The Land of Steady Habits

Coming of age can happen at the strangest times: the surprising story of a man, his marriage, and his search for meaning. Anders Hill--nearing his early 60s and seemingly ensconced in the "land of steady habits," a nickname for the affluent, morally strict hamlets of Connecticut that dot the commuter rail line--abandons his career and family for a new condo, and a new life. Stripped of the comforts of his previous identity, he turns up at a holiday paty full of his ex-wife's friends and is surprised to find that the very world he rejected may be one he needs. Thus Anders embarks on a clumsy, hilarious, and heartbreaking journey to reconcile his past with his present. Like the early work of John Updike, Ted Thompson's debut finely observes a man deep in conflict with his community. With compassion for its characters and fresh insight into the American tradition of the "suburban narrative," THE LAND OF STEADY HABITS introduces an auspicious talent.