Seconds

by Claudia Putnam

Two couples spending an evening together in an old Colonial home, as they have done many times before. A storm building across an ancient, indifferent New England landscape. Two old friends and one woman whose striking paintings adorn the walls, and whose absence haunts the memories of the men and the imaginations of their second wives. Who belongs in such a world? Can anyone else get in? Can anyone disenfranchised get back in? A slow-burn, taut examination of what we most wish were not true of who we've been and what we've longed for.

86 pages, Paperback

Published July 1, 2023

About the author

I grew up in New Hampshire but have lived my adult life in Colorado, where I raised my son. I've worked in software marketing, taught comp-rhetoric, been a journalist, sold antiques, cooked greasy food. I studied International Affairs and Russian as an undergraduate and also some comparative religion and Native American studies in graduate school. I like to be outside. I write fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction, appearing in many literary magazines. A novel, STRONG BROWN GOD, is underway. Debut, prizewinning poetry collection, The Land of Stone and River, can be preordered here. A poetry chapbook, Wild Thing in Our Known World, is available from Finishing Line Press.

Reviews

[Thomas Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received Seconds from Bookshop.org yesterday, *before* my earlier preorder from Amazon shipped. 😃 More importantly, I sat down to read a chapter after lunch, and the next thing I knew of the outside world was that it was dinner time. This novella is beautifully crafted, masterfully paced, and deeply insightful. Whether or not I wished those insights into the characters were true to life, the intelligence of this book is undeniable. In brief: Loved It! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ … and I want seconds. 💖

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. A deceptively understated exploration of privilege and violence--and also of violence as a universal human temptation. There are hidden explosives here that detonate before you fully realize it. Masterfully done. I love books in which so much is accomplished in such a small space.

[Joelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slow-burn novella where characters and relationships are revealed little by little, through current conversations and recalled memories. If I was feeling intellectual and well-read, I could probably compare it to some famous authors.
This was not something I would normally pick up, but I met the author at a local book store and she seemed nice. I've read books based on less, but this was well-written, and I'm glad I picked this up.

[Claudia Putnam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a slow-burn, place- and character-based story that builds tension and drive. Set in New England, where I grew up--on the dark side. Rating it to call attention to it among my followers... I'm proud of it, and what am I supposed to do, give it 3 stars? :) Hope friends will enjoy.