Duncan Sarkies

"He wants the world to think he is sad, but he keeps smiling and giving displays of mild happiness. He has tried walking around sullen - to communicate his sadness more effectively - but this seems to achieve little. When he does this he is pretty much ignored by everybody. He has contemplated doing a less subtle version of sullen - perhaps a few tears at a public gathering - but he considers this to be grandstanding; and besides, he does not have the ability to time his sadness for optimum results. So he smiles and chit chats, and when somebody asks him 'How are you?' he answers 'Fine', which he is not."

- Sad.

I found this book in a holiday cottage, picked it up for lack of anything better to do, and haven't let go of it since. Tim and Sally, whoever you are, I have your copy and I'm really rather reluctant to give it back.

The book, "Stray Thoughts and Nosebleeds", is comprised of 13 short stories or skits,(18 Acts of Love and Compassion takes up 44 pages out of 110, though) and there's also a selection of related pictures in the center.

Dark and surreal humor at it's best, this book changed my life. It changed the way I view the world and changed the way I think. It's hard to put it into words, but Duncan Sarkies captures human emotion perfectly. I can relate to the man in "Sad", we see women like #15 in "18 Acts of Love and Compassion" every day and most people have felt like the guy in "The Good Thing" at one time or another in their life. The timing is perfect and no story feels like it goes on longer than it should.

It's not a long book, but if you get the chance to read it, take it. It's difficult to get hold of, at least in the UK, but it's worth it. And while it may not promise happiness, it does offer escape.… (mer)