The Household Spirit

Although they've lived side by side in the only two houses on Route 29 in rural upstate New York for over twenty years, Howie Jeffries--avid fisherman, accidental recluse--and Emily Phane--seemingly well-adjusted college student--have never actually spoken to each other. Both have their reasons: Howie is debilitatingly shy, and Emily has been hiding the fact that she suffers from a nighttime affliction that makes her terrified to go to sleep. But one day, when they least expect it,...
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Although they've lived side by side in the only two houses on Route 29 in rural upstate New York for over twenty years, Howie Jeffries--avid fisherman, accidental recluse--and Emily Phane--seemingly well-adjusted college student--have never actually spoken to each other. Both have their reasons: Howie is debilitatingly shy, and Emily has been hiding the fact that she suffers from a nighttime affliction that makes her terrified to go to sleep. But one day, when they least expect it, their worlds finally intersect. A most curious--and curiously funny--novel about two unlikely comrades-in-arms, The Household Spirit is a story about how little we know the people we see every day--and the depths and foibles of the human heart.