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Checked Out OK
Checked Out OK is a collection of over 300 actual police log items from several small towns in Western Massachusetts, compiled by Ericson, and indexed into such categories as “Puzzlement, Tremendous Social Events,” “Suspicion, Delusion, a Squirrel Acting Oddly,” and “Gone when Police Got There.”
From Checked Out OK:
“8:57 a.m. – A fox eating rabbits on Sunset Avenue checked out OK.”
“9:55 a.m. – A Rolling Green Drive resident told police that his girlfriend has been receiving poems at her Hadley workplace from a 60-year-old-man. Amherst police advised the man to contact Hadley police about the problem.”
“12:51 a.m. – Police assisted people who were observing the salamanders crossing Henry Street.”
Corwin Ericson is the author of the novel Swell (Dark Coast Press, 2011), which was an Amazon and Boston Globe bestseller. He lives in western Massachusetts where he works as a university lecturer. Work of his appears in a variety of publications, such as Fence, the Massachusetts Review, and Conduit. Checked Out OK was first published in jubilat and later reprinted in Harper’s Magazine and elsewhere. Ericson also built one of the stone walls outside of Flying Object.
From Checked Out OK:
“8:57 a.m. – A fox eating rabbits on Sunset Avenue checked out OK.”
“9:55 a.m. – A Rolling Green Drive resident told police that his girlfriend has been receiving poems at her Hadley workplace from a 60-year-old-man. Amherst police advised the man to contact Hadley police about the problem.”
“12:51 a.m. – Police assisted people who were observing the salamanders crossing Henry Street.”
Corwin Ericson is the author of the novel Swell (Dark Coast Press, 2011), which was an Amazon and Boston Globe bestseller. He lives in western Massachusetts where he works as a university lecturer. Work of his appears in a variety of publications, such as Fence, the Massachusetts Review, and Conduit. Checked Out OK was first published in jubilat and later reprinted in Harper’s Magazine and elsewhere. Ericson also built one of the stone walls outside of Flying Object.
- GenresNonfiction
105 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 19, 2013
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21 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 25, 2022
This book was recommended to me at a lecture by fantastic author Tom McAllister. Unique, meticulous, and funny, we see a broad variety of items logged in police files throughout small towns in Massachusetts. As Tom says, this is a great book to use as writing prompts, as so many pages are so interesting, humorous, or bizarre that it can strike immediate
Inspiration. Great casual reading material for writers, or for someone who enjoys a candid look at small town life.
Inspiration. Great casual reading material for writers, or for someone who enjoys a candid look at small town life.
January 30, 2017
One of my great joys of 2017 has been flipping this book open to random pages and then immersing myself in whatever I find. Great to use for writing prompts too.
July 2, 2014
This selection of local police blotter reports offers quaint and quirky, funny and poignant glimpses of life in Western Massachusetts. Each posting reads like the shortest of stories, from people meditating in cars and food disappearing to neighbors battling each other and animals exhibiting odd behavior. A terrific little tribute to small town life and to the civil servants who try to keep the peace.
July 3, 2014
Funny all throughout. Such a quirky (and accurate) portrait of the Republic of Amherst.
August 2, 2013
Really fun collection of police logs. I thought it would get old and planned on reading only a couple pages at a time... but I couldn't put it down.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews