Portable Veblen

Set in Palo Alto, California, this quirky and mildly surreal novel follows Veblen Amundson—an eccentric, independent-minded translator—and her fiancé, Paul Vreeland, a brilliant medical researcher. As they prepare for their impending marriage, their relationship begins to fray under the pressure of their highly dysfunctional families, Paul’s tempting but ethically murky deal with a major pharmaceutical giant, and a charming, enigmatic squirrel that Veblen believes is communicating with her. It is a sharp, witty exploration of consumer capitalism, ambition, and the bizarre nature of modern love.