Review: We Are The New Auroras Authored By Adam Daniel Mezei

ISBN: 0595380697

The following review was contributed by:  NORM GOLDMAN: Editor of Bookpleasures. CLICK TO VIEW Norm Goldman's Reviews       

As a loyal Canadian, I am delighted to see that within the last several yearsthere have been quite a few Canadian authors who are making their mark in theinternational literary scene. Just looking over the undergraduate calendar of myold alma mater, I noticed that there are now 7 courses devoted to CanadianLiterature, whereas when I attended University over 50 years ago there may havebeen one or two. As a side note, when Canada’s famous poet, Irving Layton, whorecently passed away, was teaching in a Hebrew parochial school, he had beendismissed, as  he had the audacity to sell his risqué poetry books to hisstudents! This was back in the 1950s. How things have changed! Today, Canada can boast many literary figures who have gained internationalreputations as: Margaret Atwood, Hugh MacLennan, Mordechai Richler, IrvingLayton, Michael Ondaatje, and several others. Yes, Canada is alive and kickingand still continues to produce some fine young authors, whom I am sure will beshortly taking their place among their Canadian peers, as well as within theranks of many well-known international authors.

This brings me to a fine young author, screenwriter, and novelist, thirty-twoyear old Adam Daniel Mezei, who is of Czech extraction, and now makes his homein Vancouver, B.C. Drawing on his background as an incessant traveler that hasexposed him to many “delectable” cultures, Mezei has compiled a collection ofthirty short stories crafted within a period of thirty days all contained in WeAre The New Auroras.  Mezei mentions in his Forward, “he wished to immortalizethe many things I had read about, heard, and seen with my very own eyes overthis eventful three decade-long period in my life.”    Mezei is a born story teller in every sense of the word. In succinct andunencumbered prose he narrates tales about individuals, wherein some aretragically flawed or are perhaps flawed due to political, social or economiccircumstances beyond their control. However, most of them endear themselves tothe reader, as Mezei captures their unique and sometimes mesmerizingpersonalities, as well as the conflicts they endure.

Among Mezei gripping depictions is Bhimrao Yadav, a Dalit from Bangalore, India,who on his way to work one day comes to the aid of  an elderly man run over byan errant rickshaw. As a result of being the Good Samaritan, Bhimrao was morethan sixty minutes late for work- something he never previously experienced.When his superior questioned him as to why he was late, Bhimrao proceeded toexplain, and “to his shock and dismay the boss was unmoved,” resulting in hisbeing reprimanded for his tardiness. Apparently, Dalits are looked down upon inIndian society and if they should succeed in gaining employment, they should begrateful, according to the companies that hire them. Eventually, Bhimrao isfired because he will not sign a form that will dock an hour from his paycheque.

We learn about Valeriy Branko, the drunk, whose only saving grace had been fromhis books, and who strives to quit drinking; Karel Handzak, the youngest mayorof Prague, who was untouched by scandal and brings breath of fresh air; thegross and overweight Internet addict who falls in love with Sheila, whom he istoo frightened to meet for fear he will be rejected.

These are but a few glimpses of the many poignant powerful stories portrayingtouching inner voices that produce a lasting lingering effect long after you putthe book down. Certainly worth a read!