Belly A Novel Author:Lisa Selin Davis A funny, wise, and tender story of fatherhood and second chances, for fans of Richard Russo and Jane Smiley. Its been four years since William "Belly" OLeary left his beloved Saratoga Springs for the state penitentiary, but now that hes served his time on an illegal gambling charge, hes ready to reclaim his hometown. Trou... more »ble is, hes a stranger now: gone are the days when his swagger had all the girls swooning, when the bar he owned was a hot spot for hard-livers and hard drinkers, when his three surviving daughters bent over backward to please him or avoid his wrath. All his vices have been outlawed, all his haunts have been replaced with Wal-Marts and designer coffee shops, and all his daughters are defying him in one way or another. But Belly is undeterred--threats from his parole officer and neighbors dont scare him. Soon hes settling into his old habits and creating a mess wherever he goes. Its when he finally hits rock bottom that Belly is forced to reevaluate his old life--and maybe it wasnt worth resurrecting after all. As he slowly acknowledges his past errors, he comes face to face with his biggest regret--the loss of his fourth daughter in a car accident years ago. The secret hes kept ever since conceals the shame of the worst mistake hes ever made. With mordant humor and a cast of unforgettable characters, BELLY is an unsentimental look at a misspent life, the absurdities of modern mores, and the resilience of family.« less