“Unlike many self-published books, this is a really good book.” Wred Fright, Amazon dot com.
Discovered this review yesterday which was posted last year on Amazon of my memoir – “Stations of the Lost & Found, a True Tale of Armed Robbery, Stolen Cars, Outsider Art, Mutant Poetry, Underground Publishing, Robbing the Cradle, and Leaving the Country” by Smith & Lady.
It is a good review, which means a lot, especially since I’ve sent out three dozen free copies of the book to reviewers and none have bothered. Several local reviewers told me they would write it up it when it came out in 2012 . . . I’m still waiting, but it appears I may be too cool for Cleveland.
4 out of 5 stars – Smith Has Led Quite a Life!
by Wred Fright on May 4, 2014
“I’m a little sad that no one’s posted a review of this book yet and it’s been out for two years, so I will post one. Basically, it’s the biography of Smith, who is an artist and poet based in Cleveland, Ohio USA. His wife, Lady, comes into the story later, but it isn’t her life story. She is credited as co-author because she helped Smith write the book. Like many self-published works, the book is a bit uneven and could have used more editing (for example, jettisoning the journal entries that effectively only retell events that Smith has already told the reader in the main narrative would have been a particularly good idea). Unlike many self-published works, this is a really good book. I laughed aloud many times and shook my head about the many crazy things Smith has done. Underneath all the insanity (including armed robbery) described, the book also has a lot of soul; for example, I found Smith’s relationship with his mother to be very touching. Nevertheless, it’s definitely a countercultural document. If you like underground Cleveland art such as Pere Ubu, Harvey Pekar, or d.a. levy, then you’ll likely dig this book. It has that kind of vibe. In fact, even if you don’t care anything about Cleveland underground art, but you like autobiographical and bohemian writers such as Charles Bukowski or Henry Miller, then you’ll likely dig this book. I bought it on a whim since I am slightly acquainted with Smith and Lady from living in the Cleveland area myself, but I’m glad that I did so. Frankly, a lot of the Cleveland literary scene isn’t very interesting, so it’s great to find a book from it that is actually interesting. Smith crammed sixty-some years of life into this book. Here’s hoping he lives much longer, if only for the readerly selfish reason that if he does, then we can might get a sequel!”
It’s available on Amazon and CreateSpace for $20 plus shipping. If folk order it from me, It’s $20 and I pay the shipping. Or, if you stop by and pick it up, it’s $15, plus you get to see a hundred pieces of art on the walls by two dead Smiths and two live Smiths . . . http://www.amazon.com/Stations-Lost-Found-Steven-Smith/dp/1477628290/ref=sr_1_3
This might be the best memoir to come out of Cleveland.
Status Report 149
Night rain washing street below
which should be covered in snow.
Wife early asleep in our unwinter bed
awaiting the toss of my turn.
Quiet neighbor raucously laughing
party shrieks, giggles bellow.
Drawing out my last pinch of pot
savoring three sips over time.
Vignettes building on on and off bits
spotlight the in of my ept.
Yet all is well for fortune flows
from them to me to view.
The neighbor’s nice, the rain wanted,
the wife pure peach in cream.
Grass gone in cycle helps clean the pipes
and sidewalks one day will re-ice.
If it weren’t for me nursing my mean
delight would be bursting my seam
– Smith, 12.27.2015
Cleveland gray