Solitude: Four Novellas

by Theodore Kohan

Solitude is the common thread running through these four novellas. In Long Distance Calling , tragedy and distance have settled Andy into a numb routine. He lives thousands of miles from his parents, with whom he can speak only sporadically. But one of their calls leads to a chance conversation that threatens to topple the fortress he has built around himself. In Maladjustment Blues , Moe attempts to attract a new girlfriend by placing a very specific notice in a community publication at his Florida retirement community. It does not go smoothly. Meanwhile his ex-wife, Shana, embarks on a quest of her own. In Portrait in Chiaroscuro , Alan is a troubled businessman only interested is his art collection. Chano is a shy self-taught artist trying to incorporate movement into his paintings. Although separated by years and miles, their lives find a way to intersect. And in Chicken Coop , Chicken 12 blames his parents, the Coop and everyone else for his solitude. His efforts to find a new path lead to violence and destruction. But when the Coop supports him despite everything, he comes to realize that redemption may be within his grasp.

392 pages, Paperback

Published March 22, 2021