Swing State: A Novel

(Paperback)

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"Swing State" unveils the generally overlooked decades-long economic downturn in the rural Northeast. With an unflinching eye, novelist Michael T. Founier lays bare the dim dreams and raw existence of the lives of three residents of Armbrister, New Hampshire, who share the same goal: Get out. Faced with grim prospects, the intersection of bullying

Reviews

"Fournier's (Hidden Wheel) second novel focuses on three young people making do in the brutal economic wasteland of New Hampshire's North Country ... Fournier conjures three vivid voices for this bleak tale in which things go from bad to worse. His excellent writing should appeal to readers of contemporary fiction who like the view to be unflinching." --Library Journal "Explores the effects of poverty and the resulting domestic violence... in doing so reveals the complex underpinnings of American disenfranchisement... The unique writing style and sympathetic characters found in Swing State create an intriguing read. Fournier draws potent scenes depicting their struggles -- returning from war, finding acceptance and approval, and asserting their own independence. Although each character has a unique story to tell, Fournier deftly interweaves and connects their lives until they come together in the explosive conclusion." --The Compulsive Reader "With Swing State, Michael Fournier has delivered a riveting, compassionate story of life in the American underclass. These are voices seldom heard trying to rise above in a community left to crumble. The narrative gains momentum as the characters struggle to overcome the inertia of smalltown New Hampshire. Fournier is one of our best writers and Swing State is his finest book yet." --Mike Faloon, Author of The Hanging Gardens of Split Rock "Fournier recognizes that scenes are forged by the energy of the people involved and remembered by the artistic tomes they leave behind, and nails both perspectives. It's managed to make me excited ..." -- NewArtillery.com "Recommended for readers of literary fiction and those interested in other's lives and how they handle the obstacles life gives them." --Booksie's Blog "Fournier's books reflect the changing attitudes of the punk rock and indie music scenes -- both mocking their hypocrisy, and praising them for changing the social attitudes of the day." -- KNPR "With the DIY ethos of a zinester and the backing of a small press, Fournier takes his inspirations from musicians and writers on the fringe of society. A fellow rebel!" -- Black Heart Magazine

Author Bio

Michael T. Fournier is a writer/critic/musician, and the author of two novels: Hidden Wheel (Three Rooms Press, 2011) and Swing State (Three Rooms Press, 2014), as well as Double Nickels on the Dime (33 1/3/Continuum), a book-length discussion of the 1984 Minutemen album of the same name. He is founder and co-editor of Cabildo Quarterly, a broadsheet literary journal. His writing has appeared in the the Oxford American, Vice, Pitchfork, and the Boston Globe. He lives in Western Massachusetts with his wife Rebecca and their cat.