The Drift of Things

Norman Mean, age 30, is drawn back to his hometown to attend his mother’s funeral. Norm left immediately after high school to escape the everyday reminders of a tragedy he considers to have been his fault, and he has no intention of staying. However, his concern for his father’s wellbeing, and a general inertia lead him into an unusual teaching job at his old school. And there’s this girl...

Marked by razor-sharp dialogue, The Drift of Things is a complex, witty, and sad, with an unforgettable father and son duo at its core.

2014 Piscataqua Press Novel Contest Silver Medal Winner

"Funny, smart, unpredictable, and true, The Drift of Things is that rare book in contemporary fiction, one with both heart and intelligence. Benjamin Schwartz has delivered a cast of characters so real you expect to find them watching TV in the living room. In a beautifully-crafted story about what remains broken and yet healed in all of us, Schwartz has established himself as a writer to watch." -Katherine Towler, author of Snow Island