That describes a lot of smart young people who've outgrown their silly hometown traditions but feel powerless to replace them with anything better. It's a question best left to the professionals. His characters are most wordy when they're most pained. It's tricky business, this, and sometimes the big solos go awry. More often, though, they excite and enthrall.
Every good laboratory has some broken test tubes, and every hit has a flip side.
Enjoy the hits. His third novel, ''Up in the Air,'' will be published in June.