A deceptively captivating novel that explores the murky swamps between depression and egocentrism, the comfort of place and routine when all else is lost, and the inescapability of the past. I say "deceptively" because O'Regan's straightforward style, focused on practicalities and the feelings of the moment, and littered with bathetic pop culture references, belies the depth of the impact of the events his characters are experiencing – just as the apparent simplicity of his protagonist belies the extent to which he is lost. ( )