Amuse-Bouche — Arnon Grunberg

Stealing glimpses into the bizarre, garrulous, and lonely lives of various characters -- ranging from a disillusioned, rich widow to a hopeful, young student -- this collection of vignettes reveals the joys and pains in people's private lives. Moving easily between cynical, high-society players and middle-class waiters to the claustrophobic quarters of an Amsterdam apartment and a swanky hotel in Las Vegas, these tales reveal moments of absurdity and happiness at every turn.