Raban is an expat Englishman, pushing 60, but he’s the living writer I most identify with. This is the first novel of his I’ve read. His travel books (and I hate that genre ghetto: the best novels are travel books) are superb. His observations on America, in particular, are deep, sharp, and loving. Unlike many of his compatriots, when it comes to the USA he’s neither patronizing nor overawed by glitz, and he takes the trouble to learn.