Overview
From the award-winning author of Last Acts comes an elegant, hilarious redemption story in which our everyman hero, the aging professional bodybuilder Tom Gallo (the eleventh best bodybuilder in the world, he would clarify), plunges down a destructive path for a last shot at perfection.
"By page two, I teared up...There's a spiritual thread through the whole thing like a tractor beam. Unputdownable and unforgettable." —Mary Karr, New York Times bestselling author
"While many novelists are struggling to figure out how best to address the state of the nation—centerless, ridiculous, and terrifying, doomed yet trivial, dire yet unheroic—Sammartino seems to have cracked the code." —The New York Times Book Review
Veteran professional bodybuilder Tom Gallo still believes he can win it all. But his family disagrees. Yes: his wife, Lisa, and his sister, Debbie, have seen enough of his "art," and everyone is eager for the oft-injured, forty-something hustler to retire from the stage for good. But when a younger pro dies, Gallo gets the call to take his spot in the contest that will finally change his life—just not in the way he was hoping.
Gallo is an ode to the great literary portraits, in the tradition of Stoner and The Death of Ivan Illych. Set in the suburban desert of Phoenix, Arizona, this distinctly American novel—both heartbreaking and absurd—is about ambition, addiction, faith, family, and mortality, and it marks the latest achievement by an extraordinary new talent.
"By page two, I teared up...There's a spiritual thread through the whole thing like a tractor beam. Unputdownable and unforgettable." —Mary Karr, New York Times bestselling author
"While many novelists are struggling to figure out how best to address the state of the nation—centerless, ridiculous, and terrifying, doomed yet trivial, dire yet unheroic—Sammartino seems to have cracked the code." —The New York Times Book Review
Veteran professional bodybuilder Tom Gallo still believes he can win it all. But his family disagrees. Yes: his wife, Lisa, and his sister, Debbie, have seen enough of his "art," and everyone is eager for the oft-injured, forty-something hustler to retire from the stage for good. But when a younger pro dies, Gallo gets the call to take his spot in the contest that will finally change his life—just not in the way he was hoping.
Gallo is an ode to the great literary portraits, in the tradition of Stoner and The Death of Ivan Illych. Set in the suburban desert of Phoenix, Arizona, this distinctly American novel—both heartbreaking and absurd—is about ambition, addiction, faith, family, and mortality, and it marks the latest achievement by an extraordinary new talent.
While major retailers like Amazon may carry Gallo, we specialize in bulk book sales and offer personalized service from our friendly, book-smart team based in Portland, Oregon. We’re proud to offer a Price Match Guarantee and a streamlined ordering experience from people who truly care.
We’re trusted by over 75,000 customers, many of whom return time and again. Want proof? Just check out our 25,000+ customer reviews—real feedback from people who love how we do business.
Prefer to talk to a real person? Our Book Specialists are here Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST and ready to help with your bulk order of Gallo.