Frostbite:

by Wes Funk

Middle age isn't being kind to Declan Hall... His career is in turmoil, his marriage has ended and he's suddenly living in a Saskatoon high-rise with his sluggish bulldog and his Star Wars collection. As one brutally cold (colder than Hoth!) Canadian winter ensues, Deck tries desperately to get on track and adjust to his altered life. But there are roadblocks ahead as Deck struggles to find himself in his new world. Also includes the novella Rocket of the Grumpy gay comic shop owner Dare Darke is still adjusting to being in his first real relationship when an eighteen-year-old boy named Rocket enters his store and drops a bomb. What follows is a blast wave that will alter Dare's world forever.

Genres: Fiction

192 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 14, 2017

About the author

Wes Funk was a Saskatoon-based author whose strong belief in diversity is the driving factor in his books. His passion for rock 'n' roll and a love for the prairie lifestyle are also strong themes in his work. Wes's novel 'Dead Rock Stars' was shortlisted for a Sask Book Award and received an Honourable Mention in Writers Digest's International Self-Published Book Competetion. He was active in Saskatchewan's vibrant literary community and often addresses book clubs and workshops. Several radio and television programs across Canada interviewed Wes about his novels.

Reviews

[Mark Allard-Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

The final works of Wes Funk, Frostbite hits a note that resonates on a true-to-life virtue, with the perfect blend of routine melancholy-come-comedy that really makes this Book stand on its own as a slice of Canadian Fiction.

Set in Saskatoon, amid the frozen depths of a Winter that hangs on mercilessly, our protagonist, Deck, is trying to find some meaning to his Life; feeling sorry for himself only seems to have made him wallow on the frosty nights. Having been put through the wringer with wrongful dismissal from his accounting firm, caught in the throes of a divorce, getting used to Life in a high-rise Apartment block and trying to feel relevant in a midlife crisis drive Deck to find some flare again, which knocks out of his preordained bubble when he meets a gay Dominican-Canadian and his flamboyant Writer neighbour.

Written in a way that grounds us to the reality of a fiction, you find yourself drifting off in to this fictional alternate-reality of Saskatoon with the baron-albeit-mesmerising Winter that acts as a metaphor for the end of relationships, new starts and the uncertainty it brings. It speaks volumes to anyone whom has been through big changes in their lives, but in a totally comforting way.

If not Wes' finest hour, then it is certainly one of his finest.

RIP Wes, lots of love from the readers of Saskatoon, Canada and across the World.

[Sherry · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel badly giving this book a so so review as the author passed away in 2015. I have fun reading Funk's work as his books are set in my city - and he mentions a number of locations - though this one seemed to overly dwell on restaurants. I think, given more time the author could have created better written material with a local flair. I liked the way the situation with the old girl friend played out.