TheColumbiaspaceshuttleanditscontentsraindownonthepeopleofKiser,Texas,inKathrynSchwille’simaginativedebutnovelsetsixweeksbeforetheinvasionofIraq.WhatLuck,ThisLifebeginsintheaftermathofthespaceshuttle’sbreak-up,asthepeopleofPineyWoodswatchtheirpasturesswarmwithsearchersandreportersblusterattheirdoors.Ashopownerdefendsherselfagainstasexualpredatorwhoispushedtonewboldnessafterheisdisinvitedtohisfamilyreunion.Aclosetedfatherfacingadivorcethatwillleavehisgiftedboyadriftretrievesanastronaut’sremains.Anengineerwhodreamsoforbitingearthjoinsasearchfordebrisandinsteaduncoversanoldneighbor’sburiedlonging.Inachorusofvoicesspanningplacesandyears,WhatLuck,ThisLifeexplorestheColumbiadisaster’ssurprisingfalloutforatownbesetbythetensionsofclass,race,andmissedopportunity.EvokingSherwoodAnderson’sclassicWinesburg,OhioandElizabethStrout’sOliveKitteridge,thenovel’sunforgettablecharactersstrugglewithfamilyupheavalandmortality’sgripandaluminousbookemerges--filledwithheartache,beautyandwarmth.
