One sultry, summer night in Florida in 1979, the three young Barton brothers hop into the family station wagon and head out for a night on the town. Fueled by high hopes, hormones, and alcohol, their adventure takes a dangerous turn when they stumble on to a violent situation that changes the very nature of their familial relationships. In the months and years after, the brothers set out on disparate paths and find themselves scattered--is the pull of family enough to keep them together?Using a "Gonzo" narrative style to examine complicated modern issues, author Alex Cook explores topics like race, sexuality, addiction, politics, mental health, parenting and the effect that rapidly changing technology has on society and the human species. Full of references to literature, music, and pop culture, it's a raucous, poignant family dramedy with the power to entertain and inspire. This is the first book in a two-part series. The second is ONLY THE TRYING.