Reflections of a Wayward Altar Boy: An Archaeology of Memory

ISBN-13: 9781502382870 / Angielski / Miękka / 2014 / 482 str.

David M. Brewer

Opis

Being the True History and Misadventures of a Servant of the Lord, a Stumbling Adolescent, Truck Driver, Carpenter, Hippie, Anthropologist and Underwater Archaeologist, Father, Son, Brother, Buddhist, and Sometimes Unholy Spirit... Here is a compilation of scenes, memories, and anecdotes describing family, adolescence, archaeology, and misadventure while growing up in Florida in the latter 20th century. This set of short tales brings the reader into a culture for the most part now foregone: a panorama from bootlegging to banging, bonging, begetting and besotting. A story of one man's walk up the red cinder brick road from a 60's Irish Catholic upbringing to a late-in-life tropical Zen tour de farce, the author hides none of the rougher characterizations that show both himself and mankind in their lesser light, but a glimmer of hope and a flash of humor always shine through, while both redemption and resurgence are never too far away. For older readers it will evoke nostalgia and sweet comparisons to their own silly schemes, with a few twisted turns along the way; for younger readers it will engender an envy of a freedom they'll never know, and warnings of what fate can sometimes deal out rather haphazardly. This collection of mostly humorous stories reflects both the promise and dangers of coming-of-age as well as the pitfalls of pursuing a professional career. It is a bitingly honest portrayal of a recalcitrant renegade of sorts, not always the altar boy originally intended, and contains a menagerie of odd and interesting characters, awkward situations, and unanticipated outcomes. Nonetheless, everyone should get something to suit their taste: whether it be religion or revelry, philosophy or philandering, imbibing with wastrels or an injection of hard-won wisdom, it's all just a matter of the taste-test of time, where history is only as ancient as yesterday afternoon and both wonderment and significance lie in the eyes of the beholder (or is it the beer holder?). What critics could be saying about Reflections: "A good story. A true story. A good and true story." Ernest Hemingway look-a-like, Joe Murray. "A heartbreaking work of staggering genius it's not, although there's still plenty of staggering going on." What Dave Eggars might say if asked. "A philosophical, metaphysical, and metempsychological tour de force. It will open new avenues of human understanding." Karl Young, left-wing radio personality, not to be confused with Carl Jung. "Reflections makes The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test look like a Tuesday afternoon quilting bee." A guy in a white linen suit who looks like Tom Wolfe. "Enlightening... as soon as I finished reading it I knew that I had found the end to suffering." Sid Hartha, deli patron "What? Me? Worry about this? No, this erudite piece of autobiographical literature will stand as a testimony to the ages. Apparently it doesn't take the usual gang of idiots to produce a great work, only one." Alfred Eubanks Newman "Highly recommended It'll be at the top of my Book-of-the-Month Club for a year " Oprah O'Reilly, of the Black Irish Temperance League "I have seen Shiva, the Destroyer of Worlds..." Jay Robbie Oppenheimer, hardware salesman at Home Depot "Fairly reminiscent of The Great Gatsby... without Gatsby... and not nearly as great... but otherwise, reminiscent..." F. Scott Fitzgerald's gardener's grandson, Nicky "A monumental work that will stand the test of time and testosterone. I wish I had lived this guy's life instead of mine " Hugh Avner, taxi driver who once carried Hugh Hefner of Playboy Magazine. "Genuflections? Si. Reflections? No." Francis I in a tweet. "Balls... S'piece uv shite, really... I could write better ballads wi' de ashes off me fag in a pool of Guinness foam on a bartop, 'f I 'ad a mind to." Shane McGowan impersonator "Steal this book? Don't... you might get in trouble. Hell, I couldn't even give my copy away." A"