Epic Western Novel Available Now

David James Duncan's "Sun House: A Novel" is now available in both hardcover and paperback. Described as an "epic comedy about the quest for transcendence in an anything-but-transcendent America," it's set in the American West and praised for its spiritual depth and humor.

"Sun House" is David James Duncan's first novel in over three decades, a follow-up to his acclaimed 1992 book, "The Brothers K". The novel spans over 770 pages and took more than 20 years to write. The story weaves together the lives of a diverse cast of characters, including a Jesuit in crisis, a woman enthralled by Sanskrit, and a man who annually duels with fate. Their individual journeys eventually lead them to form an unconventional community in rural Montana. The novel explores deep spiritual and philosophical themes, drawing on various wisdom traditions. Duncan coins the term "Dumpster Catholicism" to describe a kind of personalized, non-denominational faith embraced by the characters. Set against the backdrop of the American West, the book is deeply concerned with nature and the looming threat of climate change. The landscape of Montana itself becomes a central element, shaping the characters and their search for meaning. The narrative unfolds through seven sections, or "tellings," and is propelled more by introspection and the characters' interior lives than a conventional plot. The narrative voice is described as a "Holy Goat," who is also a member of the community. Comparisons have been drawn to other lengthy, ambitious American novels like Don DeLillo's "Underworld" and John Steinbeck's "East of Eden". It's been described as a "throwback" to a time of sprawling novels that grapple with the meaning of American life.

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