The Flawless Skin of Ugly People

This debut novel by Doug Crandell is one of those trade paperbacks that often doesn't get much press; however, it was reviewed in People Weekly, which got me to notice it. I'm so glad I did, because it was a beautiful, sad, yet also uplifting novel. Leonard Hobbie and his girlfriend, Kari, travel the country, working in menial jobs as bank tellers. Together since they were in high school, they've always felt on the outside of society, since Kari is overweight and Hobbie has very bad acne. But at the start of the book, Kari has left Hobbie to go to "fat camp," and the story follows his life without her. They haven't ended their relationship, but Kari doesn't want to have any e-mail or phone conversation with him--she only writes him letters. This is the story of Hobbie's journey without her, this part of him he's always had and is now missing. I highly recommend it.