Book Review: No Longer a Kid

No Longer a Kid by Christian Gonzales
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Author Christian Gonzales bravely begins No Longer a Kid with a prologue that states, “Life has been no refuge for me.” I call it brave, because it’s the necessary start to a deeply personal book of poetry and stories that echo a theme of abuse, loss of innocence, struggle, fear, love, and forgiveness. Three paragraphs into that prologue, he adds, “These days, I am a happy man.” The author hopes that readers will find solace, understanding and inspiration in these pages.

The first section contains twenty poems, each with a unique perspective. “O’Artista” will resonate with artistic souls, especially those striving to define their work. On the very next page we have “Rage”, one of the most painfully honest pieces I’ve ever read. There’s no doubting what this poem is about.

A good portion of the poetry explores the author’s feelings about his childhood abuse from various angles and mindsets. But there are also plenty of other pieces that pull you into a surreal space where you can find your own meaning. “A Midsummer Tale” feels to me as if it straddles the line between introspection and fantasy. I like it, but I can’t state firmly if its based in real trauma or not. What will you think about it?

The next section contains six short stories with a strong theme of love and loss.

“The Unwritten Pages” gripped me, as it felt like the author had rummaged around inside my head, sorting through the clutter of my family’s genealogy and my struggles as a writer.

“The Good Father” proves that the author will not pull punches when expressing any aspect of desperation. The writing is soft, haunting, easy to imagine, and does what it must do.

“The Last Ride of Sergeant D. Harrow” hurls a police officer into a situation most of us have imagined at least once in our lives, if not a thousand times. I felt my emotions detach from the situation as I watched it play out – not because the writing was bad, but because it was so spot-on.

“Sombracita” is a study of how we deal with the grief that comes with the passing of a loved one. This is the journey of one who is leaving and one who remains behind.

“The Love Worm” is by my reckoning the most unusual story in the book. Jake and Ellie’s love affair takes a turn for the absurd, but the heartfelt emotion of Jake’s narrative will have you believing every word.

“The Lost Pilgrim” brings us the classic sympathetic listening ear of a bartender, with a twist.

No Longer A Kid is perfect for rainy nights, or days when you can’t put your thoughts into words. It’s not a book to read straight through to the end in one sitting. Nibble a poem here, a story there, and give each one time to settle in your mind. Make it your own. Apply your emotions to the various situations. Maybe doing so will unlock something in your own emotional experience. It can be cathartic.

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