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Songs for the New Depression [Paperback]

Kergan Edwards-Stout
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)

Price: $15.99 & FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details
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Book Description

October 25, 2011
Winner - 2012 Next Generation Indie Book Award - LGBTQ
Shortlist - 2011 Independent Literary Award - LGBTQ

Gabriel Travers knows he's dying; he just can't prove it. Despite his doctor's proclamations to the contrary and rumors of a promising new HIV drug cocktail, all it takes is one glance into the mirror to tell Gabe everything he needs to know. His ass, once the talk of West Hollywood, now looks suspiciously like a Shar-Pei, prompting even more talk around town.

Back in his 20's, life had been so easy. Caught up in the 1980's world of LOVE! MONEY! SEX!, Gabe thought he'd have it all. But every effort to better himself ended in self-sabotage, and every attempt at love left him with only a fake number, scrawled on a realtor's notepad.

The only happiness he could remember was in high school, where he'd met Keith, his first love. Only Keith had recognized the goodness within, and knew of the brutal attack Gabe had faced, the effects of which still rule his life today.

Now almost 40, and with the clock ticking, Gabe begins to finally peel back the layers and tackle his demons - with a little help from the music of the Divine Miss M and his mom's new wife, a country music-loving priest.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Kergan Edwards-Stout has crafted a work of fiction reminiscent of some classic tales in Songs for the New Depression.  Even better, Edwards-Stout's debut boasts the kind of dark humor that made Augusten Burroughs a household name." - Advocate.com

"Kergan Edwards-Stout infuses reality and hopefulness into a bittersweet story about compassion and personal growth. A distinctively entertaining novel written with moxie and bolstered by pitch-perfect perspectives." Kirkus Reviews

"Songs for the New Depression is a thoughtful read that should speak to many readers." - Midwest Book Review

"Simply stunning!" Dana Miller, Frontiers Magazine/Los Angeles

"Many tout this book as an important piece of fiction that should be read by all because of it's portrayal of AIDS. I'll give them that. I would add that it's not only an important piece of fiction because of the message, but it's a great piece of fiction writing regardless of the message." LGBT Book Review Blog

From the Author

I hope you enjoy my novel, Songs for the New Depression.  It is loosely inspired by my partner Shane Sawick, who died in 1995. While entirely fictional, the lead character of Gabriel shares certain sensibilities with Shane, and is my way of honoring him and all lost to AIDS, far too soon.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 270 pages
  • Publisher: Circumspect Press (October 25, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0983983704
  • ISBN-13: 978-0983983705
  • Product Dimensions: 0.6 x 5.9 x 8.9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,063,625 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kergan Edwards-Stout is an award-winning author, whose debut novel, Songs for the New Depression, won the 2012 Next Generation Indie Book Award in the LGBTQ category, was shortlisted for the Independent Literary Awards, and placed on four "Best Books of 2012" lists. His work has appeared in a number of publications, including Huffington Post, Bilerico Project, LGBTQ Nation, and American Short Fiction. He has been honored by the Human Rights Campaign as a "2011 Father of the Year", and blogs regularly at http://kerganedwards-stout.com. His forthcoming short story collection, Gifts Not Yet Given, will be released fall 2013. Currently, he is at work on a memoir, Never Turn Your Back on the Tide.

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
(31)
4.7 out of 5 stars
His writing style expresses honesty, openness, humor, and tenderness. NancyofUtah  |  13 reviewers made a similar statement
I look forward to reading his next book! andruinthatline  |  7 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A powerful personal and surprisingly funny book. January 3, 2012
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Kergan Edwards-Stout's first novel, "Songs for the New Depression" is the kind of book we need more of in the world of modern gay literature. For a man of my generation, reading about AIDS is difficult, because we lived through the epidemic as it first began to emerge on our collective radar, before we understood the horrific toll it would take on our lives and our community. There were a lot of these books in the 1990s, but we have begun to turn away from those dark topics in our literature, and I'm pretty sure that's not a good thing. Edwards-Stout's book seems to affirm my doubt. It is a beautiful book, and, I think, an important one.

Edwards-Stout is a gifted writer; the unusual reverse-linear structure of the book and the author's ability to use words is central to the pleasure of reading what is a sometimes harrowing, sometimes merely heartbreaking story. But the great surprise, and perhaps the author's greatest gift to the reader, is the laugh-out loud humor, most of which is in the voice of the central protagonist, Gabriel. Gabe is a deeply flawed person; but the reader has no problem seeing the potential there. This is a character you can imagine having as your difficult best friend - someone you love, but can never quite reach.

Edwards-Stout draws from personal experience here, and thus he presents us with a story that is both heartfelt and authentic. It may be a work of fiction, but it is also a work of great truth; emotionally, historically, and psychologically. The NY Times ought to be reviewing "Songs for the New Depression," not the likes of me.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Take Me On A Journey November 22, 2011
Format:Paperback
From the moment you look at the cover, you may sense you're in for a journey. And a hell of a ride is what you get. This 3-part narrative told in reverse order traces the final days of Gabriel Travers as he confronts not only his impending AIDS-related death, but the life that brought him to this point. We travel back to Gabe's high school years where a traumatic event ultimately shapes much of the man he is to become--for better or worse. Author Edwards-Stout has fashioned a cynical and sarcastic, love-him, hate-him, yet redeemable character that would give Augusten Burroughs a run for his money. While this debut novel will undoubtedly appeal to gay audiences, it would be fair to say that there are universal and relevant themes for all explored in Songs for the New Depression... We all struggle. We all seek a greater understanding of things we don't understand. And many of us seek some sort of redemption. While there are many ideas explored here, some are timeless, others are the makings of the headlines of our contemporary culture--a seemingly never-ending battle for GLBT affirmation, understanding and compassion.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging read! November 21, 2011
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This first novel by Kergan Edwards-Stout is wonderful. The story line is interesting, told in reverse order, with surprises up to the end. It is not a happy story, but a true one and makes us as readers think about how events in our own pasts continue to shape us. Great insight into friendship, family relationships, and the effects of trauma on our lives.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars The Beauty and Tragedy of Life...
Gabe is a man that has many attributes. There are great attributes to his personality and there are awful ones. You can relate to the character in many ways. Read more
Published 28 days ago by Zak
4.0 out of 5 stars Unexpectedly Beautiful...
The title first drew me to this novel. It of course references Bette Midler's third album (not as critically acclaimed as some of her other work, but always one of my... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Robby Morris (SerialBlonde)
5.0 out of 5 stars Worth repeating!!!
After I read this book for the first, and second times, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Kergan in person at the West Hollywood Book Fair, after corresponding several times... Read more
Published 2 months ago by arcadian48
1.0 out of 5 stars Really Terrible
The book tells the story (in his own voice) of Gabe Travers, a gay man who has HIV. The book starts with the end portion of Gabe's life, then the next section is the middle of his... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Shannon Lee Kearns
5.0 out of 5 stars No pain, no gain...
The great Buddhist teacher Pema Chodron has said "Pain, instead of being something to avoid, can actually bring us closer to the truth. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Angela Carole Brown
1.0 out of 5 stars Not sure about this.
Not too sure about the 25 previous 5 Star reviews. I'm thinking its friends or relatives boosting the review. Its a first novel and very evident its a first novel.
Published 6 months ago by Dukes Sheep
5.0 out of 5 stars multi-textured
We meet the main character, Gabe, at the end of his life, after he has contracted HIV and faces the imminent threat of death. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Angie
5.0 out of 5 stars You will be so engrossed, you won't want to be disturbed.
Songs for the New Depression
Songs for the New Depression

This is an incredibly important book. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Jodi Hanson
5.0 out of 5 stars An Emotional Read
Songs for the New Depression weaves a poignant tale that will resonate in your heart and mind long after the book is shelved and forgotten. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Michael Chavez
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read
This book had me hooked from the first page. The writing quality was so strong that I had to look again to remind myself that this is a debut novel. Read more
Published 11 months ago by C. M. Barrett
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