collection examines themes of isolation and disconnection in contemporary American life, while exploring how geography and place shape human experience. Through precise observation and emotional restraint, Lacey captures the complexities of modern relationships and the search for belonging.

Readers describe the stories as emotionally intense character studies, focusing on grief, relationships, and isolation. The prose style draws frequent mentions - described as precise and controlled while maintaining raw emotional impact. Liked: - Sharp observations of human behavior and relationships - Unique narrative structures and experimental techniques - Strong opening story "Violations" - Character depth and psychological complexity Disliked: - Some stories feel unresolved or too abstract - Consistently dark/heavy tone throughout - Characters can seem emotionally distant - Writing style occasionally too detached Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (85+ ratings) Notable reader comments: "The precision of the language creates this amazing tension" - Goodreads review "Beautiful writing but the stories left me feeling empty" - Amazon review "Characters feel both specific and universal" - LibraryThing review

Everything That Rises Must Converge by Flannery O'Connor Stories of damaged characters in the American South navigate isolation and familial tension through stark, unflinching prose.

Homesick for Another World by Ottessa Moshfegh Characters drift through their lives in these stories of alienation, desperation, and unmet desires in contemporary America.

The Shell Collector by Anthony Doerr Stories explore the intersections of nature and human longing through characters searching for connection across landscapes.

Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage by Alice Munro Characters confront life-altering moments in stories that peel back layers of relationships and interior lives.

The Largesse of the Sea Maiden by Denis Johnson Stories follow characters through spiritual and existential crises in American settings marked by loss and redemption.

🔖 Catherine Lacey wrote this collection of stories while traveling through multiple states in America, staying in different Airbnbs and temporary housing arrangements 📚 The book's title is a play on words, referring both to American states (locations) and states of being/consciousness that the characters experience 💫 The collection won the Young Lions Fiction Award from the New York Public Library in 2019 🖋️ Several stories in the collection originated as shorter pieces in prestigious literary magazines, including The New Yorker and Oxford American ✨ The book explores themes of disconnection and alienation through characters who are often physically or emotionally separated from their former lives, reflecting larger patterns in contemporary American society