J R Barth

Where the Man Cranks the Moon Around J R Barth

This new work by an established author is a collection of well-told remembrances, fantasies and poems. The origin and meaning of its unusual title is explained at the beginning of the book, inviting the reader to visit the most secret and treasured places in the privacy of his or her own thoughts. A number of the stories take place in the author's hometown of Perry, New York and entertainingly relate his and others' experiences growing up in the 1950s. Several stories are excerpts from his memoir about the Vietnam War where Barth flew combat assaults over the Mekong Delta. A couple of the tales are pure fiction, one of which is excerpted from Barth's recently published novella, Scottsville Road. It takes place in the 1930s and describes how one woman tenderly expressed her love for her husband, a man desperate to make a living as a boxer. A second tale of fiction is a fantasy involving a woman and Lucifer! Collectively the writings are a reflection of life's journey, and the primary themes of love and redemption are skillfully woven throughout.