A demand for a refund becomes a novel

by Euan Kerr, Minnesota Public Radio

"Dear American Airlines, My name is Benjamin R. Ford and I am writing to request a refund in the amount of $392.68."

Thus begins Jonathan Miles new novel "Dear American Airlines."

St. Paul, Minn. — It's a 180 page complaint letter written by a middle-aged man trapped at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. He is supposed to be on his way to the wedding of a daughter he hasn't seen in almost 30 years.

As Bennie Ford writes, he begins to tell his life story.

Jonathan Miles says his book grew out of a similar experience when he was stranded with hundreds of others at O'Hare.

He told Minnesota Public Radio's Euan Kerr that in the middle of the night he began composing a complaint letter to deal with his mounting rage.

Broadcast Dates

• All Things Considered, 06/20/2008, 4:50 p.m.