The Wonder Spot by Melissa Bank

The Wonder Spot by Melissa Bank

Nothing comes easily to Sophie Applebaum, the black sheep of her family trying to blend in with the herd. Uneasily situated between two brothers, Sophie first appears as the fulcrum and observer of her clan in "Boss of the World." Then, at college, in "The Toy Bar," she faces a gauntlet of challenges as Best Friend to the dramatic and beautiful Venice Lambourne, curator of "perfect things." In her early twenties, Sophie is dazzled by the possibilities of New York City during the Selectric typewriter era--only to land solidly back in Surrey, PA after her father's death.

The Wonder Spot follows Sophie's quest for her own identity--who she is, what she loves, whom she loves, and occasionally whom she feels others should love--over the course of 25 years. In an often-disappointing world, Sophie listens closely to her own heart. And when she experiences her 'Aha!' moments--her own personal wonder spots--it's the real thing. In this tremendous follow-up to her runaway bestseller, The Girls' Guide To Hunting And Fishing, Bank returns with her signature combination of devilishly self-deprecating humor, and again shares her vast talent for capturing a moment, taking it to heart, and giving it back to her readers.

Melissa Bank won the Nelson Algren Prize for short fiction in 1993 for her spectacular success The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing. She's written for the Chicago Tribune, Zoetrope, The North American Review, Other Voices, and Ascent, among other publications. Her work has also been featured on National Public Radio's Selected Shorts. She has a master's degree in fine arts from Cornell University and splits her time between New York City and East Hampton.