The Brightest Moon of the Century [Paperback]

Christopher Meeks (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 7, 2009

In Christopher Meeks's "The Brightest Moon of the Century," Edward, a young Minnesotan, is blessed with an abundance of "experience"-first when his mother dies and next when his father, an encyclopedia salesman, shoehorns Edward into a private boys school where he's tortured and groomed. Edward needs a place in the universe, but he wants an understanding of women. He stumbles into romance in high school, careens through dorm life in college, whirls into a tornado of love problems as a mini-mart owner in a trailer park in Alabama, and aims for a film career in Los Angeles. Will his love for a Latina prove to be the one? In nine chapters, the reader experiences Edward's life from ages 14 to 45. This is the first novel from Christopher Meeks, which follows his highly acclaimed collections of short stories, "The Middle-Aged Man and the Sea" and "Months and Seasons." Author and humorist Sandra Tsing Loh has said, "Christopher Meeks's quirky stories are lyrical and wonderfully human. Enjoy." Carmela Ciuraru wrote in the Los Angeles Times Book Review of Meeks's first book, "This idea resonates throughout the collection: Meeks's characters seek happiness in the small things because they have no choice ... [The stories] are poignant and wise, sympathetic to the everyday struggles these characters face."

Product Details

• Paperback: 324 pages
• Publisher: White Whisker Books (March 7, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0615249140
• ISBN-13: 978-0615249148
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,023,427 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Christopher Meeks was born in Minnesota, earned degrees from the University of Denver and USC, and has lived in Los Angeles since 1977. He's taught English at Santa Monica College, and creative writing at CalArts, UCLA Extension, Art Center College of Design, and USC. His fiction has appeared often in Rosebud magazine as well as other literary journals, and his books have won several Noble (not Nobel) Awards. His short works have been collected into two volumes, "The Middle-Aged Man and the Sea" and "Months and Seasons," the latter which appeared on the long list for the Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award. He's had three plays produced, and "Who Lives?: A Drama" is published. His focus is now on longer fiction. His first novel is "The Brightest Moon of the Century," and his second, "Love At Absolute Zero."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Successful Stew: A Short Story Master and the Novel, February 6, 2009

By 

Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Brightest Moon of the Century (Paperback)

Christopher Meeks has produced up to now two of the finest, most intelligent, entertaining, and socially sensitive collections of short stories (THE MIDDLE-AGED MAN AND THE SEA and MONTHS AND SEASONS). For those of us who have become Meeks devotees based on these short stories, the anticipation of a full-length novel has been both exciting and a bit dubious. It is an entirely different challenge to carry a character and a few ideas, well developed as they are in Meeks' hands, along a path that justifies a complete novel. But with THE BRIGHTEST MOON OF THE CENTURY Christopher Meeks has crossed that bridge so successfully that his stance in the echelon of new important American writers seems solidly secure.

Meeks deals well with the everyday persons that populate this novel. His characters are all flawed and not afraid to share those flaws. And that is one reason this story of a young lad's journey from Minnesota through the South and to California spanning the years of his life from age 14 to age 45 reaches out to the reader in a way that offers an honest invitation to relive our own growing years. Meeks does not discard his unique gift of crafting short stories: each chapter in this novel is framed by a time span and a special growing adventure in a way that at times the reader may wonder if each chapter could stand alone. But that is where Meeks so deftly shows his craft. He sorts through his bag of ideas, dropping a few here and there only to be picked up and transformed later in the book like old memories that come to blossom or gain meaning as life goes on.

Edward Meopian manages to cope with the loss of his mother, survives the changes that his encyclopedia salesman father imposes on him, an manages to leave home for private boys school where he gains some wisdom, some tolerance for the actions of his peers, some knowledge about his inappropriate preparation for puberty and love, fights his way through college discovering he has no talent for the `preferred discipline' of science, that he loves films, and discovers passion in a relationship that pushes the button to accelerate his maturity. Things happen and things don't happen (Meeks has a way of adjusting his characters dreams and expectations with a sense of acknowledging personal flaws and humble talents). And as Edward's father re-marries, Edward gains possession of a mini-mart and trailer park in Alabama which he rules with his longtime pot smoking friend Sagebrush, all the while finding the idiosyncrasies of several women's wiles (avoiding the advances of under aged oversexed girls and the vitriol of a matronly trailer park manager). Shaky `failures' at marriage and screenwriting/directing dreams lead Edward through life changes that eventually result in his finding a touch of peace as a teacher in an arts school. Characters from his past weave through his present and the final touches of his life feel whole - sort of...

For lovers of Meeks' short stories there are chapters that retain his polish in this format. The chapter called 'One Hour' is brief and relates Edward's moment in time when the fertility question is raised. In this hilarious but tender chapter Edward visits a Sperm Bank to have his sperm washed, apparently making him a better potential for fatherhood. This is one chapter that could stand alone as short story, it is that well conceived and written.

Along the way in Edward's journey the author takes time to pause and offer some poignant philosophy. As he approaches his Alabama experience Edward muses `By being open, he'd come to understand the way real people worked - versus the pretend, made-up people of Hollywood movies - and that, in turn, would give him a clearer sense of what he should do in this life.' Or in an encounter with a cop "Failure seems to follow me around,' said Edward. "You're no failure, son," said the officer, and Edward turned to face him. "This is God," said the man. "Or the disorder of life, if you like. This is what we all have to live with.' And as Edward leaves his Alabama trailer park/mini-mart fiasco Meeks describes his view: "This world could be heaven on earth if only people let it, Edward realized. Every sunset could show you. Take it.'

At book's beginning the title is explained: during the last month of the century into which Edward was born would occur the brightest full moon `in terms of size and luminosity' of the century. And when Meeks brings us to the closing pages of his novel, Edward, transformed or at least tattered and worn by his life to that time, realizes that the year is 1999 and somewhere behind the clouds he sees that shining light of that promised moon. Meeks leaves us with a passel of memories of a common if extraordinarily interesting guy who just happens to mirror each of our flaws - and strengths. This is a fine novel, an engrossing story, and a group of indelible characters who linger in the mind long after novel's end. Meeks has done it again! Grady Harp, February 09

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cover to cover, a great read, January 9, 2010

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C. Demarest "Adventure man" (Bethesda MD) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Brightest Moon of the Century (Paperback)

While looking for John Irving's new book, I stumbled on the link to C.Meeks' book and from the reviews, took a chance. It was worth the money and risk because I've found a great talent and look forward to reading his short stories.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Buy Every Book Written by Christopher Meeks, August 17, 2009

By 

Kevin Gerard (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Brightest Moon of the Century (Paperback)

It's hard to put it into words. For me, that is, certainly not for Christopher Meeks.

I kept seeing Holden Caulfield flailing around in my mind as I read this story. Edward isn't quite the dropout that Holden was, but they do look at the world through a unique prism. I think the best part of Edward's personality is that he's so believable. He is so much like all of us, or at least we all share some characteristics with him.

The trailer park episode is my favorite, but the whole book is a rewarding read. Hopefully, we can spread the word about this wonderful author. The world needs to hear about Christopher Meeks and his captivating stories.

Kevin Gerard - Author of Diego's Dragon, Book One: Spirits of the Sun