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"Touch" is a novel written by Alexi Zentner that was first published in 2011. It is a complex and richly imagined story that explores themes of family, identity, love, and loss. The narrative takes the reader on a journey through multiple generations of a family living in the small town of Sawgamet, located in upstate New York. The story is primarily told from the perspective of David Leitsche, the youngest member of the Leitsche family, who is struggling to understand the complex and often troubled relationships that exist within his family.The novel begins with the story of David's great-grandfather, Einar Leitsche, a Norwegian immigrant who comes to America in search of a better life. Einar is a rough and rugged man who is determined to make a life for himself and his family in the new land. He becomes a lumberjack and eventually settles in Sawgamet, where he marries a woman named Birgit and starts a family. The story of Einar's life is told in a series of flashbacks that are interspersed throughout the novel.As the narrative progresses, the reader is introduced to David's father, Peter Leitsche, who is a successful businessman in Sawgamet. Despite his success, Peter is a troubled man who is haunted by his own family history and is struggling to come to terms with his relationship with his father, David's grandfather. Peter's story is a complex and nuanced one that highlights the importance of family, identity, and the power of the past to shape the present.The central themes of the novel revolve around the concept of "touch." Touch is used as a metaphor for the relationships that exist within families and the ways in which those relationships can both heal and harm. Throughout the novel, David is grappling with his own sense of identity and his place within his family. He is trying to understand the relationships between his great-grandfather, grandfather, father, and himself, and how these relationships have shaped who he is and who he will become. The idea of touch is also used to explore the idea of love, both romantic and familial. Love is seen as something that can both heal and harm, just like touch.Another important theme in the novel is the idea of loss. The story is told against the backdrop of the decline of the logging industry in upstate New York, and the impact that this has on the people of Sawgamet. The loss of jobs and the decline of the town itself is a central motif in the novel, and is used to explore the idea of loss on a more personal level as well. Throughout the narrative, the characters are grappling with the loss of loved ones, the loss of their homes, and the loss of their way of life. The novel ultimately suggests that loss is an inevitable part of life, but that it is also something that can be overcome and transformed into something new and meaningful.The writing in "Touch" is vivid and evocative, and Zentner does a masterful job of bringing the characters and the world of Sawgamet to life. The novel is told in a fluid, multi-layered style that shifts back and forth in time, giving the reader a glimpse into the past, present, and future of the Leitsche family. This narrative structure is used to great effect, and adds depth and complexity to the story. The characters are all well-developed and believable, and the reader is drawn into their lives and their struggles in a way that is both powerful and engaging.In conclusion, "Touch" is a thought-provoking and deeply moving novel that explores some of the most fundamental questions of the human experience. The themes of family, identity