Super Short Summary

Set in the small town of Salford, Massachusetts, Elizabeth McCracken’s novel Bowlaway follows the lives of a quirky New England family across three generations, centered around the candlepin bowling alley, Truitt's Alley, established by the mysterious Bertha Truitt. Through family tragedies, newfound love, and acts of betrayal, the characters navigate their relationships and attachment to the bowling alley. This novel involves a character attempting suicide, instances of domestic violence, and spontaneous human combustion.