I actually picked this book because it seemed short and I did not have a lot of time left before the next SSU Writer's Series. I am glad that this is how I chose this particular book because it is one of the greatest works I have ever read. My attention was captured as soon as I read the first page of Dangerous Places by Perry Glasser. Glasser's rawness and attention to detail was like nothing I have ever read before. He made the reader feel like they were apart of his stories.
Dangerous Places is a book that composed of several short stories. Each of these stories are about ordinary people who find themselves facing disaster. Glasser takes you int the lives of each character. What their hardships may be and how they over come them. His stories can be heavy at times but at the end some way, somehow their problems are resolved. The endings don't end like the fairy tales, but they do give a sense of hope for individuals. A hope that although these characters are not real, we can truly relate to them in a certain sense. There is a hope that we can triumph over our disasters as well.
I think that Dangerous Places was such a great read is because it is broken up into different stories about different people. No two characters are alike. Each one faces their own problems and each resolution is different. Dangerous Places is unpredictable. Just when you think you know how the story will end, it completely changes and travels in a whole new direction. From beginning to end your attention is over taken by these stories. Once you start it is extremely difficult to stop.
What made the book even better was that the author, Perry Glasser, teaches right here at Salem State University. Looking at the author's picture, I had a feeling that I had seen him before. I could not put his face with a place so I let it be. During the Writer's Series I attended, he was of course there. To me, he looked very intimidating. As I watched him, he joked with his students and he never boasted or bragged about the great writer he truly is. When he presented he discussed his next writing that he has been working on for some quite some time now. He even read the first chapter. Let's just say I cannot wait for this book to be published because from what I heard from the first chapter, I cannot wait to hear more.
All of these stories can be understood by anyone, at any age (not children of course). Glasser pays attention to detail and captures the true feelings of each character. By the end of the short stories, you feel as though you know at least one character. You get a sense of who those people are, like you have known them for quite some time. When you reach the last page you are saddened that there are no more stories left. Glasser leaves you yearning for more. His raw and real tone makes the stories come alive. Dangerous Places should truly be read by all.
