Things That Are - Tapa dura

This collection of essays from an award-winning writer describes the similarities between love and vines and how exploding stars are related to exploding sea cucumbers, as well as tackling subjects like jellyfish, fainting goats and placid caterpillars.

Of all the wondrous things that are catalogued in this brave little book, the most wondrously fresh and novel may be the uncanny Ms. Leach’s own gamin-sly, rhythm-rhymey voice, and oh that flint-flighty, rapt-capacious mind of hers. Besides which, no one conjures a presenter present tense than she. Sheer scrambling delight.”

Lawrence Weschler, author of Mr Wilson's Cabinet of Wonder and Uncanny Valley: Adventures in the Narrative

Like a descendant of Lewis Carroll and Emily Dickinson, Amy Leach brings new meaning to the world without us, and within. A reader entering this book to learn more about the universe will exit knowing much more about her own self. At once large and intimate, these essays introduce one of the most exciting and original writers in America.”

Yiyun Li, author of Gold Boy, Emerald Girl and The Vagrants

I know of no other writer on earthor in the skylike Amy Leach. One of the pleasures ofThings That Are is the surprise of finding, among the mouldywarps and whimwhams and leguminous exoplanets of our galaxy, truths about ourselvesunearthed and unaired.”

Eula Biss, author of Notes from No Man’s Land

Infernally addictive.”

David Abram, author of Becoming Animal

In a series of essays that progress from the tiniest Earth dwellers to far-flung celestial bodiesconsidering everything from the similarity of gods to donkeys, to exploding stars and exploding sea cucumbersAmy Leach (Rona Jaffe and Whiting Award winner) rekindles our communion with the world. This groundbreaking debut delights and confounds the senses in wondrous ways.

Cover illustration:
© Nate Christopherson