The Usual Desire to Kill - Hardcover
$27.99
Skip to product information
The Usual Desire to Kill - Hardcover
$27.99
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Details
by Camilla Barnes (Author)
A "droll, psychologically astute...unexpected...very funny" (Maureen Corrigan, NPR's Fresh Air) and moving portrait of a long-married couple, seen through the eyes of their wickedly observant daughter.
Miranda's parents live in a dilapidated house in rural France that they share with two llamas, eight ducks, five chickens, two cats, and a freezer full of decades-old food. Miranda's father is a retired professor of philosophy who never loses an argument. Miranda's mother likes to bring conversation back to "the War," although she was born after it ended. Married for fifty years, they are uncommonly set in their ways. Miranda plays the role of translator when she visits, communicating the desires or complaints of one parent to the other and then venting her frustration to her sister and her daughter. At the end of a visit, she reports "the usual desire to kill." This wry, propulsive story about an eccentric yet endearing family and the sibling rivalry, generational divides, and long-buried secrets that shape them, is a glorious debut novel from a seasoned playwright with immense empathy and a flair for dialogue.
Number of Pages: 256
Dimensions: 1.1 x 8.5 x 5.5 IN
Publication Date: April 01, 2025
Materials + Care
We prioritize quality in selecting the materials for our items, choosing premium fabrics and finishings that ensure durability, comfort, and timeless appeal.
Shipping + Returns
We strive to process and ship all orders in a timely manner, working diligently to ensure that your items are on their way to you as soon as possible.