{"product_id":"the-boatbuilder-by-daniel-gumbiner","title":"'The Boatbuilder' by Daniel Gumbiner","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"qMYqUG_convSearchResultHighlightRoot\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"\" data-turn-id-container=\"request-6a13ebf1-e3bc-83ec-8e04-eb5854921a4e-18\" data-is-intersecting=\"true\"\u003e\n\u003csection class=\"text-token-text-primary w-full focus:outline-none has-data-writing-block:pointer-events-none [\u0026amp;:has([data-writing-block])\u0026gt;*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]\" dir=\"auto\" data-turn-id=\"request-6a13ebf1-e3bc-83ec-8e04-eb5854921a4e-18\" data-turn-id-container=\"request-6a13ebf1-e3bc-83ec-8e04-eb5854921a4e-18\" data-testid=\"conversation-turn-74\" data-scroll-anchor=\"false\" data-turn=\"assistant\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"text-base my-auto mx-auto pb-10 [--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-xs,calc(var(--spacing)*4))] @w-sm\/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-sm,calc(var(--spacing)*6))] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-lg,calc(var(--spacing)*16))] px-(--thread-content-margin)\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 group\/turn-messages focus-visible:outline-hidden relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col gap-4 grow\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"ed1fb277-5826-4be9-9d56-759e60477595\" data-turn-start-message=\"true\" dir=\"auto\" data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-5-5-thinking\" class=\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal outline-none keyboard-focused:focus-ring [.text-message+\u0026amp;]:mt-1\" tabindex=\"0\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"markdown prose dark:prose-invert wrap-break-word w-full light markdown-new-styling\"\u003e\n\u003ch4 data-start=\"495\" data-end=\"1028\"\u003eEli “Berg” Koenigsberg arrives in a small Northern California town after a concussion, an opioid addiction, rehab, relapse, and still dragging the old self behind him.\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"495\" data-end=\"1028\"\u003eBroke, uncertain and not especially equipped for ordinary adulthood, he finds work with an ageing boatbuilder and begins an apprenticeship. Together through sanding, shaping, watching, listening, he learns the patience by way of making something that cannot be rushed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1030\" data-end=\"1494\"\u003eDaniel Gumbiner’s debut novel is interested in recovery without turning it into a clean redemption arc. Berg is not dramatically saved by craft, community or love; he is slowly reassembled by them, which is much less cinematic and much more convincing. The novel moves through addiction, work, friendship, desire, shame and small-town intimacy with a steady, humane attention to how people build lives from available materials, even when half the timber is warped.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1496\" data-end=\"1815\"\u003eA gentle, intelligent novel for readers drawn to contemporary American literary fiction, recovery narratives, apprenticeship stories, and books where making something with your hands becomes a way of thinking without having to announce itself as therapy. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1830\" data-end=\"2129\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFirst edition, first printing, published by McSweeney’s in 2018. Paperback. Light shelfwear to cover and edges, with some rubbing\/marking visible to the wraps; corners lightly bumped. Pages appear clean and binding sound. National Book Award Longlist sticker to front cover.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"bower studio","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44657865293907,"sku":null,"price":14.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0689\/0268\/2707\/files\/Yourparagraphtext-2026-05-26T120414.711.png?v=1779761140","url":"https:\/\/bowerbooks.com\/products\/the-boatbuilder-by-daniel-gumbiner","provider":"bower books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}