Stuart By Alexander Masters

What makes a life worthy of a book? Does the subject have to accomplished great historically interesting things? Should he or she be someone that is worthy of looking up to? If this is the criteria than the life of Stuart Shorter has no reason to have a book devoted to him. Stuart Shorter was a homeless alcoholic drug addict in and out of jail since he was 11. When Alexander first met him it was when they were protesting the imprisonment in Cambridge England of two homeless advocates for trumped up drug charges. What set Stuart apart from the other chaotic bums or rough sleepers is the fact that he got off the streets and Stuart was literate and able to communicate his situation. If you notice the I refer to him as if it were in the past its because Stuart was killed and hit by a train on his way home. This is no surprise Masters lets us know right at the of this happens and in the beginning Stuart himself tells us he wants to die. The format of the book is interesting because in the begins Stuart has read a version of the book and says it should be more like a mystery "like Tom clangs writes" only what is murdered is someone's childhood. So we learn more about Stuart by going backwards bit by bit 25-33, 24-25 and so on. Its a gimmick to be sure but its effective this is a real person don't forget. I am not proud of how when I encounter a homeless person I try to avoid thinking about them as people and more about them as nuisances. I will try to be better about that. This book doesn't glamorous nor sentimentality the subject. Just when you think Stuart is about to turn the corner he frustrates you. I couldn't help thinking during my reading how Stuart was 33 I am 33 how I could see myself in him given a turn of events. I really felt like I made a friend while reading this and I regret he is nolonger here. This book will be published in America in May so I recommend you get it when you can.