Bøker av Gary Troia

In this short story collection, Gary Troia shares his adventures, travels and memoirs from his life."Excellent! A collection of short stories about: depression, alcoholism and drug use. Very compelling reading. I read this short story collection all in one go." (Maria, Goodreads.) "Gary manages to take the mundanities of life and elevate them to brilliance. in this short story collection" (Sara Fell) "Author, Gary cements growing reputation...A Bricklayer's Tales touches on real-life experiences in the building trade." ( Salina Patel, Hounslow Cronicle) Anyone who has ever done building work for brutal wage slavery and wondered if they were going mad, will recognise the life of Ray Dennis, (Troia's alter ego) which evokes a vision of mind-numbing, soul-destroying workplaces and workmates. His is the voice of discord for the marginally employed, the creatively frustrated working Joe, who turns to a life of drink and drugs to elevate the monotony of life. Few have brought this world to life with such despair, black humour and indifference as Gary Troia. He paints a beautifully sad portrait of a truly messed up person with potential, struggling to keep his messed up mind from drowning in cheap wine and self-loathing. Ray's spirit is trapped in a world of endless grey mundanity. A Bricklayer's Tales is the ultimate "I hate this job" story, written as a collection of short stories and memoirs, each one containing a snapshot of the life of Ray. Troia captures the tedium of working in a low paid, menial job and living hand to mouth. This book of short stories is sad and questions the reader to ask questions about their own life. This book achieves clarity without trying. Ray has three expensive hobbies: drinking, drugs, and running away. Without the income that Bricklaying provides, he would not be able to maintain his chosen lifestyle, so he compromises his principles and continues with his trade. A collection of short stories and memoirs that include: Angel Dust, the peculiar story of a man whose new life in America leads to conversations with Ancient Greek philosophers Mrs McClintock, an absurd farce in which a Glaswegian couple retire to Spain A Bricklayer's Tale, the story of a disillusioned, alcoholic bricklayer What I Did In My Summer Holidays In 1000 Words, could having an idea ever be considered a criminal act? My Grandfather's Shed, the making of an English key Peyote, hippies, LSD and an idyllic refuge Return Ticket, handcuffed and ready for deportation. A sad departure from the States The Day My Soul Left Me, "to be or not to be? That is the question" Advert In The Art Shop Window, will a new building job in Spain be the start of a new life? The Unchangeable Chameleon, can a leopard change it's spots? A collection short stories and memoirs of British dark humour.

"Author, Gary cements growing reputation...A collection of short stories that give a humorous account of life in a new country." (Salina Patel, The Hounslow Chronicle) "I liked the fact that some of the short stories in this collection were connected and followed on from each other, but at the same time they are stand alone. Great for people like me who are slow readers, I can read a whole story on the train to work and not have to wait all day for the ending." (Carol Wiggins) "I really enjoyed reading these short stories, they are easy to read. I would have liked it if there were more stories!" (Maria, Goodreads) Amazon top 100 bestsellers. In this short story collection, Gary Troia shares his adventures and memoirs from his travels in Spain. How Not To Travel To The Alhambra, hung-over, the wrong fuel, the car breaks down. Will they ever make it to Granada? Poking A Carob Tree, a new home and new neighbours, just in time for Christmas. The Road To Ronda, a terrifying drive to Ronda, was it worth it?Gaudi, a flight to Barcelona for a kebab and a look at the Sagrada Familia. Spain Reborn, no more commuting to London. Lets celebrate! Home From Home, a parallel world where the Spanish have taken over Weymouth. Three Common Carp, an epic battle with a whale and marlin it is not. Catania, a meeting with a Sicilian fox, some Neapolitans and a man with a camel haired coat. Bilbao, how very, very English! A collection of short stories and memoirs.

RAY DENNIS: A bricklayer, a teacher, a philosophy student and a sufferer of several disorders, including bi-polar, borderline personality disorder, alcoholism and a fear of flying. ULOpia: An island, free of prejudice, conflict and deprivation. Located somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, inhabited by Unidentified Latent Organisms, more commonly known as ULOpians. Fleeing a murder, almost drowning, desperate and on the verge of insanity, Ray is rescued from the Pacific Ocean and taken aboard a yacht where he anxiously awaits his fate. The owner of the yacht, a Scottish billionaire and philanthropist, grants Ray a second chance at life on the paradise island of ULOpia. The only rules for ULOpians are: Be grateful every day, remove pre-programmed labels and prejudices, lend a helping hand, and write a personal account every six months. And so begins a life changing spiritual odyssey on ULOpia where Ray learns some powerful life lessons, harnesses his inner demons, encounters both higher and lower versions of himself, and struggles to find a way to a fulfilled, peaceful and meaningful way of living, beyond the dark grasp of the world "out there."

Join Gary, Marina and baby Aemelia on an introspective account of a five day cruise aboard Cunard's Queen Victoria. Docking at Rotterdam, Zeebrugge, and Cherbourg.AN EXTRACT FROM BABY ON BOARD: Embarkation day has arrived. We are waiting for a taxi. Marina is in the kitchen making a pot of tea. Aemelia is playing with Maurice (a large brown bear). I am bringing our luggage downstairs and thinking back two years when Marina and I were sitting in a hotel reception waiting for a taxi. My thoughts now, though, are so different. I can't wait to embark, as this time I am looking forward to the cruise because the doubts and concerns I had have been replaced by fond memories of the freedom I felt from being at sea. This time I won't have to wander the ship with new eyes. I can discount much of what the ship has to offer by way of entertainment and distractions to concentrate on the aspects I found so freeing, which I didn't truly comprehend before. Since our last cruise there have been significant changes to our lives. Not least among them are Aemelia and a new home..

At the beginning of Chapter 1 we are walking up the gangplank of Cunard's Queen Mary 2, which is about to set sail on a return voyage from Southampton to New York. But before the ship casts off, I want to make it clear in this short introduction what you can and can't expect from this book, as I don't want to mislead or waste anyone's time. I am not going to tell you about cruise tips or how to save money - I don't even know exactly how much this one cost. I don't know anything about excursions, upgrades, or the differences between cruise companies. This is not an account of how to cruise, but rather an attempt at sharing how it feels. The purpose of this voyage is the voyage, not the destination.This is our third cruise. The first took us to Spain, Morocco and Portugal, which I documented in Through the Porthole. Our second, Baby on Board, sailed to France, Holland and Belgium, both on Cunard's Queen Victoria. What caught me immediately about cruising was the sense of mental freedom I felt. The open sea had hooked me. I didn't know why I felt so good. Initially I assumed it was an upsurge in energy gained from a new experience. Then I thought that it was just one of those times when everything seems to align or fall into place. Since those cruises I am certain that the open sea is the best place on planet Earth for me to feel more at peace and think clearer. Just by sailing away and having a break from incessant routine, densely populated areas, traffic jams, TV, celebrities, social media, politics etc., should bring a sense of peace to anyone.At the end of our first cruise it became clear to me that I felt better at sea than in port. So I said to Marina: "Wouldn't it be good to sail somewhere that took a long time and didn't dock almost every other day?" And so, because of that idea, my wife Marina, our eighteen month old daughter Aemelia and I are about to set sail to New York and back.Turn to chapter 1 if you want to walk the gangplank.

There are different versions of me: some in my mind, unseen but felt; some quite familiar because I live them constantly; and a version that brings emptiness, darkness, and depression. I hide some of these versions of myself - versions that radiate all manner of unpleasant characteristics, moods, and personalities - because of the inevitable public scrutiny. However, without these versions, I cannot tell this tale, and more importantly, I cannot be me. Deep within me resides the authentic me, despite the darkness and demons that try to consume me. Thus, I find myself constantly seeking my genuine self. This is my journey so far... I TURN TO VERSIONS OF MYSELF is a gripping memoir about self-discovery that hopefully inspires self-reflection and determination and urges one to embrace their truest self.