Anxious People by Fredrick Bachman

 

The bank robber isn't really evil.  After being turned down for a loan, they just want enough money to make the rent so they don't lose their apartment and their daughters in the divorce settlement.  But it doesn't go well.  The bank they chose was a moneyless bank and had no cash.  Fleeing, the robber ran into an apartment building next door and ended up in a top floor apartment where there was a real estate listing.  Running in with a gun probably gave the wrong impression and before they knew it, they had an apartment full of hostages.

They are the worst hostages ever. There is a retired couple that spends their lives buying apartments, renovating them and reselling them.  A gay couple is about to have a baby.  There is a rich woman who thinks she is better than all of them.  There is an older woman patiently waiting on her husband who is parking the car.  There is even a man who is mostly nude with a rabbit head who takes jobs scaring off potential buyers.  Each has their individual stories and problems which puts them at odds with the others.

Then there are the police.  The pair that are handling the situation are father and son.  The son is full of modern ideas and thinks his father is holding him back.  The father loves his son and isn't sure what to do at work with him.  As the situation develops, it may provide an avenue for the two to find some peace.

This novel got lots of buzz.  It was a Book Of The Month Selection and chosen by various media outlets such as the Washington Post, CNN, the New York Post and others.  The characters are well developed and the plot which at the beginning seems to be a lot of tangled threads ends up well-knit into a satisfying conclusion.  This book is recommended for readers of literary fiction.