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Steven Manchester

Ashes Paperback – 7 February 2018

by Steven Manchester (Author)

31 ratings

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Middle-aged brothers Jason and Tom Prendergast thought they were completely done with each other. Perceived betrayal had burned the bridge between them, tossing them into the icy river of estrangement. But life - and death - has a robust sense of irony, and when they learn that their cruel father has died and made his final request that they travel together across the country to spread his ashes, they have no choice but to spend a long, long car trip in each other's company. It's either that or lose out on the contents of the envelope he's left with his lawyer. The trip will be as gut-wrenching as each expects it to be . . . and revealing in ways neither of them is prepared for. At turns humorous, biting, poignant, and surprisingly tender, ASHES puts a new spin on family and dysfunction with a story that is at once fresh and timelessly universal. WINNER - LOS ANGELES BOOK FESTIVALWINNER - GREAT NORTHWEST BOOK FESTIVALWINNER - AMSTERDAM BOOK FESTIVALWINNER - INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDSWINNER - BEACH BOOK FESTIVALRUNNER-UP - PARIS BOOK FESTIVALRUNNER-UP - GREAT SOUTHEAST BOOK FESTIVALRUNNER-UP - NEW YORK BOOK FESTIVALRUNNER-UP - HOLLYWOOD BOOK FESTIVAL

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Product details

Publisher : Story Plant; Reprint edition (7 February 2018)
Language : English
Paperback : 284 pages
ISBN-10 : 1611882591
ISBN-13 : 978-1611882599
Dimensions : 14.07 x 2.06 x 21.64 cm

Customer Reviews:
31 ratings

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"Ashes is a wonderfully character-driven, page-turning tale of two estranged brothers on a personal quest across the country. Their spontaneous road trip is a bumpy one, full of twists and turns and peopled with all sorts of colorful characters along the way, but it's also touched with humor―enough to amuse and delight the reader through a heartfelt, life-changing journey of self-discovery. Manchester's devoted fans will find much to love in his new novel, which proves he is an author who knows how to keep readers well-entertained, while touching their hearts deeply and profoundly at the same time."--Julianne MacLean, USA Today bestselling author of THE COLOR OF HEAVEN

"Ashes uses a poignant cross-country expedition to explore the shared history of an interesting pair of estranged brothers charged with fulfilling their father's bizarre last wish. The pilgrimage twists through childhood memories of comic misdeeds and bruising misunderstandings, detours into sibling squabbles, and bounces over the ruts of problematic marriages and ornery children to arrive at an unexpectedly wonderful destination. I loved it."--Anne Hillerman, New York Times bestselling author of ROCK WITH WINGS

"Steven Manchester has the enviable ability to capture the intricacies of the human heart through words. Ashes is a moving novel of two brothers and their journey back to one another. A must read."--Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author of THE WEIGHT OF SILENCE and MISSING PIECES

"When two middle-aged, estranged brothers hit the road with their father's ashes in the back seat of the car, what begins as a grueling test of opposites ends up as a heroic testament to love. Ashes is a story about disappointment, dysfunctional families, and male aging, filled with observations that are both painfully true and terribly funny. Sometimes raw, always engaging, Steven Manchester's novel is a wry and wise journey through the ruins of the American Dream."--William Kent Kruger, New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award-winning author of ORDINARY GRACE

About the Author

Ashes paperback.indd Steven Manchester is the author of the #1 bestsellers Twelve Months, The Rockin' Chair, Pressed Pennies, and Gooseberry Island as well as the novels Goodnight, Brian and The Changing Season. His work has appeared on NBC's Today Show, CBS's e Early Show, CNN's American Morning, and BET's Nightly News. Recently, three of Manchester's short stories were selected "101 Best" for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.

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Patricia Singleton

Ashes by Steven Manchester

Reviewed in the United States on 30 July 2017

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Steven Manchester's book Ashes is humorous and tear jerking as he tells a story of two brothers on a trip across country to scatter the ashes of their abusive father at a place of his choosing. Neither has seen their father or each other in many years. The trip is difficult and eye-opening for both brothers as they become reacquainted with each other and each struggles with memories of past abuses at the hands of their alcoholic father.
The story is so real with feelings and memories that both brothers don't want to revisit. The trip together forces them to as they get to know each other. Both have difficult decisions to make about their futures as well. Ashes is a story of survivors who are still being affected by their abusive childhoods even though both brothers have tried to ignore its existence. I highly recommend this book as a story of success over past sorrows and letting go of the past.

Matt

Just read it (because you'll love it!)

Reviewed in the United States on 21 May 2017

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MINOR SPOILERS!

I’ve always enjoyed road trip stories in every genre, fiction or non-fiction. Ashes is a book by Steven Manchester that follows the journey of two brothers named Jason and Tom as they travel across the country with their father’s cremated remains. Before their father passed, he left an envelope and the two brothers won’t find out the contents until they make this journey.

The two brothers do not get along well and neither one of them are excited at all about this trip. There is definitely a Cain-Abel theme between these two, except God is not the one that they want to impress; it’s their egos instead. These two brothers are polar opposites of each other in every way, shape, and form. The only thing that seems to unite them (at first) is their shared dislike of their father. Their father was extremely mean towards these two. It’s strange that in real life it always takes the death of a family member to unite a family, like Jason and Tom.

Ashes has humor too. The way they put each other down and think mean thoughts about the other was funny at times as they make this trip. It is actually sort of reminiscent of Steve Martin and John Candy in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. The jokes they make about their father’s ashes were funny at times because their father is an EXTREMELY unlikable character.

In a sense we all carry “ashes” with us throughout our journey on life’s cross-country highway. We don’t know what we are going to encounter on the highway and we don’t know what’s at the end of it. Jason and Tom discovered that they are still brothers regardless of what they encounter.

Ashes is a good book that reads very smoothly. I give it 5 stars. Manchester gives you just enough description and information but not too much (unlike Stephen King). The dialogue reads very natural and not forced or dragged out. I really enjoyed the novel a lot and I think it’s definitely worth a read. If you’ve enjoyed Manchester’s previous works, then you are guaranteed to like this one too.

*On a side note, anytime I read a book I always try to picture who should be cast if it was a movie. I totally pictured Michael Cudlitz (Abraham from The Walking Dead) as Jason. If this book is ever adapted for the big screen, he would fit perfectly! Maybe Jason Sudeikis or Robert Downey Jr. as Jason..…….post your opinion (after you BUY the book!)

Sheila Rebello

Heartwarming ! Timeless! Sure to be a classic!

Reviewed in the United States on 15 July 2018

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I loved this book! Once again, Steven Manchester delivers another heartwarming, relatable story. I adore how he mentions specific people and places that are known to me . For example, Steven brings in the character of local artist Brian Fox~ complete with one of Brian's original paintings! "Ashes" could be just about anyone's family members, especially these days with so many estranged siblings/ parents and siblings, etc... This book held my interest from start to finish. I absolutely highly recommended it to anyone. It truly is a timeless story~ congrats again Steve Manchester! ☆☆☆☆☆

max

Great book which I couldn't put down.

Reviewed in the United States on 17 June 2017

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Started Ashes Wednesday evening and finished it Friday evening. I couldn't put it down. The characters are caustic, raw and emotionally charged. The degree of hate between brothers Tom and Jason is disconcerting, uncomfortable and painful to experience. And the wounds inflicted by their abusive father difficult to read. The ability of the author to transform their relationship in a five day cross county road trip is astounding. Through wit, honesty, sarcasm and humor, the brothers come to find the love of each other that had been suppressed for so long. Steven Manchester has gift in describing people and their emotions. I highly recommend Ashes to those seeking more than entertainment, but an emotionally enriching experience. By Peter Breyer

Tomart1

Absolutely loved this the second book I have read of Stevens

Reviewed in the United States on 30 December 2017

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Absolutely loved this the second book I have read of Stevens. I feel as if he writes his books about my life....So much I relate to that make the read capture my heart..... I met Steven a short while back at a mutual friend's art opening, Brian Fox who is mentioned in this book along with a painting he did for the book. Not only can he write but he is such a nice person to converse with... I can't wait to read another of his books "Rockin' Chair" which I just ordered here!!! It amazes me how he can write so easily and fluently while I struggle to write this one little paragraph lol.

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