Lone Stars: A Novel

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Description

Lone Stars follows the arc of four generations of a Texan family in a changing America. Julian Warner, a father at last, wrestles with a question his husband posed: what will you tell our son about the people you came from, now that they're gone Finding the answers takes Julian back in time to Eisenhower's immigration border raids, an epistolary love affair during the Vietnam War, crumbling marriages, queer migrations to Cambridge and New York, up to the disorienting polarization of Obama's second term. And in these answers lies a hope: that by uncloseting ourselves-as immigrants, smart women, gay people-we find power in empathy.

Reviews

"A beautiful and well-paced book worth savoring."--Portland Book Review

"A delight, sometimes a revelation... Lone Stars tells a universal story, as all good books do."--Lone Star Literary Life

"A welcome surprise... demonstrating that there are still important stories to be told about the experience of coming out."--Gay & Lesbian Review/Worldwide

"At once epic and timely, Deabler's stunning multi-generational novel is... a complicated love song to Texas, and (I'll be honest) a tear-jerker. You won't be able to set this one down."--Diana Spechler, author of Who by Fire and Skinny

"You'll love this uplifting novel... It's a tale of immigration and strong women that shines with hope."--Good Housekeeping

"This fast-moving book fully and sympathetically illuminates the varied lives of the three Texans at the heart of the story. They go through serious ups and downs, and that's what life and good storytelling is all about."--The Vietnam Veterans of America

"At its core is about secrets, and what happens when families don't talk about the things family's 'don't talk about.'"--The Berkshire Eagle

"Deabler's bighearted debut...proudly and emotionally defines what it means to be from the Lone Star State."--Publisher's Weekly

"A triumphant debut."--Matthew Sharpe, author of The Sleeping Father

"Enormously poignant."--Carole Maso, author of Ava

"A wonderfully humane and honest novel about a complicated modern American family. This perfectly paced story builds on secrets, betrayals and unconditional love toward a big-hearted ending that may leave you in tears."--Jim Lynch, author of Before the Wind

Author Bio

JUSTIN DEABLER grew up in Houston. He dropped out of high school when he was fifteen, went to Simon's Rock College, and graduated from Harvard Law School. He is the General Counsel for the Queens Public Library. He lives in Brooklyn with his husband, son, and two cats.