Too Glorious to Even Long for on Certain Days - Paperback

by Joseph Bathanti (Author)

In working-class Pittsburgh, a young man confronts the absurdity of life and searches for meaning in an unforgiving world.

Fritz Sweeney grapples with an existential crisis during a pivotal summer in 1973. His job at Acme Toy Warehouse feels meaningless, a sentiment deepened by his fascination with Albert Camus's philosophy. In his first college literature class, an enigmatic Vietnam veteran professor introduces him to The Myth of Sisyphus and The Stranger, further complicating Fritz's understanding of existence.

Entangled with his mysterious girlfriend, Claire Raffo, Fritz faces numerous moral crossroads that challenge his beliefs and his place in the world. Will he find a way through the disillusionment, or will the weight of the absurd prove too heavy to bear?

Author Biography

Joseph Bathanti is the former North Carolina Poet Laureate (2012-14) and recipient of the North Carolina Award in Literature, the state's highest civilian honor. The author of over twenty books, Bathanti is McFarlane Family Distinguished Professor of Interdisciplinary Education at Appalachian State University and recipient of the Board of Governors Excellence in Teaching Award. He was inducted into the North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame in October of 2024.