Shell's Gold

by Brad Alan Lewis

Shell’s Gold is my newest literary effort. Read it and instantly feel better about yourself. Instantly. No kidding. It’s that kind of book. What’s it about? What’s it really about? These two questions arise in regard to every book that as ever been written. Shell’s Gold is about a guy – Brett Adam Hansen. From certain angles he resembles me. I’m taller than Brett but by any measure he’s far looking. What can you do? Brett has met life’s challenges head on – and life’s challenges have pretty much had their way with him. Nonetheless he’s still upright and ambulatory. He can keep a sentient thought in his head. No small feat. Plus he hasn’t given up hope. Brett joins forces with Mr. Shell to find a quantity of missing gold. It’s not a huge, unwieldy amount of gold that they’re after. It’s a modest mouse amount of gold. But, should they find the gold, it’s enough to set Brett’s life on a new course. It won’t be easy, finding this gold. No map. Only a vague recollection on Mr. Shell's part as to where it’s located. It’s out there somewhere, to be sure. But where? So that’s what the surface story is all about. Brett and Mr. Shell searching for gold. What’s it really about? The Roles. The roles we play through the course of our life. How we’re rolling along through our life, inhabiting a certain, specific role – only to have that role vanish in an instant given the right (or wrong) circumstances. The story has twists and turns and sufficient action to keep you reading. I think. I hope. I’d like to think it does. I tried. Give it a read and tell me what you think. Good reading, as always, your humble narrator, Brad Alan Lewis.

176 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 29, 2017

About the author

Olympic gold medalist (rowing, 1984) writes a bunch of books. Then goes hiking, specifically the John Muir Trail. I've hiked the length of the JMT (223 miles) 27 times over the last 35 years. Solo. Better that way. You can go slow or go fast. Stop when you want. Eat when you want. Sleep late or get up at 1:30 AM and hit the trail. Who's to say no?

Maybe I'll see you one the trail next summer? Hope so.

Reviews

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much but I never know how to recommend it to someone. It's a standard beat by beat story of midlife crisis, until 2/3rds of the way through the narrator murders someone. It isnt lead up to, it isnt followed up on, it just happens. But, somehow it perfectly fits into the whole schtick of the book. I'm not sure if this is the absolute peak of the art form that is the novel, or if its just slapdash. Either way, I love it.