The 15 loosely connected stories in Beattie’s latest collection, The State We’re In, are set on Maine’s southern coast. They feature drifting adults and their rootless offspring.  The stories turn on seemingly unimportant moments that are, in fact, critical.  Thus “Adirondack Chairs” uses furniture to reflect a couple’s abandoned future.   “The collection demonstrates Beattie’s craftsmanship, precise language, and her knack for revealing psychological truths ” (Publishers Weekly).