Livability

Livability is a collection of short stories by Jon Raymond about ordinary people dealing with the frustrations, longings and mood swings of everyday life. One story follows a tired man trying to recover from the death of his wife in a car accident. In another, two old friends head into the woods hoping to rediscover their connection. In a third, a screenwriter waits for news about the future of his film.

The stories are rich in sensory detail, such as the sound of a tree root snapping underfoot, the smell of a roast, and the stillness of the air once the music has stopped. Written with careful observation and a humane spirit, they build a portrait of America in which characters find ways to survive the consequences of their own choices.

The collection was published to coincide with the national release of the film Wendy and Lucy. Raymond is a writer from Portland, Oregon, who has worked with the film's director, Kelly Reichardt, and that film was adapted from one of the stories in this book.