![]() ![]() We see characters who do horrible, unspeakable things only to learn that they faced similar abuse. In the past few years, middle America has been a central topic of discussion, with some people crediting Donald Trump’s election to the undetected anger that thrummed throughout these “flyover states.” The novel understands this anger in all of its myriad ways. “Ohio” is gripping it is hard to look away from even as there are moments that are difficult to stomach. But as the novel progresses, it becomes more and more clear that these individual lives have been entangled long after they each left New Canaan in hopes of escaping their fate and remain enmeshed even as they return to it. One fateful night in 2013, the four main characters return to their hometown of New Canaan, their nights crossing over one another even as each person is profoundly alone in their experiences.īill, Stacey, Dan and Tina are all running from their own ghosts. The characters of “Ohio” are haunted by this wanting, unable to escape its effects. In the acknowledgements, Markley writes of that particular feeling of wanting a version of yourself that no longer exists - a feeling that is remarkably similar to grief. Horrific in a way that is only possible when grounded in reality, Markley’s novel explores the cruelties that have been inflicted by and on each of the characters. Stephen Markley’s debut novel “Ohio” is an unforgiving portrayal of post-9/11 life in a small Midwestern town. ![]()
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