A young woman loses her home. An Iranian immigrant buys the place for a song. She wants it back. He wants to restore his dignity and provide for his family. These people are hanging on to the last thread of the American dream. It might sound dismal, but the characters are affecting and true. Loss, pride and desperation make for gripping conflicts, and Dubus is a master at portraying realistic shades of gray. People are not either good or bad; they’re not one thing at all times. We can see ourselves in these wounded souls. Reviewed on Nov. 26, 2020