Readers also meet Ren, a young man just out of juvie in Brooklyn who has come to L.A. Stuck in traffic, Tony, a married lawyer, spots a naked man streaking between cars and becomes obsessed with finding out who he is. Pochoda's third novel (after Visitation Street) uses a 2010 traffic jam as the springboard for an exploration of the rootless existence of marginal SoCal lives. Wonder Valley is a swirling mix of angst, violence, heartache, and yearning-a masterpiece by a writer on the rise. Their lives will all intertwine and come crashing together in a shocking way, one that could only happen in this enchanting, dangerous city. And there's Blake, a drifter hiding in the desert, doing his best to fight off his most violent instincts.

There's Tony, a bored and unhappy lawyer who is inspired by the runner. There's Britt, who shows up at the commune harboring a dark secret.

There's Owen and James, teenage twins who live in a desert commune, where their father, a self-proclaimed healer, holds a powerful sway over his disciples. There's Ren, just out of juvie, who travels to LA in search of his mother. The strange sight makes the local news and captures the imaginations of a stunning cast of misfits and lost souls. When a teen runs away from his father’s mysterious commune, he sets in motion a domino effect that will connect six characters desperate for hope and love, set across the sun-bleached canvas of Los Angeles.įrom the acclaimed author of Visitation Street, a visionary portrait of contemporary Los Angeles in all its facets, from the Mojave Desert to the Pacific, from the 110 to Skid Row.ĭuring a typically crowded morning commute, a naked runner is dodging between the stalled cars.

Wonder valley book