Trophy Son

Brunt's latest novel (The Means; Ghosts of Manhattan) focuses on our U.S. sports-obsessed lifestyle, in this case, the professional tennis tour during which players' bodies begin to deteriorate at age 18. Anton Stratis is such a player, initially an eight-year-old child phenomenon who sacrifices two decades to gain a top world ranking. Ignoring the strain of five-hour training sessions in 90-degree heat, Anton's alpha-dog father mercilessly molds him into a successful player. "I ate, slept, played tennis and rested for more tennis." Anton's first-person narrative carries the story as he grows weary of his tennis-dominated adolescence. Brunt reveals the sport's cruel expectations in his protagonist's struggles with performance-enhancing drugs, media pressure, and seeking psychiatric help. Hovering on the edges of Anton's isolated life is gorgeous actress Ana, a possible soul mate who also endures unrealistic expectations.