Cemetery Street
John Zunski
10/10
Description from Smashwords:
“In a world of presumptuous people, irony is alive and well,” concludes James Morrison, the narrator of this touching coming of age novel. A view Shannie Ortolan - James’s longtime friend, sometimes lover, and full-time obsession - wouldn’t argue. From their first encounter as teenagers until Shannie’s death, experience the twists, turns and enthralling characters that populate Cemetery Street.
On the cusp of the new millennium, James fulfills a promise. Reenacting a childhood ritual, he places a mud pie upon a grave. This simple act triggers powerful memories.
Meet the people that shaped James’s life. Shannie, who among other things, introduces him to the sport of dodging freight trains. Count, the cemetery caretakers son, helps James navigate the minefields of adolescence until destiny is met in Desert Storm. Russell, an aging blind African-American, guards a horrifying secret behind a cloud of cigar smoke. Diane, Shannie’s mother, a college professor dispels the notion of tweed jackets and elbow patches. Steve Lucas, a mortician’s son, who despite bizarre obsessions, stands by James during his most challenging times.
Laugh, cry, and blush as James recounts events of late twentieth century American life.
Adult-Content Rating:
This book contains content considered unsuitable for young readers 17 and under, and which may be offensive to some readers of all ages.
A brilliantly written coming of age story about a boy named James Morrison. Him and his family move into a house on Cemetery Street. After moving in he befriends a witty spirited young girl named Shannie who he eventually falls inlove with. He also became friends with an older boy named Count who just so happens to be the local cemetery caretaker's son. All Three soon started spending time, doing almost everything together. They loved playing games of course, especially one called catch the train, where they would one by one go into the local train tunnel and wait to see oncoming visible headlights from a train, and at the very last minute they would run out from the tunnel laughing, thinking were able to cheat death. Numerous events shake up James' life along with those around him. As you read on, a vast emotion of happiness, love, and appreciation run through you like a flowing river of words. After some time goes by, his grandfather, who is an army veteran, visits him and his family and inspires many lives. During this time James' mother leaves for California never to be heard from again. After his grandfather left, a series of events lead to adventures in which all the characters in the book especially James', grow. As years past, Shannie and James grow apart and tragedy follows with an inspirational but reflective ending. This novel is a must-read, it will make you laugh, cry and fall in-love with the characters.
::To Purchase This Book::
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