Strongman

by Justin Skrakowski

I grew up on a major thoroughfare and constant noise seemed normal while quiet seemed unnatural and malignant. It put me on edge like waiting for the pounding of the low keys when something jumped out from behind a wall in a horror film. Quiet is constant, anxious anticipation. The space is tight with strangers and nobody knows how to say anything if they know what to say at all. Just like an elevator I imagine people touching more than they normally would due to circumstance and all of these people are forced together to meet someone else's needs. I don't know any of these people.

88 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2008

About the author

There's more to life than living.

Reviews

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the cover of this book and was immediately drawn to it because of that. I had no idea what was inside this book but I had to find out. A dozen stories seen through the eyes of a teenage boy/young adult had me capturing moments that were truer-than-life and funnier than I thought possible. Justin's take on life in these stories is not just a storyline but they also had little, funny and sharp lines that are thrown at you that make you think "yeah! oh, so right!". A couple of them that I loved were, "..more people would rather yell at you about doing something wrong than take the three seconds and show you how to do it properly. It's more fun that way." and "the peek above the (sun)glasses is like an emotion striptease." but then on a more serious note at his grandfather's funeral he reflects, "We're all in this for our entire lives, no matter how long they last. I see a standing ovation at one man's performance." The stories are so real and told with great detail as Justin leaves nothing out so sit back and enjoy these adventures.

Justin's stories do contain adult-content and language which is appropriate for this book as Justin tells his stories but might not be appropriate for younger children/others.

[Pandy Morales · Rating 4 out of 5]

justin writes with the eloquence and guts that even bukowski may have shied away from. the dry humor in this telling of tales would give a baby's ass a rash. it is quick, turbulent, emotional, and ultimately honest. thats why you know it is from the heart...you can sense any emotion he is easily conveying.

[Shannon Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book through First Reads...my first one! It's a collection of short stories and I felt like I was seeing the world through the eyes of a teenage boy/college undergrad. Fun and easy to read; very entertaining.

[Glenda Laitinen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cynical parables! Witty, charming and deep, stories of the author's experiences told in the style of parables! i won this book on GOODREADS.