A Messy Life
"This is a fictional autobiography of a man who has had a messy life and writes a messy book. It will at times, make you cry, laugh, swear and occasionally piss you off. You may not be able to put it down or at other times you may want to toss it out the window. Being a messy reader will help."
“The delving into the life, passion, thoughts, and emotions of a man beginning with the death of his wife and best friend are heart wrenching, funny and raw with honesty. The journey is one of deep reflection and amazing events, punctuated with humor and belief-challenging ideas. Powerful to the end.”
After the death of his wife Emily, Steven decides to honor her by walking from their Oregon home to Jerusalem where she was born. His life was messy and so is his walk. The word messy not only reflects Steven’s lifestyle but this book’s structure. There is no linear progression. It does not follow the standard novel structure of plot crisis resolution. It is closer to an anthology in many ways, yet the result creates a novel. Steven trudges through an Indian Reservation where spiritual mushrooms create a visit with Lewis and Clark. At one point he enters a vaginal sperm race to trace life’s source of DNA. His memory is swamped with life lessons learned around the world. Having lived and worked in Asia for several decades his memory is flooded with Thai massages and Chairman Mao’s savagery. Sex with his wife and others frequents his mind along with his views on religion, politics, love, and hate. He is almost killed by a tornado while debating Christianity and Islam with a country pastor. While recovering in the hospital he recalls the lessons that were responsible for his successful yet messy life. The dominant theme is the joy he gained from life with Emily and the horror of watching her decline in the arms of Lou Gehrig (ALS).