Short Street

Timothy Gager
Zumaya Publications  (2004)
ISBN 1894942604
Reviewed by Nina Larson for Reader Views (5/06)

Pray for the author if he followed the old axiom of “write about what you know.” 

Timothy Gager’s short stories are gritty, no– holds- barred snapshots of people caught in downward spiraling lives, usually involving illegal drugs and/ or alcohol.  All of the stories leave you with the sense that these are real moments in a real person’s life.  This feeling is unsettling since there are very few positive moments or endings in these short stories. 

This book does the basic service of showing that drugs and alcohol are not as pretty as beer commercials portray with their beach bunnies and athletes.  More like someone lying on the sidewalk, face down in dog vomit on a hot summer’s day.  Hopelessness, a perceived lack of power, bad sex, and poor choices are some repeated themes.  Not very appealing.  Despite this lack of flower power in plot, I kept reading.  Kind of like watching homemade videos of car crashes.  Rooting for the remote possibility that at least one person would walk away healthy. Or at least walk away.

There were a couple stories that ended with a sense that the characters had made some positive choices and stopped the downward spiral.  And possibly, with a lot of work, might even start an upward turn.  But those were rare exceptions.   

On a random note, due to the story “Under the Morning Dew” I now know why so many of my coworkers have missing teeth. 

“Short Street” might appeal to people who pride themselves on always facing reality.  Or someone looking to vicariously experience the dead ends usually attributed to the wrong side of the tracks.   Or, if you need to feel grateful for your life.  Hopefully, very few people have worse lives. 

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