As You Were

A book that alternates between grim reality and ribald humor, "The Monsters" is a powerful addition to Native American letters and the literature of the Iraq and Afghan wars. It recounts the childhood of David Tromblay, who was beaten, burned, humiliated, locked in closets, lied to, molested, seen and not heard for twelve years until his talent for brutal violence met and exceeded his father's. Years later, David confronts the compounded traumas of his childhood, searching for the domino that fell and forced his family into the cycle of brutality and denial of their own identity.

Format: Paperback / softback
Publication date: 04 March 2021
Publisher: Dzanc Books

A novel that seamlessly weaves between dark reality and raucous humor, delivering powerful punches with relentless speed. This captivating addition to Native American literature and the literature of the Iraq and Afghan wars shines with incandescent brilliance.

Upon discovering his father's impending demise, David Tromblay grapples with the question of what will become of his father's monstrous legacy. Determined to set the record straight, he picks up a pen and begins to recount his childhood. Through vivid and unflinching prose, he paints a vivid portrait of his life, navigating between his father, grappling with anger, alcoholism, and a severe brain injury; his grandmother, who endured the horrors of Indian boarding schools but mistook the corporal punishment she received as proper child-rearing; and his mother, a part-time waitress, dancer, and locksmith, who sought refuge in church basements and the folded-down back seat of her car until winter forced her to abandon her son on his grandmother's doorstep.

For twelve long years, David endured a relentless cycle of brutality, subjected to beatings, burns, humiliation, confinement in closets, lies, molestation, and invisibility. He was both seen and unheard, his talent for brutal violence surpassing his father's, granting him a fleeting escape from the hellish existence.

Years later, David confronts the compounded traumas of his childhood, embarking on a quest to unravel the domino that set his family on the path of violence and denial of their own identity. This introspective journey is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of healing.

"Monsters" is a profound and unforgettable testament to the human condition, offering a harrowing yet compassionate exploration of the scars left by trauma and the resilience of the human spirit.

Weight: 294g
Dimension: 138 x 216 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781950539222