Charles Bock’s debut novel, Beautiful Children, is a sweeping portrait of a depraved Las Vegas, from the bland misery of the suburbs to the explosive and exploitative sex industry, through the eyes of a runaway boy. The Washington Post writes, “[Bock’s] ability to share a deep understanding of America’s million or so lost street kids and their tormented parents give the book a whiff of greatness.”

Appearing with Nathaniel Rich