Cemetery Street

Cemetery street is a story about so many things. Mainly, it is t

Cemetery street is a story about so many things. Mainly, it is the story of James Morrison's life. It is told so beautifully, and with such detail and explicit emotion that it is not even slightly boring. This books gives us such a spectacular view on the commonplace complexities we face constantly in life. Zunksi breathes life into everyday occurrences and shows them to us in a brand new light. While reading this, you will get a startling insight on life, love, loss, hate, anger, joy, family, friends, growing up, and most importantly, death. Death is a major theme in this book, making the name of the book and street James grows up on pretty relevant. Death is something we all have to deal with way more often than we would prefer. Sometimes, hearing about others' experiences helps us with our own. You may find this story does just that for you. I would say love is the next most important theme is this book. James has grown up with his best friend, love of his life, Shannie, living next door. They literally do everything together, they are as close as two people can possibly be without being together. But oh how James wishes they could be. Shannie will forever be the yardstick that everyone else is measured against for James, but I doubt anyone will ever come close to measuring up.

This book definitely has it's mature moments, there is a little sprinkling of sex here and there. But, the intimate scenes in this book were not placed merely for sex's sake. Each scene is a major plot/character developing moment and is very tastefully written. The sex scenes play a very important role in the unfolding of this story and they are not in any way vulgar or over the top. I found them to be wonderfully placed and detailed perfectly.

If you have ever seen the movie Stand By Me, which happens to be one of my all time favorite movies, you will understand what I mean when I say that this book has an atmosphere much the same as that movie. If you haven't seen it, I recommend you do. It's based of a short story called The Body by Stephen King. This book and that movie just do such an amazing job of capturing the essence that is life and growing up and dealing with life's blows one by one. This was a really great read and you should probably read it ;).

A coming of age tale with a lasting impact. You'll be moved, you won't forget this bittersweet tale

A triumph! This is truly a fabulous book! Zunski artfully tells the coming of age story of James - a young boy faithfully enamored with Shannie, a spunky, smart and funny young blonde, and their friends growing up in a small town near Philadelphia. This book has stuck with me through some personally overwhelming times of late. I've thought about the characters, wondered how they were doing, and when I had time to pick up the book through some very busy months did so as though I was visiting with old friends. It brought a smile to my face to be back in Beyford, back on Cemetery Street with a host of fictional friends. Today, I finally got a chance to sit down and read the last 4 chapters. The characters are so vivid, so real - they are developed skilfully, each dynamic with familiar quirks and saying. Beyford itself comes alive and you feel like you've driven down the center of town or stood outside on the yard between James' and Shannie's house. Zunski has supreme talent at balancing sadness with humor. This book can best be described as bittersweet and the reader is left with a heavy heart when the last chapter is read. Zunksi clearly knows the pains of growing up and the loss of innocence that we all, quite sadly, find during those formidable years from early teens through our twenties. One of the best books I've read in years and I think one that will stay with me a long time. This book truly resonated with me in a special way. Highly recommend, but beware: it is an emotional ride! I was sad to leave Beyford but am looking forward to other works from this author!

A Heartfelt, Coming of Age Story

John Zunski's book is a poignant look into the mixture of happiness and tragedy that accompanies many of us as we navigate our way through the volatile teen years on through to the indecision of early adulthood. He beautifully captures the evolution of an early teen friendship (James and Shannie) and its often confused and conflicted entry into the realm of love. Along the way, Zunski helps to remind us that the bonds we establish early in our lives echo into our futures, shaping who we are and how we relate to the world.

The story is told from the perspective of protagonist James Morrison and begins with him, as an adult, reflecting on the loss of a childhood friend-cum-confidant-cum-lover. The story quickly takes root in James' past where Zunski pieces together the trials and tribulations of the teenage years, as experienced by James and his close knit group of friends, growing up in the shadows of a cemetery. A cemetery which, throughout the story, provides a constant reminder of the fragility and sometimes abbreviated nature of life. Along the train tracks in a small suburban town outside of Philadelphia, James and his friends grow together forging strong ties starting in middle school, into high school and onto college and professional endeavors which pull them apart only physically.

Cemetery Street has several themes working throughout, however, at its core, it is a touching tale of a love that never had the opportunity to fully bloom in a manner befitting the protagonist. A lack of will, unclear desires and a life cut short all intertwine to create a story revealing that our hopes and aspirations always manage to lie beyond our control. Zunski's storytelling strong hand lies in his suppression of the reveal, choosing instead to focus on character development diving deep into their thoughts, troubles, and challenges. It is done with a certain finesse allowing the reader to become a witness to events rather than merely a page turning machine.

As it must be stated, the novel is not beyond criticism and there were a few elements of the novel which I struggled to digest. Specifically, I found there to be some 'inauthentic' language and dialog which had me second guessing specified ages of characters and points in history. Additionally, there were a couple of conflict situations which seemed to accelerate at an unnatural pace. Taken as a whole though, these elements did not cast much of a shadow over what is otherwise a quality piece of work. I look forward to future titles from Zunski!

"CEMETERY STREET" (GMTA REVIEW)

"CEMETERY STREET" BY JOHN ZUNSKI

I loved this book. I feel one reason is that I lived those times and was around the same age during the 80's and 90's as the characters in the stories. This book spoke to me in volumes. The characters are written with a knowledge that shows the author knew those years as well and felt a kinship with his characters as I did while reading it. The 80's the way I remember them, were a time when friendship meant everything and the mother in this book, unfortunately, reminded me of my own. I identified with the male lead in this book, James, on so many levels and at times felt like I was his female counterpart like John Zunski had taken my story and printed it on paper for the world to read.

The story is about friendship, loss, war, coming to terms with life in general and growing up in a time so much different than today and learning to embrace who you really are.

A truly fantastic novel well worth the read, I will actively seek out more of this authors work in the near future. James, Shannie, and Count will forever be a part of me! Wonderful, wonderful book, I simply can't praise it enough!

5 Ravens flying high!

Kitty Bullard / Great Minds Think Aloud

Enriching poignant tale of life.

This book is not just about families and friendship bonding through the years. It is an in depth exploration into the trials and tribulations of the late 80's- into the early 90's, 20th century which a close group of friends experienced, the joys and sorrows of daily life.

It is very descriptive, poignant and realistic with the raw emotions of human feelings, the deep attachment one's has with another and they all are intertwined into life's journey through being a friend, support network and concludes rallying and seeking justice for a veteran who fought bravely for the Gulf War. The letters home brought tears to this reader's eyes.

It started as a roller coaster ride down, then picked up speed as it surprises the readers with events not expect, then boom the heart is racing and the tears are flowing for all the characters as they travel down the road of life and experiences life and death realities and grow or are defeated by life's blows to transform from adolescents to adults.

In the author's own words "A breeze rustled the trees, their bare limbs swaying to the sound of her voice. I turned praying she would be sitting on the sandstone bench like she was thirteen years ago - Indian style, her wild mane speckled with snowflakes. I imagine her gaze staring across the dozing river, past the distant rushing traffic, into eternity. My gaze was met by a dusting of snow atop the bench. Disappointment consumed me. "People who do nothing but watch, feel nothing but disappointment," she once scolded. "

An eye opener to remember our loved ones who are here today and maybe gone tomorrow, not to take them for granted. Every precious moment is enriching as this book is. A keeper

No text was provided for this review.