Straight Man

Like Russo’s novel, A Small, Careful Thing blends humor and poignancy to expose the absurdities and dysfunctions of academic life. Both books use the voice of a flawed but magnetic professor to reveal deeper truths about institutions and privilege.

Stoner

Williams’s quietly devastating novel about an unassuming professor mirrors A Small, Careful Thing’s interest in the inner life of academics and the subtle destruction of campus politics. Both works utilize finely tuned prose to elevate the ordinary into something timeless.

Gilead

A Small, Careful Thing shares Robinson’s meditative prose and deep concern with moral responsibility and belonging. Both novels use intimate, reflective narration to wrestle with the weight of generational histories.