Peter Bognanni is a writer currently based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. His first novel, The House of Tomorrow, is forthcoming from Amy Einhorn Books (Putnam) in early 2010. He attended the Iowa Writers' Workshop not long ago, and his short stories and humor pieces have appeared in various literary journals. He teaches Creative Writing at Macalester College and works (almost) every day on a new book.

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A funny and deeply affecting story of a young man's self-discovery, a dying woman's last wish, and a band of misfits trying desperately to be heard.

On the outskirts of a small town in Iowa, Sebastian Prendergast lives in a geodesic dome with his eccentric grandmother, who has spent the last eleven years homeschooling him on the teachings of futurist, philosopher R. Buckminster Fuller. But when Sebastian's grandmother has a stroke, Sebastian is forced to leave the dome and discover what it means to live a normal life.

Jared Whitcomb is a chain-smoking sixteen-year-old heart transplant recipient who befriends Sebastian, and begins to teach him about all the things he has been missing out on, including girls, grilled cheese sandwiches with grape soda, and Sid Vicious. Together they form a punk band called The Rash, and with the help of Jared's sister, Meredith, prepare to take the local church talent show by storm. But when Sebastian's grandmother wants him to return to the dome and take Bucky's message to the world, will Sebastian have to give up The Rash — and lose his chance at winning Meredith's heart?

Unexpectedly poignant and richly comic, The House of Tomorrow is a novel about the power of music, the exquisite torture of first love, and the many places we call home.

News about the book

  • The House of Tomorrow is a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers pick for the summer, an Indiebound Next selection for March, and a Borders Original Voices pick.
  • Peter Bognanni appeared in The New York Times Books blog Paper Cuts.
    Read Living With Music: A Playlist by Peter Bognanni »
    12/16/09
  • The House of Tomorrow got a Starred Review in Publishers Weekly: "...funny and unique...an honest, noisy, and raucous look at friendship and how loud music can make almost everything better."  Read entire review »
    11/16/09
  • Read all reviews »