Thirty-Three Cecils

by Everett De Morier

In 1992 — when Amy Fisher dominated every news channel — there lived two men. The first was a once prominent cartoonist who had a very public fall from grace. The other was an alcoholic who worked in a landfill. Both lived in in different parts of the country and led completely separate lives — until their paths crossed.

You know their names. And for over twenty years, you thought you knew their story — until their journals were found and authenticated in 2014.

And what we thought we knew — what the old news clips and the old stories wanted us to think — were all wrong.

288 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2015

About the author

Everett De Morier became a professional writer in 1994, when he sold a copy of his son’s ultrasound picture along with an article entitled “My Wife Is Having the Reincarnation of Elvis” to the Weekly World News. For this, he received fifty dollars and a Bat Boy T-shirt.

De Morier has appeared on CNN, Fox News Network, NPR, and ABC, as well as in The New York Times and the London Times. He has also written for In-Fisherman, Florida Keys, Bride, and Parenting.

De Morier is the author of Crib Notes for the First Year of Marriage: A Survival Guide for Newlyweds and Crib Notes for the First Year of Fatherhood: A Survival Guide for New Fathers, both from Fairview Press.

De Morier’s first novel, Thirty-Three Cecils, was published in 2015 and it won the top fiction prize at the London Book Festival, and was named book of the year by Heroic Magazine. The film rights to Thirty-Three Cecils were sold and the project is currently under development by Sunset River Productions, which is planning a 2019 film release.
De Morier, along with Brian Esquivel and Robinson McGiffin, also co-wrote the screenplay for the film.

Everett currently writes for 543 Magazine, and his best-of articles have been complied into a book entitled The Invention of Everything: Insights on Life, Food, and One Good Thermos, which will be released in December 2018 by Blydyn Square Books.

De Morier wrote seven original musical scripts that were all produced and performed by Cornerstone Drama of Dover, Delaware: Dover: A Christmas Story (2009 and 2010), A Gift to Remember (2011), Loockerman Letter (2012), The Mollywood Tree (2013), Finding Sergio (2014), A Little of That from Me (2015), and Welcome to Castlewood (2016).

De Morier was born in Binghamton, New York, and currently lives in Dover, Delaware, with his wife and two children. There, he enjoys Lost in Space reruns and getting out of putting miniblinds up.

Reviews

[Sheryl Trallion · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will admit that I wasn’t expecting much from this book. A friend of mine had really liked it and leant me her copy. I had not heard of Thirty-three Cecils or the author and it was published by a very small publisher, so I wasn’t expecting much.

Which puts the book in an uneven playing field and gave the first few chapters a free ride. Because every word that was spelled correctly, every clever turn of phrase, was unexpected. But then, after the second chapter, the book was on its own. And that’s when it all began.

I realize early that this is a work of fiction that is disguised as real events. I get this. But I had to stop (and not just once, several times) to Google the characters of the book in 1992. The painstaking detail, the consistency, all made me wonder, “well, maybe this really DID happen?”

Which is interesting on its own but on top of it the writing made me care, actually care, about these characters. These weird, damaged, lovable characters. And I could not stop reading until I got to the end of the book. Which I did at four am; my eyes bleeding but my heart full.

I have never written a book review before, so here is my very first. Ready? Here it is --- what --- an --- awesome ---- book.

[Sonali Dabade · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honest rating: 3.5/5 stars

When I received Everett De Morier’s nonfiction book, 'The Invention of Everything: Insights on Food, Life, and One Good Thermos' to review, little did I know what awaited me. That book soon became one of the most enjoyable nonfiction books I’ve ever read. And that’s saying something because I usually avoid reading nonfiction books. Not a great fan of them. But thanks to a few, this one included, I’m slowly getting to a place where I can sit down and enjoy a well-written nonfiction as much as I enjoy a fiction book.

So when I was approached to review Everett De Morier’s fiction book, I jumped at the chance. Because if an author could make nonfiction such fun to read, imagine what he could do with a fictional story! And it was with much excitement that I started reading 'Thirty-three Cecils'.

There are two tidbits that you need to know about this book, 'Thirty-three Cecils'. One, that it is an award-winning book in America. And two, it will soon be adapted into a major motion picture! This latter point is what excites me to no end. Why? You’ll find out at the end of this review.

About ‘Thirty-three Cecils’ :

'Thirty-three Cecils' is the story of two men, Walker Roe and Riley Dutcher. Walker is a former filmmaker and cartoonist from Erie, Pennsylvania who has just served a sentence for fraud and counterfeiting. He is now divorced and while his two daughters live with their mother, they visit their father three days a week at the Dennings Arms Apartments where he now lives. These apartments are nicknamed ‘Divorce Court’ because of the number of divorcees who happen to end up living here, if at least for a short while.

Walker befriends Lester Bugby, the guy who owns these apartments. Everything goes smoothly, apart from all the times when the people of Erie who have been directly or indirectly affected by Walker’s crime view him with contempt. This is until Bugby is killed in a canoeing accident up north, thanks to his tendency to disappear every once in a while. But now, obviously, thanks or no thanks to “incriminating evidence”, people get ideas about Walker’s involvement in Bugby’s death.

Riley Dutcher or ‘Dutch’ as he is called, describes himself as a drunkard who is sure of his own habits drunk or sober. He is now on the path to giving up alcohol. But when, one fine evening, he finds an expensive bike sitting in the middle of his house with no recollection of its appearance whatsoever, he begins to question himself. He breaks his head trying to find out what’s going on and where this bike is from.

Eventually, Dutch becomes a traveling man – mean a man with no roots in particular – and ends up in Erie, Pennsylvania, where he works on menial tasks for Walker. When things happen, Dutch’s life becomes inextricably entangled with that of Walker’s.

Not to forget that these stories are told through Walker and Dutch’s diaries/journals that the police discover while investigating their murders. Hah! Bet you didn’t see that coming! :P (That’s not a spoiler, by the way. I promise.)

What I Didn’t Like About This Book :

Unlike The Invention of Everything in which I loved what Everett De Morier had to say, there were a couple of points in this one that I didn’t quite like.

1. The narrative becomes too repetitive in places. A detail that was mentioned 2 pages ago will appear yet again and over again. That’s a little unnerving. But there’s a redeeming quality to this.

2. The story drags in some places, which is completely unnecessary.

3. The title of this book appears but for just one chapter and doesn’t at all explain why it has been given the importance of being the title.

What I Liked About This Book :

There are quite a few points that I quite liked about it, overshadowing its obvious negatives.

1. The author succeeds in mixing fiction and nonfiction to the point where you actually look to the Internet to validate whether or not what the author is saying is true.

2. The book is captivating, despite its shortcomings.

3. The author uses material from his nonfiction book – a good sense of déjà vu overwhelming me, someone who read both the books with not much of a gap in between.

4. The nonfiction in the book explains the fictional events perfectly, while having a clear line between fiction and nonfiction.

5. The plot points aren’t present just to make everything convenient. Every point and every event seems natural and fits in with the storyline.

6. The writing is honest and relatable.

7. Thirty-three Cecils is a fun read, making you snort and cackle as you go through it. For example: Dutch works in a landfill. He calls it Mount Trashmore. Hah!

8. The characters are very well sketched out even though it does become a kind of a mystery thriller in times when we don’t know what the character is going to do next. You do have a premonition, but you can’t say for sure.

9. Thirty-three Cecils shows that a human being could do wrong due to circumstances, but when he shows an inherent goodness after punishment, people tend to find it surprising. And when he tries to find a way to better his life, they descend on his, judging him based on his past rather than his present. And that’s not fair.

10. Remember when I said there’s a redeeming quality about the first point I didn’t like out this book? Since this book is written as two journals for most part, it should be quite easy to understand and be okay with the repetitiveness.
Let me tell you why: When you write in your diary or journal and forget if you’ve mentioned a point before, you tend to write it down again, just in case. Because it’s just a line. So why not, right?
That’s exactly the case with this book. :)

With so many plus points to boot, who won’t be excited for a movie to bring the stories of these two men to life on screen? I know I am!

On the whole, I quite liked and enjoyed reading 'Thirty-three Cecils' despite it being a tad repetitive and dragged in places. And because its positives way overshadow its negatives, I’d say this is one book you could definitely give a try. :)

[Darline · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m not sure how this book has 4 stars..the writing is horrible.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a novel about love and redemption, how it's never too late to rewrite your ending, and the power of friendship. Two men, one a felon and father, the other an alcoholic, are both determined to do things differently, better. Each keeps a journal of his journey. The men have distinct story lines, yet their paths intersect in surprising and delightful ways.
While this book was published more than 10 years ago, it is only now available as an audiobook thanks to @DreamscapeMedia. The narration is excellent in bringing the characters to life. The writing itself does an excellent job in differentiating the three primary characters via verbal tics and word choice. I never had any problem following the story (stories).
I would have given this five stars were it not for the odd choice of ending, as well as the fact that "33 Cecils," a bedtime story told within the novel by the felon/father, doesn't particularly fit as the book's title (in my opinion). Nevertheless, it's an interesting book with characters who grow on you. 4.4 stars.
My thanks to the author, publishers, and #NetGalley for access to the newly issued audiobook of #Thirty-ThreeCecils for review purposes. It is now available via @Audible.

[Štriga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thirty-three Cecils is a tragedy. This isn't a spoiler: the novel says so right in its prologue. What is surprising is how uplifting this tragedy is. That's because, as with all good stories, it's not what happens that matters as much as how something happens. Everett De Morier's first novel isn't just a good story, but a great, sad and deeply humane tale about loss and redemption.

The novel purports to tell a true story of Walker Roe and Riley Dutcher who, in the early 1990s, came into the national spotlight due to a series of remarkable and controversial events they've been involved in. It does so through recently uncovered journals - equally fictional, of course - written by Walker and Riley to explain how these two people, these complete strangers with seemingly nothing in common, came to meet.

At first glance, the two couldn't be more different. While Walker Roe is an award-winning animator, Riley Dutcher is working a dead-end job at the city dump. And yet, both of them are good men trying to atone for their past sins. Personal tragedy pushed Walker into bank frauds and counterfeiting money. He got caught, served time in prison, brought shame to his family and ended up divorced. Meanwhile, Riley is an alcoholic - a highly functioning one, but an alcoholic nevertheless. Riley used drink to ease into being with people. A decade later, his drinking alienated him from his now dead parents, his wife, and his friends.

It is when De Morier examines everyday lives of his flawed, yet remorseful characters, that Thirty-three Cecils is most engrossing. Using two narrators in the novel is a clever move by De Morier, allowing him to stress the differences - and similarities - between two men. While Walker often muses on his life with certain sad humor, Riley's journal, while not as articulate, feel more visceral. Both of them hunger for a chance to start anew, but their self-confidence is achingly, cripplingly brittle.

Walker is obsessed with the way others perceive him. He tries to stay out of everyone's way. He picks up and drops his daughters at his divorced wife's house regularly and on time. He's never late for work. Every day, Walker checks the local newspaper for articles that might mention his name. Walker's obsession is not just in his head either: he regularly faces distrust from colleagues and strangers alike who would like him to disappear somewhere, anywhere but here. While rightfully bitter for being ostracized by the society at large, Walker is far more worried about what he refers to as "breaking the seal" - that one painless act of wrongdoing that will send him again down the slippery slope of lies and crime. Walker's solace are his daughters, Liz and Abby with whom he has a delightful relationship. But even they worry him a little: Walker's rightful concern is they might grow to hate him as they experience the shame of having a criminal for a father.

Like Walker, Riley is similarly ashamed of his weakness. His hygiene is meticulous: afraid of being seen as a stereotypical wino, his clothes are always clean and his alcoholic breath carefully hidden with breath mints. Riley is also very careful about how and when he drinks, afraid of possible damages he might cause during his drunken binges. His journal doesn't really make it clear what made Riley an alcoholic and Riley himself seems to have a vague understanding of his need to drink. Thinking of his past, Riley realizes the unsettling malleability of memory and the way we can shape our life stories into justifying all kinds of selfish deeds. Throughout the novel, he looks at his own life and sees all the people he selfishly pushed away with his drinking.

And then, both Walker and Riley experience extraordinary events that upend their everyday lives. One of them involves death. The other, a mysterious appearance of a bicycle in an apartment kitchen. But maybe, just maybe, these events might offer Walker and Riley a chance for a better life. But it is here that the third, unnamed protagonist of the story comes to the front - society itself. While complete strangers offer Riley help, next door neighbors scorn Walker. At every step, the ever-volatile opinion of the public, shaped by prejudice and the media both hinders and helps these two men - even more so than their own internal flaws.

The story of Walker Roe and Riley Dutcher could have been easily written as a simple morality tale and, in a way, that's what it is. However, instead of banal moralizing about the sins of lying or crime or alcohol or whatever, De Morier is far more interested in a story about human imperfection and the way our thirst for success and recognition battles with our need to simply be better with ourselves and each other.

It's not a coincidence that Walker and Riley both see themselves as little a bit childish. Walker unfavorably compares himself to his own pre-teen daughters, while Riley explains how the mind of an alcoholic remains stuck in the period of life when he started drinking. This childish naivete is, in fact, an important part of their recovery: it takes an active, persistent effort to unburden oneself from preconceived notions and gray everyday cynicism to look at one's life with an earnest wish for a positive change.

De Morier hides the novel's message right in its very title. Thirty-three Cecils is a fairy tale Walker sometimes tells his daughters. It is a funny little story but, the more you think about it, the truer and sadder it sounds. A similar message is succinctly told by Walker when he observes that, "in a world where there are no major successes, minor is major". And truly, that's what the lives of Walker Roe and Riley Dutcher are about. Sometimes, the greatest success is simply to persist. Sometimes, the greatest accomplishment is atoning for our mistakes by helping others. It is when we start to hunger for more - more recognition, more wonder, more success - that bad things start to happen. This is obvious even in the novel's prologue, where, decades after the events in the novel, a chance discovery of an old cardboard box containing the journals of Walker and Riley leads to a multi-million dollar lawsuit between two college roommates.

Early in the novel, Walker wonders can he truly "rewire" himself into a better person or is he destined to forever repeat his programming, unable to stop, change or even recognize his actions for mistakes that they are. While the artists, scientists, philosophers and holy men have asked themselves that very same question since the time immemorial, there's an even larger question hidden behind the novel's story: what if it is society itself that is preventing us from improving? Because, as Thirty-three Cecils shows us, the unusual partnership of Walker Roe and Riley Dutcher doesn't end all that well. It's that aforementioned greed coupled with envy that leads to a sad demise of these well-meaning, albeit flawed men.

And then there's chance itself. Throughout the novel, both Walker and Riley experience strange and baffling coincidences that twist and turn the course of their lives over one incredible summer. A favorite of mine - and quite possibly the most spectacular one in the entire novel - revolves around a failed make of a 1970s sports car. In a lesser novel, such events would have strained the story's credulity. In Thirty-three Cecils however, these seemingly wondrous events are precisely the point. Life is bizarre and strange and complicated, but how can we really notice this if we don't give it a chance by breaking our routine.

I must admit that, when I started reading this novel, I was skeptical at first. I was wondering what kind of story I'm getting myself into. Then, I practically devoured the entire novel in one sitting. More than anything, Thirty-three Cecils is a life-affirming novel. It is quirky, funny, sad and yet hopeful. De Morier asks us to look for wonders in everyday life with courage and joy, to celebrate even the smallest victories and to live with grace, patience, and compassion. He asks this not because there are no tragedies and misfortunes in life but - as the novel's ending reminds us - precisely because there are far too many of them. And we shouldn't let them overwhelm us.

Walker Roe and Riley Dutcher are good men trying to atone for their past sins. And they succeed. Don't let the novel's ending fool you: they've both turned their lives around. If the ending may not exactly feel like it, again, that's precisely the point. In a world where there are no major successes, minor is major. It's rare for me to find a book that makes me feel as if I, and, by extension, the world itself, can be made a little better just by reading it. Everett De Morier's Thirty-three Cecils is one such book.

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this inventive quirky book!

[Growls and Grimm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not one to read a prologue of a book only because I feel that usually it influences my decision on the rest of the book too much. With this book I did read it and had I not I can say that I would of put the book to the side and probably not picked it back up. With the way this is written due to the 2 journals it has a strange flow and rhythm to it. It is not hard to follow once you get into the flow of it but without knowing that ahead of time it can get confusing following along the path of the story. And yes the ending is final, there is no following story and it ends where it does. This is both good and bad. Bad because it leaves a lot of unanswered questions, good because there is no major cliffhanger that will keep you holding your breath waiting for the next installment.The characters are well written and the way that they are described I was able to easily visualize each one as they were speaking. This of course is something that can go really well or badly because you cant see the characters in your head. The 2 writing styles are drastically different but that lends to the characters also. It is well written and put together, the characters are well developed and there is a finality to the entire book. Overall if you are able to follow the same story line from 2 different points of view this is a book to consider.I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book, through Reading Deals, so I could give an honest review.

[Ashley Herrera · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thirty-Three Cecils was an experience I enjoyed. The book opens up with a prologue by the editor and describes the events of the story as if they have actually taken place in history. Apart from how the journals were brought to light, beginning with a yard sale and ending with someone picking it up from the curb as trash, I wanted the events to be true. I love thrifting and I don't believe in coincidences - enough for me to pick up this book.

However, you can soon tell that Thirty-Three Cecils is a fiction novel presented as nonfiction. It's a clever tactic that doesn't work for all, but it definitely did with this book.

The novel follows two men who are made out to be very different. There is Walker Roe who was a successful filmmaker, but due to troubling times and the responsibility of taking care of his family, he succumbed to monetary fraud. Thus, when caught, he ends up disappointing everyone and looks to find his redemption from then on. As the story progresses, you see how Walker relies on his two daughters and how they rely on him. Aside from an animator, Walker is a storyteller, a birthday-thrower, and a loyal father and friend among other characteristics that make him human. The way his humanity is shown honestly created a character I wanted to relate to. He was a character I did relate to.

When Walker's best friend, Bugby, dies, he is left with nineteen million dollars worth in property. Of course, the whole ordeal presents Walker in a suspicious light and he is again thrust into the life he wanted to avoid until his name cleared. During this part of the book, there are sympathetic moments when Walker wants to believe with all his might that Bugby was able to see all that he set out to before he passed. While reading, I always looked forward to Roe's musings, which sustained so much truth. My favorite was when he explained the challenge people face in starting over and letting go of a past that kept them fettered: something he referred to as "rewiring."

Then there's Riley Dutcher who is a drunk and garbageman. Upon finding a box of photographs (and a semi-stolen bike in his kitchen), he resolves to leave his old life behind and start anew. He visits Niagra Falls and falls in love with this nomadic lifestyle. By taking on temp jobs in different regions to help him get further in his journey. he finds a job listed by Roe. This is the way the two men meet. I kept flipping pages and comparing dates on each journal entry to predict the date when they finally would.

Tone shifts are necessary to distinguish characters, but I felt there was a lack of development. While Walker's chapters are written coherently and Times New Roman, Dutcher's are filled with "effings," incorrect grammar, and awkward syntax along with larger print in a different font. I felt the same font, or something similar, would have proven the contrasts in their character just the same. I understand that all these elements were changed intentionally, but it got to the point where Dutcher's speech was interrupting the flow of my reading and took away from his character. As someone looking to atone for his sins just as Roe was searching, Dutcher is a relatable character and his ability to connect the dots in the mystery kept me reading his chapters.

I related to Dutcher and Roe in different ways, but their tone and style were too similar for me. There wasn't enough character development. I expected more intimate detail, more insight into their lives especially since the story was told over an intimate discourse without the intention of ever getting published. The journals also seem to end abruptly (as was forewarned in the prologue). The book description on the book mentions Amy Fisher (she is mentioned twice, I believe, in the journals) and the death of Walker Roe. There is no mention of Riley Dutcher, who, as we learn, dies with Roe. The prologue does focus on Dutcher a bit more though.

The journals were just meant to evince the mysterious circumstances that triggered the death of Roe, but personally, the brief acknowledgment in the epilogue in the book left me wanting more. I wanted to know if the death had been documented and what the public knew before the journals were published. I wanted there to be more details about the case and about the other characters.

It was certainly an interesting read and I may reread it when I'm feeling a bit downtrodden. Despite the book being a tragedy, it is uplifting and is a celebration of life.

[Judi Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Originally written for “Big Al’s Books and Pals” book blog. May have received a free review copy.**

Description: The novel purports to be the found journals of two men; Walker Roe (a once prominent cartoonist who went to jail for swindling and counterfeiting) and Riley Dutcher (a functioning alcoholic who worked in a landfill site office). What happens when their paths cross, and they start recording their experiences, is what the story is about. It’s just a story about a couple of ordinary Joes, really. But what a story!

Author: Everett De Morier is a jobbing author, writing anything from articles about fishing to books about marriage. He is editor in chief of 543skills.com. He is also a playwright who has created seven original theatrical scripts, all produced by Cornerstone Drama of Dover, Delaware. This is his first novel. You can read more about him and the book here : https://www.amazon.com/Everett-De-Mor....

Appraisal: This is an extraordinary book. It defies description. In a good way. It begins by telling you the end (and it doesn’t matter): it continues by telling you the same story from two different viewpoints (and it doesn’t matter): and within each of those viewpoints material is often revisited several times (and it doesn’t matter). Despite this the account is both complex and fantastical. The story is fake news. Or is it? Its two protagonists are, neither of them, proud of their lives to date. And it is far from clear that their final project is anything to be proud of either. Their escapades, severally and together, are bizarre. The events that occur are impossible (and – guess what? – it doesn’t matter). There is a sort of cosmic inevitability about the plot development. Coincidences abound. Indeed, serendipity is ‘the scary thing’ that drives the book. That and the deep desire of Roe and Dutcher to become different men, to make amends to themselves, each other, their families and everyone else who was touched adversely by their lives.

I couldn’t put it down. And I know very well it will repay rereading.

I have no idea what genre this belongs in. But if you like a slow burn of a novel (and I do mean burn), then definitely put this on your ‘to read’ list.

FYI: It’s a tad overwritten. De Morier does like to make the same point (usually) three times – and (being a fine, inventive writer) likes to make it in a different way each time. This does not lend itself to the wham-bam-thankyou-Ma’am style of novel which is currently fashionable. I occasionally felt I was disappearing over the hills and far away when following one of De Morier’s shaggy dog stories (do you call them that in the States?). But I found resistance to be futile – this book is completely beguiling if you just go with the flow.

Approximate page count: 288 pp

[MK · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a work of fiction.

It seems like a strange thing to say, especially since it seems quite obvious. I knew it was fiction before I so much as read the first page. That knowledge, however, didn’t keep me from stopping a few pages in to type “Walker Roe Riley Dutcher murder real?” into the google search bar just to be sure.

Just in case you’re wondering, no, it isn’t real. But that doesn’t stop it from feeling that way.

We are aware of the ending from the very start: Walker and Dutch die and they, in fact, have been dead for decades before the book began. The reader is armed with the known facts and introduced to the private diaries the men kept leading up to their murder. A reckless drunk and self-pitying embezzler do not a sympathetic pair make, but as I can’t leave a mystery unsolved I read on, not expecting to be particularly invested in the “who” of it all.

That being said, De Morier does not make it easy to let them go. In a compelling, artfully crafted series of raw, reflective, funny, and intimately human entries we enter the lives of a drunk and a felon and learn about the specific decisions and mental gymnastics that earned them those labels. I didn't think they would be the easiest people to empathize with or become attached to, yet through roughly two months worth of writing I did just that.

I found that just when I was settled in the notion of this being a work of fiction, the way the characters jumped off of the page, how real they seemed, blurred lines for me. Vignettes of Walker as a father and Dutch learning to be a friend served to both soften them and make them feel like someone I knew. The well rounded cast of fully fleshed-out secondary characters especially added to the “blurred: effect of it all. From kind, eccentric Bugby, to gruff yet lovable Randy, to adorably quirky Liz - I felt as if I knew them. I was quickly invested.

The author manages to leverage this investment to make the tragedy at the center of it all cut even deeper. I watched these men confront their sins, guilt, and regrets. Watched them grow and progress in their respective pursuits of honesty. Saw the basest parts of my character reflected in them, and questioned my definition of a life well lived. De Morier sent me on this journey with them, but nothing prepared me me for what I felt when it came to an end.

An excellent read, and one I will certainly be both revisiting and recommending.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of this book! So far, I have read it twice, and I find a new angle to enjoy even more. Can you imagine a pairing of a newly sober man by the name of Dutch meeting up with a disgraced an formally imprisoned cartoonist in a world known as Erie, Pennsylvania? Have you ever sat around with some people and heard the story that begins with: "Hey! Remember that time we.....?" Following this declaration, the details of said stories just sound too far-fetched to believe!

This story gives a magnificent voice to both the characters of Dutch and Walker. Each man has his own stories of woe, redemption and complete craziness. These are the adventures in life that define us all. If you can't laugh at yourself, then you can laugh along with Dutch and Walker. These two men have seen and done some things that you just cannot shake from your memory. Plus, you wouldn't want to forget about the things that they share with you.

You can find love and family mixed in with both men's lives as the book brings together their purpose in life for even coming across each other's paths in the first place. There are ex-partners in common along with time spent among unsavory characters. Both men bring their own individual endearing and absurd life happenings to a head as they finally meet up in Erie to complete what looks to be a little clean up job in a storage unit. Yet, nothing in this book is "just" anything! You've got your mystery, crime, confusion and shifty people drifting in and of the landscape. But, you also have your sweet children belonging to Walker and the unlikely friendship of two multi-dimensional men/characters.

The only thing that might throw someone off would be the back-and-forth nature of the chapters, each representing Dutch as he moves through the story and then Walker and then Dutch again. I found the tone of the book to be very enjoyable- back and forth wit and laughs. Yet, there is no mistaking the regrets and downright tough life journeys for both Dutch and Walker, as well as people who loved and cared for them.

In my humble opinion, this is a great read!

[Roma · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ambitious, slightly clunky, engaging narrative

In the beginning of the novel De Morier throws a whole slew of details, names, and a this-is-the-real-life-story shtick, which I found confusing—especially because he names his actual publishing house in the process. As we get into the story of one of the protagonists (in the form of a “journal”), however, the reader is gently lulled and engaged by the writer’s natural voice and the fun, compelling story. Using the talking-to-the-reader device, Walker Roe makes us his friend, supporter, and confidant. His story is sweet, touching, and sad without descending into melancholia. As exhibited in other De Morier books, the author has an easy, wry, and funny way of laying out the narrative.

When we switch to the journal of the other main character, Riley Dutcher, the tone shift is impressive. Different man, different life, different words. Like Walker, “Dutch” talks directly to us, the readers. We eat up his redemption story, see the good that shines through the man, and root for him.

While the writing itself is beyond reproach, I found the book a bit too ambitious. I felt like De Morier shifted gears a lot, often shooting off into a tangential story (or fairy tale). He makes a valiant effort to tie everything in, and even succeeds, mostly, but ultimately the book’s scope proved too wide, in my opinion. The end comes quickly—as we are warned it would, in the prologue—but there is a sense of the writer’s wanting out without fully finishing the story. I can’t say I blame him: there were a lot of moving parts to fit into the machine!

The story and premise of this book were very good, if reliant on the is-it-real device. De Morier paints rich characters complete with dings and flaws, and we come to love those characters. The story could be a bit more natural, at times, and some of the not-quite-holes could be plugged. All the pieces are almost there. I’ll bet in his following novels this writer will tighten up nicely.

[Nick Hemming · Rating 3 out of 5]

For his first novel, Everett De Morier's Thirty-three Cecils is an adequate foray into fiction writing. It is at times compelling storytelling, but unfortunately the vast majority of it feels unnecessarily elongated and overstuffed. The plot doesn't warrant the length of the novel, and the reader can feel when certain parts are dragging on a bit. Still, there are bits and pieces scattered throughout the pages that are actually highly-endearing ideals and thought-provoking theories about life and the inevitable qualities it often entails. Is a coincidence just that -- a random occurrence with no significance? Or is it something more? De Morier makes this question a central theme throughout Thirty-three Cecils.

Right off the bat, the stage is set as almost a true crime documentary, with the diaries of two men, the infamous, disgraced cartoonist, Walker Roe, and a recovering alcoholic, Riley Dutcher, being found. The book that follows is described to be nothing more than their accounts of what happened in the days leading up to their murders. While the premise is initially exciting, that anticipation wears off pretty quickly once the reader realizes that 95% of the book is going to be flashbacks and background explanation.

This is a book where nothing really happens. If you are the kind of reader who yearns for an action-packed story, this is definitely not the novel for you. However, if you prefer books primarily made up of commentary and various stories that, while seemingly random, often have a lot to do with the larger overall theme, you might really get something out of this.

Ultimately, Thirty-three Cecils showed some promise, but ran a little too long for my liking. While it isn't without some really solid, thought-provoking concepts (the most interesting being the question of whether or not things happen for a reason), there's too much fluff to keep the reader engaged and actively craving more from Walker and Dutch. Still, a decent first attempt at fiction for a writer who's true forte is blogging.

[Moná · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever met an individual, or have felt like someone who’s been born and dealt terrible hands of life? Unfortunately, that is something many have faced and it’s all too common in this game we call life. In understanding the required amount of strength needed just to keep going can be a true challenge, it doesn’t stop there. Can our life go through the motions and still manage for us to see it to the finish line? The only way to find out is to read this book full of a perspective by someone with a poor hand as he journeys through life gaining a sense of respect.

In “Thirty-Three Cecils,” author Everett De Morier grants his readers an all-access path into the life and perspective of Walker Roe. Known for many talents and unfortunately, not being the best version of himself for anyone, especially his family. He goes through many downs in life with very minimal wins, it leaves one to believe that life isn’t working in his favor. Losing the life of a child is hard enough and isn’t something most would want to be open about, he goes back and forth on whether to shed light on that loss. Not easy being him from being famous for his work and getting recognition from all, to being famous for his crimes and not being able to live it down. This book demonstrates just how human one person can be, despite their bad luck as a whole. Many lessons to learn by reading this, in terms of don’t do whatever has been done and try to become a better person for your sake.

I enjoyed learning about one’s life from their perspective and remaining positive from them even when it didn’t seem like there was any hope. Though it was borderline depressing to witness not many large wins, he did manage to have a few smaller ones that you could be happy for. One thing that stood out to me was to not give up, even though the main character had plenty low moments where he felt he wasn’t needed in the world, I’m happy he held on for as long as he could. I recommend anyone to consider giving this book a chance, it’s definitely a lot to wrap your head around, but great take away lessons.

[Lisa Street · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've ever read a book and it's gotten so deep into your psyche you wonder how you can put into words why someone else should, needs to, must read it; this is that book. This is a book about trust, going with your gut, image, and perception. The journals of two men cut down just as they were starting to find their footing in the world, to be "rewired" as one so perfectly puts it, is a sad reflection of our world and the place others believe we have in it.

Walker Roe and Riley Dutcher were strangers to me before I read this book. These men's thoughts were penned in detail - personal reflections and their fight to rise above their actions. Like dominoes falling, seemingly unrelated events conspired to put them together at the right time in the right place for a cataclysmic event that helped push the change in direction they both needed.

Money, image, and perception are a dangerous trifecta. But, on the flip side are friends, faith in people, and the desire to do what's right. Everything is here. The good, the bad, and the ugly of the human condition. Two of my favorite threads in the story include Walker Roe's tale to his daughters woven throughout almost as if he could see what was to come. The second is the steps Dutch took to beat or curb his addiction by using the time most dangerous for him.

These two kings, written in posterity, perhaps they have laid the groundwork for another two or more friends to fulfill Dutch's father's ideas of what he'd do if he was king. Who will fill their shoes? Will it be you?

[Mitchell Roshannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I started reading Thirty-Three Cecils, I was immediately jarred. I knew it was fiction and yet, it starts with a note from the publisher, speaking about the characters as if they were real creating a complex world. A fictitious book collection of the diaries of two fictitious people published by an actual our world publisher; it was instantly refreshing and intriguing. I read on and though I question the intricacy and depth of the writing done by Walker and Dutch, what I had in doubt was quickly dissolved by the depth of these two characters, Walker, a father that feels he’s failed his family, and Dutch an alcoholic trying to find his way to his own personal feeling of freedom.
These characters and their struggles moved me, and like any good book forced me to care for them even when they were objectively not the greatest of people. This is the first work of fiction I’ve read by Everett De Morier, but having read some of his other work previously I can say that he is consistently entertaining and engaging as he has succeeded a second time to do both for me. My favorite parts of this book, the parts that I think made it what it is and helped bring all the pieces together were Walker’s stories to his daughters. They are throughout the book, and I won’t spoil them here, but will say that within their telling, I truly believed Walker to be a good father and mourned the inevitable all the more because of it. This is an amazing work, and one of few books that I will likely read a second time for pleasure.

[Weldon Burge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thirty-Three Cecils is a fascinating novel, and Everett De Morier is an astounding author. His style is unique, so much so that I'm not sure what is fiction and what is nonfiction. The book, a true story (at least to some extent), is based on two journals written by two incredibly different men, Walker Roe and Riley Dutcher. Both with criminal backgrounds, their lives eventually intertwine, and Everett pulls off their relationship with finesse. You know from the beginning that they are doomed, but that's largely offstage throughout the book.

What I found most impressive was Everett's juxtaposition of the two characters by switching back and forth between the journals, capturing their characteristics through their first-person portrayals. When the two characters finally meet and become friends, the lead up to their meeting seemed inevitable based on the parallel journal entries. In fact, Dutch considers it an act of God (sorta). Everett's style, particularly with Dutch, reminded me a bit of Kurt Vonnegut. Dutch ended his sentences with "ha." Vonnegut, for example in Slapstick, often ended his sentences with "hi ho" after a bit of usually odd wisdom or joke. I couldn't help but think of Vonnegut when I was reading Dutch's journal entries.

After reading the novel, I'm looking forward to the film based on the book. Much of the book is introspection, so I'm curious to see how the screenwriter handles the dialogue.

Highly recommended!

[Prioleau Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had an English professor in college who once said, "I'm bored with literature. Everyone uses the same language. I want to read something in creative and unique voice. The last time I encountered that was Catcher in the Rye."

Well, Prof, wherever you are, I hope you encounter Everett DeMorier's 33 Cecils.

Odds are good you haven't encountered writing this unique and deep since you last read Salinger or Vonnegut. Written in first-person by the main characters, I felt like I was inside their minds-- seeing what they saw, and thinking their thoughts. Many of the classic themes of literature are addressed, but you see them from a different, human angle. There's no need to slog through Cormac McCarty to explore the concept of redemption-- Everett does it much better, and it's fun to read.

I highly recommend 33 Cecils-- you can read it just for the joy of a new voice. You can read it explore some of the great question of life and the universe. You can read it to be inspired.

I'm pleased for the author's checkbook that this is being made into a movie, but they'll never pull it off the way Everett does. How could you write a movie about Holden Caufield without the character narrating the entire movie? Same situation here.

Bravo, Mr.DeMorier-- I look forward to your next novel.

Prioleau Alexander, author.
You Want Fried With That?
Dispatches Along the Way.

[Shaniece DeGazon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story takes place in the year of 1992 in Feyette, Mississippi. Amy Fisher a popular news anchor who dominated every news channel. One man was a prominent cartoonist who was destroyed by public opinion and public humiliation. The other man was an functioning alcoholic who worked in a landfill. Surprisingly the two men (Walker Roe and Riley Dutcher) eventually crossed paths in life. It turns out that the facts that were provided about those men in the story were all fabricated and it turns out that we don’t know anything about these men at all. It was a bunch of fake news. Sounds like the trump and this coronavirus media frenzy pandemic all over again. I mean it got me thinking what facts that the news actually feeds us is true or not. The story covers the characters lives from June 1992 to august 1992. I promise you these 31 chapters will have you second guessing modern day news and facts and information provided to you throughout your whole life. This book also got me thinking which people have crossed paths with me through the universe working and conspiring to bind me with them. It also highlights the flaws of human nature with how much authority we give to people with money, famous image, and perception and the damage that it can cause to a person’s psyche.

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny and thought-provoking read. As it opens, Thirty-Three Cecils reads, at least to me, like a fictionalized version of Dateline. As I read the Prologue, I heard it in Keith Morrison's voice. I have seen some complaints about it being a long read, I have to disagree. This is not an action-packed read. I don't think it's meant to be. It is a character study.

The two protagonists, Walker Roe and Riley Dutcher, are two very different, but equally deeply flawed individuals. In their own words, each man is able to tell his story as he seeks redemption. The back and forth between the two journals allow the events leading up to the men's murders to be viewed in a much richer perspective. One that I don't think would have been accomplished if told in a straight narrative.

The use of the journals, telling the story in a first-person narrative, allows the reader to connect with both Dutch and Walker on a much deeper level. I found Thirty-Three Cecils to be equal parts moving, witty, and intriguing. I would be shocked if anyone who spent an afternoon reading this novel, finished it without having the feeling of being better off from the experience of reading it.

[Alina Pinkhasova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thirty-Three Cecils inspired me to begin journal writing my whole life for myself or for someone to find someday..

To understand how this book is written, I suggest reading the prologue. If you are looking for a good mystery and many characters involved-pick up this book. It's like reading someone else's journal without having to figure out their messy handwriting. You get to hear their personal version of their story in first person. Through that I got a good sense of who the characters were on a personal level. Heard their good ideas and embraced them as my own. When I can read a book and get a sense of their humor and emotion out of it, I can escape in it as well.

The book did a good job allowing the reader to experience places described by descriptive illustration and creative writing. Most of the book I was going "This can't be real, what a tragedy" and a huge part really thought it was real. It is definitely written in a believable way and so happy it is not real and just fiction. Be prepared to be touched, moved and inspired by this read.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thirty-Three Cecils is a quirky novel that takes you back to the early 1990s and the story of a friendship two men formed during that time. It's an interesting story and definitely makes you think. The thing I most enjoyed reading it is that the novel is subtly amusing at points as well as serious. I liked the humor in the first part of the novel the most. I have also read the author's non-fiction book The Invention of Everything, and I thought the humor in this book was better and more subtle and consistent. I found the most interesting part of the story was when Walker and Dutch actually meet and become friends. They have interesting similarities. I thought the novel was an interesting fictional look back in time with some offbeat characters from Walker and his landlord to minor characters in the story like Iggy.

[Dinesh Raghavendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thirty­ Three Cecils by Everett De Morier is at its heart an oblique riff of existential anguish. Sort of like what Jim Sallis would come up with if he were asked to write a book about Camus. The book reads like a fugue with a multiplicity of characters forming this polyphonic chorus that is at times riveting and at times stylistically well crafted. I was engaged throughout the book and the painstaking attention to detail that misguided many a reader into believing it was an account of true events is spellbinding to say the least.

Hyperbole aside, I felt De Morier treated his characters humanely and I enjoy works where the element of cold clinical perspective is abandoned for intimacy and up, close and personal storytelling. Set in Binghamton, PA and Erie, PA the narrative cuts across the fates of the two protagonists Walker Roe and Riley Ducher. One, a recovering alcoholic and the other, an asshole on the surface. Their fates intertwine and as Roger Ebert once said about plots in movies: “It’s not about what happens it’s about how it happens” the how of their story is fantastically well plotted.
Thematically, the story is about these characters seeking redemption but their arc isn’t similar to some boilerplate biblical character.

The plot careens along and there are moments that fill you with despair and some that fill you with hope. De Morier hasn’t got a tin ear and his feel for dialogue is almost cinematic. Consider this fragment: “I think maybe that’s the thing about vacations. It’s not the place you go. It’s kind of the way you see things. Like you can take your heavy pack off and finally walk around and stretch out your legs and see everything.” Bits like these read like entries from inmates inside the cage of existence and struggling to relate their selves to a world where they don’t really belong to.
The colourful characters who populate the tale are not superficial. I was initially worried that the idiosyncrasies of the quirky Panja and Ping and Pong Pan would sound flat on the page but their quirkiness is sincere and not made up just for the novelty factor. It’s got parallels to a Miranda July story that way.

The stream of consciousness of Dutch and Walker draws you in and although I wished the second half could have done with some crisp editing and tighter denouement, the overall way in which the tale resolves was very interesting. De Morier manages to make shades of different genres bleed through quite easily. At times there is a quasi­social commentary and at other moments it feels like a hard­boiled noir. There is the element of a crime thriller and then there it segues into a meditation on hope and despair. The blending in of all these disparate styles makes for a very interesting cornucopia and I wonder how well the story might lend itself to other formats such as film or television. The different points of view might be effective as it has been attempted in films like Rashomon before.

The verbosity got to me a bit in the second half. The stream of consciousness became a bit too overbearing and the passages started to become a bit droll in the second half. The pacing is a bit uneven too and I could feel the narrative lose its momentum and sag a bit towards the end. The denouement could have been well­structured given the compelling mis en scene. That being said, the climax does not feel contrived at all rather it wraps up quite satisfyingly. Ebert had also complained once about all thriller narratives falling prey to the Kaiser Soze syndrome of twist endings thankfully and wisely De Morier avoids it.

The book echoes a lot of the best work of the French thriller writer Jean Patrick Manchette at times. It’s not as lean or muscular or mechanical like some of Manchette’s best prose and is original in its own right but I could feel the ghost of Manchette’s influence loom over the story at times. In particular, some passages of Fatale and Three to Kill seemed to fit right in to this book. The book also shares a lot of sensibilities with some of the Belgian stylist Georges Simenon’s romans durs such as Monsieur Monde Vanishes with its focus on interior monologue as a response to the world.
The turns of phrase and the playful inventiveness with language in this novel were definitely a highlight for me. Some of the phrases are stark and vivid while others blend right in. There are certain brilliant sections that hark back to the Benjamin Black novels of John Banville and the introspective nature of narration has its own quietly peaceful and potent energy that coils up in tension gradually and explodes towards the end with deathly silence in its wake.

A writer friend once mentioned that every writer should know how to play a musical instrument as the intricacies of making music is deeply entwined with the structure of a story. Although I am not qualified to make that observation reading this book definitely made me intuit that De Morier has a very good grasp of the craft. From the opening passages to the conclusion it was deftly plotted with painstaking detail to attention and at times it feels like a master class in writing an original novel at a time when the Balzackian notion of what a novel should be is increasingly losing its potency.
I haven’t read anything else by Everett De Morier but I plan to. His writing is a refreshing shot in the arm to the deluge of literary novels coming out of the New York intelligentsia and the MFA mills. There is a raw vivid edge and at times the writing is almost feral. The energy really breathes life into a story which could have turned into a minefield of clichés in the hands of a workshopped writer. Looking forward to more from this writer

[Atai Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, so I was a little surprised that I liked "The Invention Of Everything" more than this book. I thought the fact that this was fiction would appeal more to me...and to the writer's style, but truthfully, it seems non-fiction fits the writer far better at the moment. It has something to do with the humor and the genuine interests of the writer, I think. In the former book those 2 things seeped into the writing far easier whereas in this book it felt a bit forced...and somewhat often. Thirty Three Cecils is enjoyable for sure, but I just get the feeling that this was a stepping stone for something better. The next fiction book from this author will be all the more better for having went through this one.

[Susan Heiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25. What a quirky gem of a book. Although I knew it was a work of fiction, I kept googling people and events to see if they were real – that’s how real it felt to me. Here are the voices (yes each one has an incredible, unique voice) of two flawed, imperfect human beings looking for atonement. One of them asks early on if it’s possible for us to “rewire” ourselves or are we forced to relive and repeat our mistakes and our patterns of being over and over. In spite of the fact that the world would view these two as marginal or sketchy men, I found them to be innocents in a greedy, uncaring world. This book has me feeling more alive and looking for wonders in everyday life. Since I’ve lived in Binghamton in the past, I loved the descriptions of real places that I recognized.

[Sascha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not particularly enjoy "Thirty-Three Cecils." I found the writing style uninteresting and very much struggled to connect to the plot or characters. However, despite the fact that De Morier could not be more transparent about this fact, I still Googled several times throughout the course of the audiobook whether or not the characters were real people. (They're not.) While the author has succeeded in crafting a lifelike portrayal of two men, albeit quirky, I would not recommend nor would I listen again.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ALC!

[William Guerrant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cleverly structured and creatively told, I found this page-turner difficult to put down. The author has done a wonderful job of making the compelling story believable (I had to keep reminding myself it was fiction). While the book raises some deep and fascinating questions, engaging them is optional. The story alone will be enough to keep readers satisfied, but thinking more deeply about it is a nice bonus.

[Charles Staats · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book. Do random circumstantial meetings happen by chance or perhaps Divine Providence? Meet Walker and Dutch, two unlikely heroes, friends and partners who happen to meet at a storage facility filled with someone else’s past. The details of their lives and losses leading up to that sets the stage for a wonderful conclusion. The reader will NOT be disappointed! Bravo Mr. De Morier!!!

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

The flow of this book was interesting to say the least. It was a bit odd and confusing to understand at first but after diving in and after the first few chapters it became a lot easier to understand. The contents of the book were good. I wouldn’t say that it was extraordinary but it definitely wasn’t garbage.

[Erick Mertz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an unexpectedly exuberant novel filled with insights, laughs and a lot of strange turns. Characters are vivid and exceptional. Reading the story flet like the cobbling together of a lot of bar room stories. The oral tradition of the local pub as only the oldest local could tell.

Bravo. This one was such fun.