The One-Eyed Man

Since K.’s wife, Sarah, died from cancer, he’s found himself “wedded to the notion of clarity,” much to the chagrin of his friends. After he prevents a robbery and takes a bullet at a coffee shop, an enigmatic man named Theodore offers him a spot in a reality show, traveling the country and confronting various people about truth. He’s accompanied by Claire, a wry former Total Foods employee. To everyone’s surprise, the show is a huge hit. Unfortunately, K. has made himself a target, which is great for ratings but not so great for his health. In the third act, K. and Claire are kidnapped in Texas by a gun devotee with an agenda, and in the aftermath, no one will be the same again. Currie is a talented storyteller; K.’s reality show adventures, all told in K’s voice, offer sardonic humor and a healthy dose of outrageousness, but the heartbreaking passages on his wife’s last days are the real windows into K.’s damaged soul. Currie explores the pain of loss and possibility of redemption with aplomb, humor, and an empathetic hand in this heartbreaking tale. (Mar.)