{"product_id":"ponder-9781648210693","title":"Ponder","description":"\u003cb\u003eAn Amazon bestseller \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e A darkly comic tale of love and loss in Walt Disney World at the turn of the millennium \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Murray \"Cheese\" Marks and John Apple, his slimmer, richer, more single friend, have chosen the happiest place on Earth for their annual boys' trip. Disney World may seem like a strange choice for two grown men on a glorified binge-drinking trip; it is. But Cheese has never been, and his wife allows him this expense-free trip. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e The Magic Kingdom was the last place John saw his parents before they died in a plane crash. John Apple was twelve then and wanted to return before he turned thirty. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Cheese and John's buddy-comedy turns into a love-triangle drama when they meet a beautiful, free-spirited southern Belle named Virginia. John and Cheese quickly fall in love--but Virginia's parents inexplicably push her not toward the handsome, single millionaire, but toward Cheese. And Cheese can't help but encourage it--at least until his wife and John's ex descend on Florida. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003ePonder \u003c\/i\u003eis the second novel from Daniel Roberts, author of the \u003ci\u003eUSA Today \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling \u003ci\u003eBar Maid, \u003c\/i\u003eand showcases the same sardonic style that \u003ci\u003eKirkus\u003c\/i\u003e praised as \"old-school, slightly surreal humor [that] has a dash of Barthelme or Perelman.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDaniel Roberts\u003c\/b\u003e's debut novel \u003ci\u003eBar Maid\u003c\/i\u003e was a \u003ci\u003eUSA Today\u003c\/i\u003e bestseller. Prior to becoming an author, he wrote plays: \u003ci\u003eHaunted House\u003c\/i\u003e which \u003ci\u003eThe New York Times\u003c\/i\u003e called \"sparklingly original with characters that stick\"; and \u003ci\u003eBrando, \u003c\/i\u003e of which \u003ci\u003eTime Out New Yor\u003c\/i\u003ek wrote, \"An impressive piece of writing recalling Edward Albee or John Guare.\" Vocationally, Roberts works as a private investor and venture capitalist in New York City, where he lives with young daughter.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Arcade Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50893766459666,"sku":"9781648210693","price":20.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_d4924ee6-e501-4891-8a83-5325635bc61d.jpg?v=1738237384","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/ponder-9781648210693","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}