Tom Perrotta’s The Leftovers (2011) is an interesting exploration of suburban life interrupted by a mass disappearance that many believe is the Rapture. It’s not clear from the book how many people have been removed from the face of the Earth, but everyone seems to know someone who is gone.
What does it all mean for those of us who are left behind? Let’s just say it gets pretty weird. (In the Times, Steven King calls it “the best Twilight Zone episode you never saw.”) I highly recommend this thoughtful, interesting novel.
I’ve also enjoyed Perrotta’s earlier work, including Bad Haircut: Stories of the Seventies, Election, The Wishbones, Little Children and Joe College.
Check out reviews of The Leftovers at the New York Times, the L.A. Times and the Washington Post.
Or, just save your breath and join Guilty Remnant.