Author: Cyril Wong
Publisher: Epigram Books
ISBN: 9814615099
Category : Literary Collections
Languages : en
Pages : 146
Book Description
Recommended by the National Library Board, Singapore and Ministry of Communications and Information A woman learns of a friend’s illness and wonders if she ever truly knew him. A boy who sees ghosts heeds the advice of a fortune-teller, with surprising consequences. A girl wakes up and realises everybody in her Bedok neighbourhood has vanished. From Cyril Wong, award-winning author of The Last Lesson of Mrs de Souza, comes another beautiful book about characters in crisis, with two stories crossing intriguingly into creative autobiography.
The Library of Lost Things
Author: Laura Taylor Namey
Publisher: Harlequin
ISBN: 1488051356
Category : Young Adult Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 323
Book Description
From the New York Times bestselling author of A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow, this deeply heartfelt love story explores hiding the worst parts of ourselves, and finding the people who love us anyway. “How could I open that door and let him see the messiest part of me?” From the moment she first learned to read, literary genius Darcy Wells has spent most of her time living in the worlds of her books. There, she can avoid the crushing reality of her mother’s hoarding and pretend her life is simply ordinary. But then Asher Fleet, a former teen pilot with an unexpectedly shattered future, walks into the bookstore where she works…and straight into her heart. For the first time in her life, Darcy can’t seem to find the right words. Fairy tales are one thing, but real love makes her want to hide behind her carefully constructed ink-and-paper wall. Still, after spending her whole life keeping people out, something about Asher makes Darcy want to open up. But securing her own happily-ever-after will mean she’ll need to stop hiding and start living her own truth—even if it’s messy. “A lovely tale for bookish readers that will give them all the feels.” —Kirkus
Publisher: Harlequin
ISBN: 1488051356
Category : Young Adult Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 323
Book Description
From the New York Times bestselling author of A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow, this deeply heartfelt love story explores hiding the worst parts of ourselves, and finding the people who love us anyway. “How could I open that door and let him see the messiest part of me?” From the moment she first learned to read, literary genius Darcy Wells has spent most of her time living in the worlds of her books. There, she can avoid the crushing reality of her mother’s hoarding and pretend her life is simply ordinary. But then Asher Fleet, a former teen pilot with an unexpectedly shattered future, walks into the bookstore where she works…and straight into her heart. For the first time in her life, Darcy can’t seem to find the right words. Fairy tales are one thing, but real love makes her want to hide behind her carefully constructed ink-and-paper wall. Still, after spending her whole life keeping people out, something about Asher makes Darcy want to open up. But securing her own happily-ever-after will mean she’ll need to stop hiding and start living her own truth—even if it’s messy. “A lovely tale for bookish readers that will give them all the feels.” —Kirkus
The Book of Lost Things
Author: John Connolly
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 0743298853
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 353
Book Description
A 12-year-old boy, mourning the death of his mother, takes refuge in the myths and fairytales she always loved--and finds that his reality and a fantasy world start to meld.
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 0743298853
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 353
Book Description
A 12-year-old boy, mourning the death of his mother, takes refuge in the myths and fairytales she always loved--and finds that his reality and a fantasy world start to meld.
Lost Objects
Author: Joshua Glenn
Publisher: Hat & Beard Press
ISBN: 9781955125185
Category : Art
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
Is there a "Rosebud" object in your past? A long-vanished thing that lingers in your memory--whether you want it to or not? As much as we may treasure the stuff we own, perhaps just as significant are the objects we have, in one way or another, lost. What is it about these bygone objects? Why do they continue to haunt us long after they've vanished from our lives? In Lost Objects, editors Joshua Glenn and Rob Walker have gathered answers to those questions in the form of 50 true stories from a dazzling roster of writers, artists, thinkers, and storytellers, including Lucy Sante, Ben Katchor, Lydia Millet, Neil LaBute, Laura Lippman, Geoff Manaugh, Paola Antonelli, Margaret Wertheim, and many more. Each spins a unique narrative that tells a personal tale, and dives into the meaning of objects that remain present to us emotionally, even after they have physically disappeared. To bring this collection of essays even more vividly to life, the editors gathered a similarly impressive array of artists to illustrate these meaningful things that have gone missing. Visual contributors include Seth, Kate Bingaman-Burt, Oliver Munday, Lisa Congdon, Matt Wuerker, Anita Kunz, Alex Eben Meyer, Gary Panter, and Kelli Anderson. Glenn and Walker began Lost Objects following the success of Significant Objects, a project-turned-book collecting fictional stories inspired by thrift store finds. With Lost Objects, they have shifted to nonfiction narratives in their continuing exploration of objects and meaning. Supplemented by additional analyses from the editors and an original foreword from noted design writer Debbie Millman, the book combines evocative storytelling, art, and design, rewarding deep readers and visual thinkers alike. We have all lost something that was meaningful--and that we'll never forget. While we may never recover this Rosebud, Lost Objects will teach us something new about why it mattered in the first place, and matters still.
Publisher: Hat & Beard Press
ISBN: 9781955125185
Category : Art
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
Is there a "Rosebud" object in your past? A long-vanished thing that lingers in your memory--whether you want it to or not? As much as we may treasure the stuff we own, perhaps just as significant are the objects we have, in one way or another, lost. What is it about these bygone objects? Why do they continue to haunt us long after they've vanished from our lives? In Lost Objects, editors Joshua Glenn and Rob Walker have gathered answers to those questions in the form of 50 true stories from a dazzling roster of writers, artists, thinkers, and storytellers, including Lucy Sante, Ben Katchor, Lydia Millet, Neil LaBute, Laura Lippman, Geoff Manaugh, Paola Antonelli, Margaret Wertheim, and many more. Each spins a unique narrative that tells a personal tale, and dives into the meaning of objects that remain present to us emotionally, even after they have physically disappeared. To bring this collection of essays even more vividly to life, the editors gathered a similarly impressive array of artists to illustrate these meaningful things that have gone missing. Visual contributors include Seth, Kate Bingaman-Burt, Oliver Munday, Lisa Congdon, Matt Wuerker, Anita Kunz, Alex Eben Meyer, Gary Panter, and Kelli Anderson. Glenn and Walker began Lost Objects following the success of Significant Objects, a project-turned-book collecting fictional stories inspired by thrift store finds. With Lost Objects, they have shifted to nonfiction narratives in their continuing exploration of objects and meaning. Supplemented by additional analyses from the editors and an original foreword from noted design writer Debbie Millman, the book combines evocative storytelling, art, and design, rewarding deep readers and visual thinkers alike. We have all lost something that was meaningful--and that we'll never forget. While we may never recover this Rosebud, Lost Objects will teach us something new about why it mattered in the first place, and matters still.
Growing Things and Other Stories
Author: Paul Tremblay
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN: 0062679147
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 445
Book Description
A New York Times Notable Book Winner of the Bram Stoker Award "One of the best collections of the 21st century." — Stephen King A chilling collection of psychological suspense and literary horror from the multiple award-winning author of the national bestseller The Cabin at the End of the World and A Head Full of Ghosts. A masterful anthology featuring nineteen pieces of short fiction, Growing Things is an exciting glimpse into Paul Tremblay’s fantastically fertile imagination. In “The Teacher,” a Bram Stoker Award nominee for best short story, a student is forced to watch a disturbing video that will haunt and torment her and her classmates’ lives. Four men rob a pawn shop at gunpoint only to vanish, one-by-one, as they speed away from the crime scene in “The Getaway.” In “Swim Wants to Know If It’s as Bad as Swim Thinks,” a meth addict kidnaps her daughter from her estranged mother as their town is terrorized by a giant monster . . . or not. Joining these haunting works are stories linked to Tremblay’s previous novels. The tour de force metafictional novella “Notes from the Dog Walkers” deconstructs horror and publishing, possibly bringing in a character from A Head Full of Ghosts, all while serving as a prequel to Disappearance at Devil’s Rock. “The Thirteenth Temple” follows another character from A Head Full of Ghosts—Merry, who has published a tell-all memoir written years after the events of the novel. And the title story, “Growing Things,” a shivery tale loosely shared between the sisters in A Head Full of Ghosts, is told here in full. From global catastrophe to the demons inside our heads, Tremblay illuminates our primal fears and darkest dreams in startlingly original fiction that leaves us unmoored. As he lowers the sky and yanks the ground from beneath our feet, we are compelled to contemplate the darkness inside our own hearts and minds.
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN: 0062679147
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 445
Book Description
A New York Times Notable Book Winner of the Bram Stoker Award "One of the best collections of the 21st century." — Stephen King A chilling collection of psychological suspense and literary horror from the multiple award-winning author of the national bestseller The Cabin at the End of the World and A Head Full of Ghosts. A masterful anthology featuring nineteen pieces of short fiction, Growing Things is an exciting glimpse into Paul Tremblay’s fantastically fertile imagination. In “The Teacher,” a Bram Stoker Award nominee for best short story, a student is forced to watch a disturbing video that will haunt and torment her and her classmates’ lives. Four men rob a pawn shop at gunpoint only to vanish, one-by-one, as they speed away from the crime scene in “The Getaway.” In “Swim Wants to Know If It’s as Bad as Swim Thinks,” a meth addict kidnaps her daughter from her estranged mother as their town is terrorized by a giant monster . . . or not. Joining these haunting works are stories linked to Tremblay’s previous novels. The tour de force metafictional novella “Notes from the Dog Walkers” deconstructs horror and publishing, possibly bringing in a character from A Head Full of Ghosts, all while serving as a prequel to Disappearance at Devil’s Rock. “The Thirteenth Temple” follows another character from A Head Full of Ghosts—Merry, who has published a tell-all memoir written years after the events of the novel. And the title story, “Growing Things,” a shivery tale loosely shared between the sisters in A Head Full of Ghosts, is told here in full. From global catastrophe to the demons inside our heads, Tremblay illuminates our primal fears and darkest dreams in startlingly original fiction that leaves us unmoored. As he lowers the sky and yanks the ground from beneath our feet, we are compelled to contemplate the darkness inside our own hearts and minds.
Ten Things My Father Never Taught Me and Other Stories
Author: Cyril Wong
Publisher: Epigram Books
ISBN: 9814615099
Category : Literary Collections
Languages : en
Pages : 146
Book Description
Recommended by the National Library Board, Singapore and Ministry of Communications and Information A woman learns of a friend’s illness and wonders if she ever truly knew him. A boy who sees ghosts heeds the advice of a fortune-teller, with surprising consequences. A girl wakes up and realises everybody in her Bedok neighbourhood has vanished. From Cyril Wong, award-winning author of The Last Lesson of Mrs de Souza, comes another beautiful book about characters in crisis, with two stories crossing intriguingly into creative autobiography.
Publisher: Epigram Books
ISBN: 9814615099
Category : Literary Collections
Languages : en
Pages : 146
Book Description
Recommended by the National Library Board, Singapore and Ministry of Communications and Information A woman learns of a friend’s illness and wonders if she ever truly knew him. A boy who sees ghosts heeds the advice of a fortune-teller, with surprising consequences. A girl wakes up and realises everybody in her Bedok neighbourhood has vanished. From Cyril Wong, award-winning author of The Last Lesson of Mrs de Souza, comes another beautiful book about characters in crisis, with two stories crossing intriguingly into creative autobiography.
These Foolish Things & Other Stories
Author: Yeo Wei Wei
Publisher: Ethos Books
ISBN: 9811414955
Category : Literary Collections
Languages : en
Pages : 126
Book Description
This debut collection by Yeo Wei Wei explores the realms between private selves, past and present, through vivid and haunting motifs—a singing bird, a lost soul in a yellow umbrella, an ivory carving, the diary of an ex-boyfriend's father. Revealing the regrets, obsessions, loss and sorrow of events in everyday life, These Foolish Things &Other Stories is a compelling piece of work ready to haunt, delight and touch its readers. A wife returns home to find that her husband has remarried ... An old woman in a nursing home is visited by a mynah that sings a Beatles song ... An artist remembers the time he was harangued by rambutans, magoes and other fruits in his studio ... “No word is out of place in Yeo Wei Wei’s exacting prose. The reader’s expectations and positions of empathy are put to the test in ways that both delight and shatter the heart.” -Cyril Wong, author of Tilting Our Plates to Catch the Light and The Dictator's Eyebrow “Yeo Wei Wei weaves a purgatorial web of men and women caught between guilt, loss and unbearable longing. Her stories are intelligent, haunting, carefully composed yet deeply felt.” -Clarissa Oon, arts editor, The Straits Times “Yeo Wei Wei is set on uncovering whole realms between private past and present and between private selves; in the process, she justifies the incidence of art. Let each tale here walk your mind as though it were a painting -Gwee Li Sui, literary critic, graphic artist and author of One Thousand and One Nights: Love Poems
Publisher: Ethos Books
ISBN: 9811414955
Category : Literary Collections
Languages : en
Pages : 126
Book Description
This debut collection by Yeo Wei Wei explores the realms between private selves, past and present, through vivid and haunting motifs—a singing bird, a lost soul in a yellow umbrella, an ivory carving, the diary of an ex-boyfriend's father. Revealing the regrets, obsessions, loss and sorrow of events in everyday life, These Foolish Things &Other Stories is a compelling piece of work ready to haunt, delight and touch its readers. A wife returns home to find that her husband has remarried ... An old woman in a nursing home is visited by a mynah that sings a Beatles song ... An artist remembers the time he was harangued by rambutans, magoes and other fruits in his studio ... “No word is out of place in Yeo Wei Wei’s exacting prose. The reader’s expectations and positions of empathy are put to the test in ways that both delight and shatter the heart.” -Cyril Wong, author of Tilting Our Plates to Catch the Light and The Dictator's Eyebrow “Yeo Wei Wei weaves a purgatorial web of men and women caught between guilt, loss and unbearable longing. Her stories are intelligent, haunting, carefully composed yet deeply felt.” -Clarissa Oon, arts editor, The Straits Times “Yeo Wei Wei is set on uncovering whole realms between private past and present and between private selves; in the process, she justifies the incidence of art. Let each tale here walk your mind as though it were a painting -Gwee Li Sui, literary critic, graphic artist and author of One Thousand and One Nights: Love Poems
The look of the thing and other stories
Author: A. L. O. E.
Publisher: Prabhat Prakashan
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 31
Book Description
"The Look of the Thing and Other Stories" by A. L. O. E. (A Lady of England) is a captivating collection of short stories that showcase the author’s skillful storytelling and keen insight into human nature. A. L. O. E. was known for her engaging narratives and moral themes, and this anthology is a testament to her ability to weave compelling tales with depth and charm. In this collection, readers are introduced to a variety of characters and settings, each story offering a unique exploration of life’s complexities and moral dilemmas. From heartwarming anecdotes to thought-provoking narratives, A. L. O. E. presents a series of tales that reflect on personal integrity, social issues, and the nuances of human relationships. "The Look of the Thing and Other Stories" is celebrated for its engaging prose and the author’s ability to create vivid, memorable characters. Each story is crafted with A. L. O. E.'s characteristic warmth and perceptiveness, making this collection a delightful read for those who appreciate classic literature with a moral edge. Ideal for fans of 19th-century literature and readers interested in stories that offer both entertainment and insight, this book stands as a testament to A. L. O. E.'s literary talent and enduring relevance. It provides a rich tapestry of narratives that continue to resonate with readers today.
Publisher: Prabhat Prakashan
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 31
Book Description
"The Look of the Thing and Other Stories" by A. L. O. E. (A Lady of England) is a captivating collection of short stories that showcase the author’s skillful storytelling and keen insight into human nature. A. L. O. E. was known for her engaging narratives and moral themes, and this anthology is a testament to her ability to weave compelling tales with depth and charm. In this collection, readers are introduced to a variety of characters and settings, each story offering a unique exploration of life’s complexities and moral dilemmas. From heartwarming anecdotes to thought-provoking narratives, A. L. O. E. presents a series of tales that reflect on personal integrity, social issues, and the nuances of human relationships. "The Look of the Thing and Other Stories" is celebrated for its engaging prose and the author’s ability to create vivid, memorable characters. Each story is crafted with A. L. O. E.'s characteristic warmth and perceptiveness, making this collection a delightful read for those who appreciate classic literature with a moral edge. Ideal for fans of 19th-century literature and readers interested in stories that offer both entertainment and insight, this book stands as a testament to A. L. O. E.'s literary talent and enduring relevance. It provides a rich tapestry of narratives that continue to resonate with readers today.
The Thing on the Doorstep and Other Weird Stories
Author: H. P. Lovecraft
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1101663030
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 545
Book Description
A definitive edition of stories by the master of supernatural fiction Howard Phillips Lovecraft's unique contribution to American literature was a melding of traditional supernaturalism (derived chiefly from Edgar Allan Poe) with the genre of science fiction that emerged in the early 1920s. This Penguin Classics edition brings together a dozen of the master's tales-from his early short stories "Under the Pyramids" (originally ghostwritten for Harry Houdini) and "The Music of Erich Zann" (which Lovecraft ranked second among his own favorites) through his more fully developed works, "The Dunwich Horror," The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, and At the Mountains of Madness. The Thing on the Doorstep and Other Weird Stories presents the definitive corrected texts of these works, along with Lovecraft critic and biographer S. T. Joshi's illuminating introduction and notes to each story. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1101663030
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 545
Book Description
A definitive edition of stories by the master of supernatural fiction Howard Phillips Lovecraft's unique contribution to American literature was a melding of traditional supernaturalism (derived chiefly from Edgar Allan Poe) with the genre of science fiction that emerged in the early 1920s. This Penguin Classics edition brings together a dozen of the master's tales-from his early short stories "Under the Pyramids" (originally ghostwritten for Harry Houdini) and "The Music of Erich Zann" (which Lovecraft ranked second among his own favorites) through his more fully developed works, "The Dunwich Horror," The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, and At the Mountains of Madness. The Thing on the Doorstep and Other Weird Stories presents the definitive corrected texts of these works, along with Lovecraft critic and biographer S. T. Joshi's illuminating introduction and notes to each story. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
One Thing and Another and Other Stories
Author: Neil D. Isaacs
Publisher: Archway Publishing
ISBN: 1480848433
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 160
Book Description
Ever since he moved out of the house, Wednesday has become Simons favorite day of the week. It is the day he picks up his fourteen-year-old daughter, Leni, from school, drives her to her piano lessons, and enjoys a post-lesson weekly dinner ritual with her. But one Wednesday after he drops Leni at home, Simon suddenly has a foreboding feeling that something is wrong and is subsequently led down a path he never could have imagined. In thirteen poignant and compelling stories filled with a varied cast of characters including Billie Holiday and a thinly disguised Paul Newman, Neil Isaacs shares a glimpse into the high and low points in the lives of lovers and loners, siblings and spouses, and families and neighbors. From Marthas Vineyard to Aruba and the Caymans and from Boston to New York and San Antonio, his characters face life-changing moments and learn valuable lessons while dealing with lifes unpredictable challenges. One Thing and Another and Other Stories shares short tales that reveal the quirks and flaws of human nature and prove that we are all more alike than different.
Publisher: Archway Publishing
ISBN: 1480848433
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 160
Book Description
Ever since he moved out of the house, Wednesday has become Simons favorite day of the week. It is the day he picks up his fourteen-year-old daughter, Leni, from school, drives her to her piano lessons, and enjoys a post-lesson weekly dinner ritual with her. But one Wednesday after he drops Leni at home, Simon suddenly has a foreboding feeling that something is wrong and is subsequently led down a path he never could have imagined. In thirteen poignant and compelling stories filled with a varied cast of characters including Billie Holiday and a thinly disguised Paul Newman, Neil Isaacs shares a glimpse into the high and low points in the lives of lovers and loners, siblings and spouses, and families and neighbors. From Marthas Vineyard to Aruba and the Caymans and from Boston to New York and San Antonio, his characters face life-changing moments and learn valuable lessons while dealing with lifes unpredictable challenges. One Thing and Another and Other Stories shares short tales that reveal the quirks and flaws of human nature and prove that we are all more alike than different.
Reno (by the) in the Lake and Other Stories
Author: Jim Hartman
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
ISBN: 1450060277
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 164
Book Description
I guess, in truth, “Reno by the/in the Lake” is my “Autobiography Light.” The material is indeed autobiographical in that little has been gleaned from any outside source and it is definitely light both in serious content and the serious nature often portrayed by an autobiography. So read on just for fun. Reno Beach was a magical place in the 1920s, ’30s, ’40s and ’50s, a resort town that never really quite reached its prime. It had, however attained great stature in the hearts and minds of all it entertained, especially in the imagination of a young boy who could see adventure, even in the smallest buttonhole or banal blemish. In his mind a vegetable garden became a wilderness plantation. An overturned rowboat became a fortress, a pirate’s treasure cave or a magician’s maudlin mansion. A willow tree only recently uprooted by the wind and waves of an angry possessive lake trying desperately to reclaim its own; this became the perfect home for “Tarzan (Jimmie) of the Apes.” The fact that I’m even writing this book belies the fact that the place and that little boy still live, if only in my imagination. The stories you’re about to read are about that small waterfront community just east of Toledo Ohio on the western end of Lake Erie and how it’s life; death and frequent revitalizations affected the life of one small boy, namely me. The stories are absolutely true except as altered by an aging memory, wishful thinking and delusions of grandeur, not necessarily in that order, and they represent some of the very best days of my life. I’ve been told that it’s good to share your very best. I hope you enjoy reading my stories nearly as much as I enjoyed living them. The writing’s been fun too. Some names and places may have been altered to protect the innocent and/or the guilty, but not many. Some may also be changed just because I’ve forgotten or don’t really know what I’m talking about. Please forgive me. Many may recognize themselves, a friend or family member in some of these stories and each one probably deserves whatever treatment or attention they received, either good or bad. This book is intended to be a “Bathroom Book.” This is not a negative. For those unable to grasp this creative terminology I provide the following explanation in the form of a prescription: Take in small doses. Continuous exposure could be hazardous to your health and could lead to an abrasive situation requiring an immediate application of Preparation “H.” This does not imply that either you the reader or the writer is full of . . . Anything. Should you disapprove of any of the material in this book please feel free to remove the offending pages and put them to better use right there in the “Reading Room” solving the problems of the moment. I’m sure you understand. Enjoy. Life is short. Don’t waste it on seriousness.
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
ISBN: 1450060277
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 164
Book Description
I guess, in truth, “Reno by the/in the Lake” is my “Autobiography Light.” The material is indeed autobiographical in that little has been gleaned from any outside source and it is definitely light both in serious content and the serious nature often portrayed by an autobiography. So read on just for fun. Reno Beach was a magical place in the 1920s, ’30s, ’40s and ’50s, a resort town that never really quite reached its prime. It had, however attained great stature in the hearts and minds of all it entertained, especially in the imagination of a young boy who could see adventure, even in the smallest buttonhole or banal blemish. In his mind a vegetable garden became a wilderness plantation. An overturned rowboat became a fortress, a pirate’s treasure cave or a magician’s maudlin mansion. A willow tree only recently uprooted by the wind and waves of an angry possessive lake trying desperately to reclaim its own; this became the perfect home for “Tarzan (Jimmie) of the Apes.” The fact that I’m even writing this book belies the fact that the place and that little boy still live, if only in my imagination. The stories you’re about to read are about that small waterfront community just east of Toledo Ohio on the western end of Lake Erie and how it’s life; death and frequent revitalizations affected the life of one small boy, namely me. The stories are absolutely true except as altered by an aging memory, wishful thinking and delusions of grandeur, not necessarily in that order, and they represent some of the very best days of my life. I’ve been told that it’s good to share your very best. I hope you enjoy reading my stories nearly as much as I enjoyed living them. The writing’s been fun too. Some names and places may have been altered to protect the innocent and/or the guilty, but not many. Some may also be changed just because I’ve forgotten or don’t really know what I’m talking about. Please forgive me. Many may recognize themselves, a friend or family member in some of these stories and each one probably deserves whatever treatment or attention they received, either good or bad. This book is intended to be a “Bathroom Book.” This is not a negative. For those unable to grasp this creative terminology I provide the following explanation in the form of a prescription: Take in small doses. Continuous exposure could be hazardous to your health and could lead to an abrasive situation requiring an immediate application of Preparation “H.” This does not imply that either you the reader or the writer is full of . . . Anything. Should you disapprove of any of the material in this book please feel free to remove the offending pages and put them to better use right there in the “Reading Room” solving the problems of the moment. I’m sure you understand. Enjoy. Life is short. Don’t waste it on seriousness.