What happens when a poet with zero athletic skills but infinite capacity for embarrassment excavates his most mortifying childhood memories? John Roedel's essay collection delivers the answer with enough humor to make you snort-laugh in public.
From impaling himself on a chain-link fence while desperately seeking cool kid approval to surviving a naked swim meet finale, Roedel's Wyoming childhood was a masterclass in turning humiliation into hilarity. Whether he's setting fire to supposedly-possessed ventriloquist dolls, stealing condoms from his family's pharmacy for social currency, or enduring therapy sessions with counselors who seem to be auditioning for their own reality shows, his misadventures unfold with heart and wit.
Between these laugh-out-loud catastrophes, Roedel seamlessly weaves poetry that catches readers off-guard with unexpected emotional depth. The result is a collection that's honest about the awkwardness of growing up while revealing how these formative disasters shape who we become.
"And Now...A Word From Your Ghosts" proves that our most cringe-worthy memories aren't just sources of midnight anxiety—they're messengers carrying wisdom we missed the first time around. It's like finding your childhood diary and realizing those moments you wanted to forget were actually the making of you.
For fans of David Sedaris and Jenny Lawson, this book is the literary equivalent of comfort food with a kick—familiar enough to feel like home, surprising enough to keep you turning pages, and just the right amount of spicy truth to make you think while you're busy laughing.
Use collapsible tabs for more detailed information that will help customers make a purchasing decision.
Ex: Shipping and return policies, size guides, and other common questions.
You may also like
More from John Roedel
Recently viewed