All of Us: Stories and Poems Along Route 17

All of Us: Stories and Poems Along Route 17

All of Us is about people in a small town in upstate New York - different, even alien, from one another, often politically at odds, yet managing to live in peace, side by side. Seen through the lens of a warm-hearted narrator with an eye for a good story and a good laugh, All of Us is a unique tribute to rural upstate New York - a funny Spoon River Anthology, a northern relative of Eudora Welty's Why I Live at the PO. "Masterful poet and storyteller Esther Cohen invites readers to take a day-trip with her from bustling Manhattan to a quiet rural town in Upstate New York where porch-sitting, tomato-growing, and post office chitchat are appreciated and valued. Serving as both driver and tour guide, Cohen introduces us to a memorable cast of imperfect, identifiable villagers: loudmouths, late-in-life lovers, jilted spouses, settled seniors poised to jump off the diving board into the bracing waters of risk. US - Stories and Poems Along Route 17, a celebration of what's extraordinary about the ordinary, is rendered in a unique hybrid form and characterized by Cohen's open heart, her refreshing lack of judgment, and her appreciation of the simple beauty of the natural world. I urge readers to let this gifted writer transport you through the pages of her original and wonderful book." -Wally Lamb "As an Upstater, these stories and poems soothe my soul and remind me of why I love this part of the world more than any other." -Gary Shteyngart "Esther Cohen's tales are just tall enough to snag and delight the reader, but they are grounded in a deep understanding and appreciation of human nature. The flowing movement of the stories and poems is like a country road - undulating, surging, billowing, rippling and gliding along." -Breena Clarke Esther Cohen is a writer, teacher, bookdoctor, and labor activist. For many years she ran Bread and Roses, a national cultural program for workers. She started a program called UnseenAmerica and co-founded the Clara Lemlich Awards for women activists. Her poem/photograph series with Matthew Septimus is featured at On Being. She is the author of six books, including Breakfast With Allen Ginsberg (poetry), Bookdoctor (fiction) and Don't Mind Me and Other Jewish Lies, illustrated by Roz Chast.