The Gunners

2020 Longlist

Mikey Callahan, a thirty-year-old who is suffering from the clouded vision of macular degeneration, struggles to establish human connections – even his emotional life is a blur. As the novel begins, he is reuniting with “The Gunners”, his group of childhood friends, after one of them has committed suicide. Sally had distanced herself before ending her life, and she died harbouring secrets about herself and her friends. In this quietly startling, beautiful book, Mikey, Alice, Lynn, Jimmy, and Sam search for the core of truth, friendship, and forgiveness.

About the Author

Rebecca Kauffman is originally from rural North-eastern Ohio. She received her BA in classical violin performance from the Manhattan School of Music, and several years later, Kauffman received her MFA in creative writing from NYU. She currently lives in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. She is the author of Another Place You’ve Never Been.

Librarian’s Comments

Six childhood friends grow up, spread their wings and meet fifteen years later at one of their friend’s funeral. Sally has committed suicide. She was special to all of them. Each of them knew different sides of Sally, while Sally knew secrets about each of them.

Kauffman’s writing is simple, yet exquisitely observant and detailed in a way that sort of stuns you with humour and poignancy. The characters are rich and vibrant, their inner lives and internal struggles relatable and meaningful. This book deals with the power of connection, of belonging, and the beauty of friendship. Münchner Stadtbibliothek, Germany