What I’m reading now, “The World is Neither Stacked for You nor Against You,” the latest from my friend, Corey Mesler.
Mr. Mesler is a veritable word machine, one of the best contemporary writers going today, a prolific novelist, poet, and prose stylist whose work never disappoints. His latest is a collection of short stories, published on Livingston Press; the jacket blurb from Richard Bausch says it perfectly: “this book shows a wayfaring imagination at work in story after story: smart, funny, moving and thought-provoking and surprising by turns…it is a carnival of a book.” Absolutely. As I read, I think of the Beats, I think of Brautigan, but references only take you so far, because he is a true original.
Side note, but Corey is also one of those fellows I’ve known so long I forget how we got connected, though I think it was through him discovering my music? This is cool when you think about it, because then, of course, I discovered his words. Beyond being a stellar writer, he is a friend, dedicated dad, doting grandpa, true Beatlemaniac, pickleball player, noir aficionado, Captain of the legendary Burke’s Book Store in Memphis, and much more. Glad to know him and glad to know his work; good karma to you, Mr. Mesler, keep the words flowing. Check out his work (below).
Doug Hoekstra 