Browsing through the books of Valley writers

All is Fair in Glen Ellen

September is already on the wane and you know what that means. Yes, the annual day of frolic and fun in our town, the Glen Ellen Village Fair, arrives soon. Oct. 12, at high noon, is when the gala parade begins its slow roll down Carquinez, onto Arnold, bursting forth into an afternoon of food, friends and more fun. Latest news about that in a coming column. 

Antediluvian

drought thoughts

Last week on a short stroll into the Regional Park, I walked a while beside a neighbor who wanted to talk drought. And why not. It’s on all our minds.

An old-timer, not unlike myself, he had a clear memory of the earlier drought of the 1970s. He questioned why we weren’t taking some of the drastic measures that were so commonplace back then.

Can you remember catch basins in the sink and shower, lawns going brown, toilets unflushed, cars caked with grime? I did, as he mentioned each one.

As the gentleman was a much faster walker than I, he disappeared around the bend before I could offer, “Who’s not doing that now?” And, indeed, I hope you, my dear reader, are.

I ambled back to home base (in this case the dog park, where Sweetie and the two Finns-who will be introduced shortly-awaited). As I often do when walking alone, I entertained a little reverie of that earlier drought.

Call It Mellow Yellow

Back in the day, our boys loved the little ditty, “If it’s yellow, let it mellow; if it’s brown, flush it down.” They first heard that from their buddy Emile Hawley, who loved to recite it. We know his papa, Bill Hawley, is a famed poet, so we dare not attribute that bit of doggerel to him. But does anyone know where it originated? Well, other than Margie’s daycare, I mean.

If you wondered who the two Finns were who patiently stood with Sweetie awaiting my return to the dog park, that would be Karhu and Sisu, our two Finnish Lapphunds, formerly residents of Pets Lifeline.

But my purpose today is not to bemoan or exclaim the drought, nor to tell you about our dear doggies. I am celebrating a few talented friends who have recently published books. I admire them and I urge you to check out their literary offerings. In another column soon I’ll talk about more local writers, whose books are still in the works.

Will Shonbrun:

Falling Upstate

I’ll start with Will Shonbrun, who was the first to present me with a copy of his novel, “Falling Upstate.” As many of you know, Will is a thoughtful and thought-provoking political commentator whose letters and essays have often appeared in this newspaper. His clear analysis of politics, both local and worldwide, is enlightening and carefully researched.

Will’s novel wanders far afield from that realm. “Falling Upstate,” is the story of an almost 30-year-old New Yorker seeking his way in the evolving world of the late 1960s and early ‘70s. Bobby, the protagonist, has been twice married and twice divorced. He’s left a job he hated, working for his father-in-law. Bobby feels unmoored and adrift as we join him and his dog Jenny on a sometimes wild and raucous journey, upstate and out of mind.

Bobby (like so many of us who came of age in that confusing era) is heavily invested in sex and drugs, balanced with a little rock and roll and a modicum of new age philosophy, all elements that may or may not help him find himself amid a world of changes.

When I asked Will if his book was autobiographical, he slyly shared, “Yes, some of it has some of me in it,” though he was not going to tell me much more.

As for me, in 1969 Sweetie and I left California, moving to Albany, New York, living more or less a similar life to Bobby, so I sense a lot of truth in the stories. I remember the angst, the lost feeling, the drifting, the seeking of stability.

Bobby’s early trials and adventures reveal a self-involved, slightly paranoid guy who is confused and anxious. Midway through the story, he meets Alex, who introduces him to another way of looking at things.

Will’s writing feels true to life and honest. His protagonist is entirely believable, if not entirely likeable, and his experiences recall vivid memories of that era.

Will’s description of Bobby’s acid trips, from sublimely transporting to deathly terrifying, inspired Sweetie and me to share our similar experiences of that time; something we’ve never really discussed before.

Will’s prescription for a bad acid trip? An understanding, intuitive friend (be it canine or human), a cup of hot tea and fresh toast, seem a bit too easy. Yet Will’s detail and heartfelt emotion make it feel possible. (Tea and toast? If only we knew that then.)

Bobby describes his sexual encounters from an immature male point of view, which is a bit off-putting. Likewise, the barroom fights. Irritating, yet forgivable, given Bobby’s personality. Would I recommend this to my all-women’s book group? Probably not. But I’m enjoying it, despite a chauvinist flavor.

For men who participated in the frolics at the height of the Hippie Era, and especially for those who did not, I invite them to re-live their memories or relight their fantasies, as the case may be. Will proves that those who lived through the sixties can still remember it. His vivid descriptions and personal accounts of the time will stay with you long after you close the book.

Although the book ends with Bobby’s journey still not completed and his perilous struggle to embrace a wider world still not resolved, we are left with a hint and a hope that he will succeed, maybe. Will tells me that “Falling Upstate” is just volume one; I look forward to the rest of Bobby’s story in volume two.

Copies of “Falling Upstate” are available at Readers Books and on Amazon. I say, Go for it.

Ed Davis: In All Things

Next up is the newest offering from Ed Davis. Better known as one of the original and continuing members of Cynthia Carr’s band, The Carrtunes, Ed plays guitar and sings vocals, besides organizing all of their press releases.

On Aug. 1, Ed released his second book, a novella, “In All Things, A Return to the Drooling Ward.” Like Will’s novel, it is set in the 1970s, but shows a very different view of that time.

The book is a fictionalized account of Ed’s experience as a 17-year-old psych tech in training at Sonoma Developmental Center. As for “the drooling ward” epithet, the phrase is not Ed’s; that was the title of Jack London’s famous 1914 short story of the Sonoma State Hospital, in those days often referred to as the Home for the Feeble Minded.

Most of us would assume that London’s description of the horrors of “The Home,” would no longer apply in the 1970s. But the narrator soon discovers that what really happens behind the closed doors of the institution has not changed much since London’s time, certainly not for the better. And therein lies a heartbreaking story that is so beautifully and succinctly told that it reads like a prose poem.  

Even though I’ve lived in Glen Ellen since 1975, and have many close friends who have worked at the Developmental Center, this book is revealing in ways I can’t quite imagine. Ed emphasizes that this is his story, others have their own. However, even I had heard of some of Ed’s “patients” from my friends. Michelle, for instance, a hydrocephalic girl. Yet, I had never heard her described in quite the loving, gentle and human way that Ed shares.

Nor could I quite imagine the terrors of life that his “patient” Gerald experienced on a daily basis. Ed makes these people real and human. The tears I shed while reading Ed’s book are a testament to the beauty and power of his writing.

In his introduction, Ed emphasizes change. “This brief tale takes you inside a place that no longer exists,” he writes. “It was beginning to change dramatically and for the better even as I left it in 1972. That’s a good thing.” Indeed it is.

I highly recommend this fast-moving, heart-rending tale that ends with a magical and upbeat fantasy.  

Ed Davis’ “In All Things,” is available on Amazon, as is his popular first book, “Road Stories.” We hope that Readers Books in Sonoma might stock a fair number of “In All Things.” I guarantee that word will get around; this book is a compelling read. In fact, a book discussion, with past and current employees of that institution, would be enlightening. But, it’s more likely that those who read it will want to talk it over with friends and family, not sharing their thoughts publically. I applaud Ed for being so forthright.  

Emma Cline: Marion

I’ve written previously in this column about Emma Cline’s short story, “Marion,” which appeared in the Paris Review and won the Plimpton Prize for 2014. I finally had a chance to read the story after running into Emma’s mother, Nancy Cline, at a party. She promptly sent me a copy of Paris Review and I read every story in that issue. Emma’s clearly stood out. It has stayed with me, disturbingly so.

Nancy shared that Emma has a book in the works, to be published soon. I won’t give away any more than that, but I predict that Emma’s book will be a best-seller. Not just in her childhood home of Sonoma Valley, but worldwide. Emma is truly one of the most outstanding writers I’ve read recently.

Her story “Marion” is both creepy and compelling, fresh and yet filled with feelings I remember as a girl. Manipulative friends are confusing and Marion is one you won’t forget.

With a bit of the flavor of Flannery O’Connor, Emma paints a weird world and an unforgettable character, whose every movement rings terrifyingly true. The story has occupied my thoughts at odd moments from time to time in the weeks since I read it. It was one of those stories that I instantly shared with my Sweetie – “You’ve got to read this.”

He did, and was as enthralled as I was. Look for Emma’s novel, with another manipulative character, in the coming year, and look forward (hopefully) to a book signing at Readers with Emma in person. I’ll be there.

More Great Local Authors

In columns to come I will share my thoughts on publications from other local authors that I’m looking forward to. Lin Marie DeVincent has just sent her book off to the publisher, while Rhys Wade’s novel is in final stages of revision. I can easily recommend these two books because I am familiar with Lin Marie’s moving poetry and Rhys’ great song lyrics. Both are masters of humor and pathos.  

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The Folks in Glen Ellen column also appears online. Look for it at www.sonomanews.com/category/lifestyle-history. Or look for my name, way at the bottom on the home page at sonomanews.com. Want to see your own name in the news? Share your stories with friends and neighbors in Glen Ellen. Call or write me at 707 996-5995 or P.O. Box 518, GE 95442. Or email me at Creekbottom@earthlink.net. Glen Ellen chatter rarely requires timeliness; however, if your news does, please be sure to contact me at least three weeks before your desired publication date.