Alexander Sammartino’s debut novel is Last Acts. Barbara Peters, owner of The Poisoned Pen, recently welcomed Sammartino to the bookstore to talk about his book, set in Arizona. You can order a signed copy of the debut through the Webstore. https://bit.ly/3I0BXMO
Here’s the description of Last Acts.
Named a MOST ANTICIPATED book of 2024 by Nylon and The Millions
Following a near-death experience, an entrepreneurial father-and-son duo wreak havoc and fend off bankruptcy in this unflinching portrayal of the absurdities of American life.
“Hilarious, exceptional.” —Dan Chaon, The New York Times Book Review•“Honest, highwire, virtuosic writing that summons up the world with all its charms and hazards.” —George Saunders
Even though his firearms store is failing, things are looking up for David Rizzo. His son, Nick, has just recovered after a near-fatal overdose, which means one thing: Rizzo can use Nick’s resurrection to create the most compelling television commercial for a gun emporium that the world has ever seen. After all, this is America, Rizzo tells himself. Surely anything is possible. But the relationship between father and son is fragile, mired in mutual disappointment. And when the pair embarks on their scheme to avoid bankruptcy, a high stakes crash of hijinks, hope, and disaster ensues.
Featuring a cast of unforgettable characters, this razor-sharp social satire lays bare both the gun and opioid crises. Fans of Don DeLillo and Stephen Markley will be thrilled by this smart, inventive debut.
Alexander Sammartino lives in Brooklyn. He received his MFA from Syracuse University. Last Acts is his first novel. (But, he grew up in Arizona.)
Here’s the conversation about Arizona and Alexander Sammartino’s debut, Last Acts.