Cemetery Street [Kindle Edition]

John Zunski (Author)

Book Description

In a world where dreams are possible and nightmares come true, can you romance a memory? James Morrison thinks so. In a snowy cemetery, James reenacts a childhood ritual unleashing an avalanche of memories. Laugh, cry and blush with James as he recounts a late 20th century American life.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John was born and raised in suburban Philadelphia. In 2003, he sailed across the country in a U-haul and settled in the Bitterroot Mountains of Montana with his wife Tammy, their dogs, and an occasional meandering bear.

Product Details

• File Size: 544 KB
• Print Length: 282 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1466475420
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Smashwords (June 7, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0054TQWTA
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #228,448 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Coming of Age Tearjerker! June 13, 2011

By Janet Brown

Format:Kindle Edition

Get your tissues out! A great novel written about the "coming of age" of the kids that lived on Cemetery Street in a small town, starting mostly in 1985 and onward. Their triumphs and tradgedies weave a compelling story with unexpected twist and turns that will turn into a tearjerker as you get imbedded into their lives. This is truely a "must read" you don't want to miss. I had a hard time putting it down and can't wait to read the next book by this author!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Heartfelt, Coming of Age Story October 29, 2011

By Daniel Shortell

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

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! Read more ›

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "CEMETERY STREET" (GMTA REVIEW) October 23, 2011

By GMTA Publishing

Format:Kindle Edition

"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 / [...]

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW!!! August 12, 2011

By Charlene Perroni

Format:Kindle Edition

I had never heard of John Zunski when I started reading this book. Now I am a fan forever. This is one of the best books of this genre I have ever read. Zunski gives us complete characters and a great plot along with plot twists than keep you guessing and the end--what a way to end a book. I will read more of his work because of this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Reviewed by Read2Review January 4, 2013

By Read2Review

Format:Paperback

Cemetery Street is not a book, it is a life. There is more emotion in this story than any TV drama can ever evoke in a whole season of daily episodes. I'm struggling to find a genre that would encompass such a wide range of sensations.

I suppose it is a `coming of age' in essence. James Morrison, aged twelve, moves to a town he doesn't know, in a house opposite a cemetery (which frightens him) and the family atmosphere isn't all that special. Luckily, his next door neighbour, Shannie, aged thirteen, is there to help ease the tension.

Instant infatuation makes James' life a little more bearable and he continues to explore the town, its inhabitants and Shannie's friends and haunting grounds.

I won't give away the surprises. This is one of those books that contains no high-speed chases, no deranged psycho watching from the shadows, and no bloodbath or inexplicable murders. Despite all that, or maybe because it is a simple story of life, you will not be able to put it down. I couldn't. To me, every decision James took, every conversation between him and his friends, every hope, every disappointment were so vitally important to know, to be party to, that work was left undone and someone else had to do the cooking because I simply had to keep reading.

John Zunski is the master of characterization. Each character is well developed and has its own voice - and I mean every single one, whether they appear in every chapter, or live for a mere few lines. It is impossible to not care. I loved Shannie, James, Count and got drawn in to Genise's world, too. I loved the gang of kids waiting on a street corner and admired the quiet assertiveness of Jerome when he decided Ellie wasn't that bad a dog....

The back stories that play along in the background highlight a different person each time. If there is one message that is very clear is that no one is ever what they seem. Every person is different, regardless of what they may look like, but there is value in every life, no matter how tortured or stunted or anguished it may be.

I loved this book. I absolutely didn't want it to end. I cared so much, I wanted to protect its characters from life itself. I wanted to take care of them all and jump on a plane to go and help, if I could. I was so deeply immersed in it when I finished, that I needed to take a couple of days away from it before I could be cool enough to write this review. I have been moved to tears and I didn't expect that.

With no hesitation, I would recommend this book over and over again. Read it. It is most definitely worth it. Read more ›

More About the Author

John was born and raised in suburban Philadelphia. In 2003, he sailed across the country in a U-haul and settled in the Bitterroot Mountains of Montana. He is the Author of Cemetery Street,Shangri-La Trailer Park and Nightwatching. Cemetery Street is currently available for Kindle and in paperback. Shangri-La Trailer Park is slated for publication to paperback in 2013. He is currently working on Cemetery Street's sequel,Montana Rural.

Look John up on Facebook or check out his website www.JohnZunski.wordpress.com, where amongst other things, you'll find the latest installment of The Barroom Chronicles, a series of essays detailing the insanity of a small town bar.