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Steven Manchester
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Ashes Kindle Edition

by Steven Manchester (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.7 out of 5 stars 173 ratings
Middle-aged brothers Jason and Tom Prendergast thought they were completely done with each other. Perceived betrayal had burned the bridge between them, tossing them into the icy river of estrangement. But life – and death – has a robust sense of irony, and when they learn that their cruel father has died and made his final request that they travel together across the country to spread his ashes, they have no choice but to spend a long, long car trip in each other's company. It's either that or lose out on the contents of the envelope he's left with his lawyer. The trip will be as gut-wrenching as each expects it to be . . . and revealing in ways neither of them is prepared for.

At turns humorous, biting, poignant, and surprisingly tender, ASHES puts a new spin on family and dysfunction with a story that is at once fresh and timelessly universal.

GRAND PRIZE WINNER, 2017 LOS ANGELES BOOK FESTIVAL
WINNER, GENERAL FICTION, GREAT NORTHWEST BOOK FESTIVAL

“When two middle-aged, estranged brothers hit the road with their father's ashes in the back seat of the car, what begins as a grueling test of opposites ends up as a heroic testament to love. ASHES is a story about disappointment, dysfunctional families, and male aging, filled with observations that are both painfully true and terribly funny. Sometimes raw, always engaging, Steven Manchester's novel is a wry and wise journey through the ruins of the American Dream.”
– William Kent Kruger, New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award-winning author of ORDINARY GRACE

“ASHES uses a poignant cross-country expedition to explore the shared history of an interesting pair of estranged brothers charged with fulfilling their father's bizarre last wish. The pilgrimage twists through childhood memories of comic misdeeds and bruising misunderstandings, detours into sibling squabbles, and bounces over the ruts of problematic marriages and ornery children to arrive at an unexpectedly wonderful destination. I loved it.”
– Anne Hillerman, New York Times bestselling author of ROCK WITH WINGS

“Steven Manchester has the enviable ability to capture the intricacies of the human heart through words. ASHES is a moving novel of two brothers and their journey back to one another. A must read.”
– Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author of THE WEIGHT OF SILENCE and MISSING PIECES

“ASHES is a wonderfully character-driven, page-turning tale of two estranged brothers on a personal quest across the country. Their spontaneous road trip is a bumpy one, full of twists and turns and peopled with all sorts of colorful characters along the way, but it's also touched with humor―enough to amuse and delight the reader through a heartfelt, life-changing journey of self-discovery. Manchester's devoted fans will find much to love in his new novel, which proves he is an author who knows how to keep readers well-entertained, while touching their hearts deeply and profoundly at the same time.”
– Julianne MacLean, USA Today bestselling author of THE COLOR OF HEAVEN

WINNER – LOS ANGELES BOOK FESTIVAL
WINNER – GREAT NORTHWEST BOOK FESTIVAL
WINNER – AMSTERDAM BOOK FESTIVAL
WINNER – INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS
WINNER – BEACH BOOK FESTIVAL
RUNNER-UP – PARIS BOOK FESTIVAL
RUNNER-UP – GREAT SOUTHEAST BOOK FESTIVAL
RUNNER-UP – NEW YORK BOOK FESTIVAL
RUNNER-UP – HOLLYWOOD BOOK FESTIVAL
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  1. Print length
    272 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    February 21, 2017
  4. File size
    5.0 MB
  5. Page Flip
    Enabled
  6. Word Wise
    Enabled
  7. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Ashes uses a poignant cross-country expedition to explore the shared history of an interesting pair of estranged brothers charged with fulfilling their father's bizarre last wish. The pilgrimage twists through childhood memories of comic misdeeds and bruising misunderstandings, detours into sibling squabbles, and bounces over the ruts of problematic marriages and ornery children to arrive at an unexpectedly wonderful destination. I loved it.” -- Anne Hillerman, New York Times bestselling author of ROCK WITH WINGS

“Steven Manchester has the enviable ability to capture the intricacies of the human heart through words. Ashes is a moving novel of two brothers and their journey back to one another. A must read.” -- Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author of THE WEIGHT OF SILENCE and MISSING PIECES

“When two middle-aged, estranged brothers hit the road with their father's ashes in the back seat of the car, what begins as a grueling test of opposites ends up as a heroic testament to love. Ashes is a story about disappointment, dysfunctional families, and male aging, filled with observations that are both painfully true and terribly funny. Sometimes raw, always engaging, Steven Manchester's novel is a wry and wise journey through the ruins of the American Dream.” -- William Kent Kruger, New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award-winning author of ORDINARY GRACE

“Ashes is a wonderfully character-driven, page-turning tale of two estranged brothers on a personal quest across the country. Their spontaneous road trip is a bumpy one, full of twists and turns and peopled with all sorts of colorful characters along the way, but it's also touched with humor―enough to amuse and delight the reader through a heartfelt, life-changing journey of self-discovery. Manchester's devoted fans will find much to love in his new novel, which proves he is an author who knows how to keep readers well-entertained, while touching their hearts deeply and profoundly at the same time.” -- Julianne MacLean, USA Today bestselling author of THE COLOR OF HEAVEN

About the Author

Steven Manchester is the author of the #1 bestsellers Twelve Months, The Rockin' Chair, Pressed Pennies, and Gooseberry Island as well as the novels Goodnight, Brian and The Changing Season. His work has appeared on NBC's Today Show, CBS's The Early Show, CNN's American Morning, and BET's Nightly News. Recently, three of Manchester's short stories were selected “101 Best” for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. He lives with his family in southern Massachusetts.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01NBWB1FT
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Fiction Studio Books (February 21, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 21, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 5.0 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 173 ratings

About the author

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Steven Manchester

Steven Manchester

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New England's Storyteller Steven Manchester is the author of the soul-awakening novel, The Menu, as well as the '80s nostalgia-series, Bread Bags & Bullies; Lawn Darts & Lemonade; Yearbooks & Yo-Yos. His other works include #1 bestsellers Twelve Months, The Rockin' Chair, Pressed Pennies and Gooseberry Island; the national bestsellers, Ashes, The Changing Season and Three Shoeboxes; the multi-award winning novels, Dad and Goodnight Brian; and the heartwarming Christmas movie, The Thursday Night Club (NYIFA & LAFA winner). He is the co-author of You Will Be Peter, as well as Officer Erik & the Very Special Dad (written with TV icon, Erik Estrada). His work has appeared on NBC's Today Show and CBS's The Early Show; in Billboard and People Magazines. Three of Steven's short stories were selected "101 Best" for Chicken Soup for the Soul series. He is a multi-produced playwright and winner of several book festivals, Including Los Angeles, New York, Paris, and New England (from 2017-2021). When not spending time with his family., this Massachusetts author is promoting his works or writing.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
173 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book emotionally charged and heartwarming, with one review noting how it can bring readers to tears in minutes. Moreover, the story receives positive feedback for its relatable narrative, with one customer highlighting how it explores the relationship between two brothers. Additionally, customers appreciate the author's writing style, noting the natural dialogue, and find the characters well-developed. They also enjoy the book's humor and readability.

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18 customers mention "Readability"18 positive0 negative

Customers find the book excellent and engaging, with one mentioning it kept them interested throughout.

"...I really enjoyed the novel a lot and I think it’s definitely worth a read...." Read more

"I loved this book! Once again, Steven Manchester delivers another heartwarming, relatable story...." Read more

"...I recommend this book as a good read. I enjoyed it from the very beginning until the very end. I give it 5 stars and I don't give many of those." Read more

"Applause and Delight. A captivating read. For those who have siblings - a must read...." Read more

9 customers mention "Emotion level"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book emotionally charged and heartwarming, with several mentioning it can bring them to tears in minutes.

"...Ashes to those seeking more than entertainment, but an emotionally enriching experience. By Peter Breyer" Read more

"Steven Manchester's book Ashes is humorous and tear jerking as he tells a story of two brothers on a trip across country to scatter the ashes of..." Read more

"I loved this book! Once again, Steven Manchester delivers another heartwarming, relatable story...." Read more

"As usual Mr Manchester can bring one to tears in minutes. Listen and learn from this. One of my favorite books." Read more

8 customers mention "Story quality"8 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's storyline, with one customer highlighting how it explores the relationship between two brothers and delves into past memories.

"...The trip is difficult and eye-opening for both brothers as they become reacquainted with each other and each struggles with memories of past abuses..." Read more

"...I absolutely highly recommended it to anyone. It truly is a timeless story~ congrats again Steve Manchester! ☆☆☆☆☆" Read more

"...It is a great family story where you get invested in the characters. I was disappointed when it was finished. I wanted to see what happened next." Read more

"...I flew thru this book and enjoyed the trip with both brothers. The banter was funny and great between them and could see and hear it in my minds eye!..." Read more

7 customers mention "Author"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the author's writing style, with one noting how he captures the heart of family in his stories.

"...I feel as if he writes his books about my life....So much I relate to that make the read capture my heart..... I met Steven a short while back at a..." Read more

"Again I was pleasantly surprised by this author! I flew thru this book and enjoyed the trip with both brothers...." Read more

"...It delves into past memories, hurts and happiness. This is such a well told story...." Read more

"...It is a touching novel. Alot of us have those struggles one time or another. Steven does a great job bringing it out...." Read more

7 customers mention "Humor"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book, with one mentioning its sarcastic tone.

"...Ashes has humor too. The way they put each other down and think mean thoughts about the other was funny at times as they make this trip...." Read more

"...Through wit, honesty, sarcasm and humor, the brothers come to find the love of each other that had been suppressed for so long...." Read more

"Steven Manchester's book Ashes is humorous and tear jerking as he tells a story of two brothers on a trip across country to scatter the ashes of..." Read more

"...I flew thru this book and enjoyed the trip with both brothers. The banter was funny and great between them and could see and hear it in my minds eye!..." Read more

5 customers mention "Writing quality"5 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, noting that the dialogue reads naturally and flows smoothly throughout the text.

"...The dialogue reads very natural and not forced or dragged out. I really enjoyed the novel a lot and I think it’s definitely worth a read...." Read more

"...It amazes me how he can write so easily and fluently while I struggle to write this one little paragraph lol." Read more

"...The story is riveting, from the very first paragraph to the very last. It touched every emotion. Steve Manchester is a literary genius." Read more

"I love the writing of this author. Funny, intelligent, down to earth and heartfelt. Thank you for sharing your gift. Great story line...." Read more

4 customers mention "Character development"4 positive0 negative

Customers love the characters in this book.

"...I couldn't put it down. The characters are caustic, raw and emotionally charged...." Read more

"...It is a great family story where you get invested in the characters. I was disappointed when it was finished. I wanted to see what happened next." Read more

"Couldn't put it down...genuine and with raw emotion could really relate to the characters...LOVE! If you have a sibling you can understand this story." Read more

"LOVE the characters in this book!..." Read more

Absolutely loved this the second book I have read of Stevens
5 out of 5 stars
Absolutely loved this the second book I have read of Stevens
Absolutely loved this the second book I have read of Stevens. I feel as if he writes his books about my life....So much I relate to that make the read capture my heart..... I met Steven a short while back at a mutual friend's art opening, Brian Fox who is mentioned in this book along with a painting he did for the book. Not only can he write but he is such a nice person to converse with... I can't wait to read another of his books "Rockin' Chair" which I just ordered here!!! It amazes me how he can write so easily and fluently while I struggle to write this one little paragraph lol.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Matt
    5.0 out of 5 stars Just read it (because you'll love it!)
    Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    MINOR SPOILERS!

    I’ve always enjoyed road trip stories in every genre, fiction or non-fiction. Ashes is a book by Steven Manchester that follows the journey of two brothers named Jason and Tom as they travel across the country with their father’s cremated remains. Before their father passed, he left an envelope and the two brothers won’t find out the contents until they make this journey.

    The two brothers do not get along well and neither one of them are excited at all about this trip. There is definitely a Cain-Abel theme between these two, except God is not the one that they want to impress; it’s their egos instead. These two brothers are polar opposites of each other in every way, shape, and form. The only thing that seems to unite them (at first) is their shared dislike of their father. Their father was extremely mean towards these two. It’s strange that in real life it always takes the death of a family member to unite a family, like Jason and Tom.

    Ashes has humor too. The way they put each other down and think mean thoughts about the other was funny at times as they make this trip. It is actually sort of reminiscent of Steve Martin and John Candy in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. The jokes they make about their father’s ashes were funny at times because their father is an EXTREMELY unlikable character.

    In a sense we all carry “ashes” with us throughout our journey on life’s cross-country highway. We don’t know what we are going to encounter on the highway and we don’t know what’s at the end of it. Jason and Tom discovered that they are still brothers regardless of what they encounter.

    Ashes is a good book that reads very smoothly. I give it 5 stars. Manchester gives you just enough description and information but not too much (unlike Stephen King). The dialogue reads very natural and not forced or dragged out. I really enjoyed the novel a lot and I think it’s definitely worth a read. If you’ve enjoyed Manchester’s previous works, then you are guaranteed to like this one too.

    *On a side note, anytime I read a book I always try to picture who should be cast if it was a movie. I totally pictured Michael Cudlitz (Abraham from The Walking Dead) as Jason. If this book is ever adapted for the big screen, he would fit perfectly! Maybe Jason Sudeikis or Robert Downey Jr. as Jason..…….post your opinion (after you BUY the book!)
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  • max
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book which I couldn't put down.
    Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Started Ashes Wednesday evening and finished it Friday evening. I couldn't put it down. The characters are caustic, raw and emotionally charged. The degree of hate between brothers Tom and Jason is disconcerting, uncomfortable and painful to experience. And the wounds inflicted by their abusive father difficult to read. The ability of the author to transform their relationship in a five day cross county road trip is astounding. Through wit, honesty, sarcasm and humor, the brothers come to find the love of each other that had been suppressed for so long. Steven Manchester has gift in describing people and their emotions. I highly recommend Ashes to those seeking more than entertainment, but an emotionally enriching experience. By Peter Breyer
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  • Tracy Beth
    4.0 out of 5 stars Ashes
    Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2017
    A road trip across the United States with a wooden box of ashes and two brothers who couldn't misunderstand or dislike each other more. Ashes by Steven Manchester crosses state lines and personal boundaries, pushing two estranged family members back together after fifteen years of silence.

    Tom Prendergast is a university professor who has always needed to be the smartest person in the room. Not only was he the smaller brother in an abusive household, he was also the most afraid. Tom grew up being physically and verbally abused by his father, his hatred for him constantly growing. As a fifty year old man, he dreams of escape. Or the very least, something more. His wife consistently cheats on him while he fears what will happen to his children if he leaves her. It becomes another form of abuse for Tom. While he tries to deal with that, he also struggles with his health. Readers will empathize with Tom as they learn more and more about him. The road trip with his brother, Jason, is not something that Tom exactly wants to do. He'd actually rather do anything else. Yet, he hopes that his father, though a horrible person in life, left him something decent in death. And though these expectations might be a little selfish, Jason feels the same way. Almost as if, the brothers both wish that there father would willingly take back everything he put them through as children.

    Jason is a tough, giant of a man, who works as a correctional officer in a prison. Though he has a very hard exterior, battling criminals, he also has a surprisingly soft side for those who have also experienced the difficulties life can bring. He volunteers at a youth detention center, attempting to reach children who may still have a chance to escape the criminal path they've started on. I think readers will connect with him most based on his relationship with his daughter, Miranda. Though she seems a little over the top when it comes to her wedding, Jason treats her like a princess who deserves everything. It's very sweet to see his interaction with her and it creates a stark contrast to how he others.

    The entire novel revolves around Stuart Prendergast, the good-for-nothing father that attempted to raise Jason and Tom, while abusing them and treating them like vermin. He has just died from prostate cancer and his will includes instruction for Jason and Tom to take his ashes to Seattle, WA and spread them at a certain address. If they do this, they'll receive whatever is in a mysterious envelope. Though Stuart Prendergast most definitely is described as a complete nightmare, this road trip may be the only thing he ever did right. As Jason and Tom set out, the trip is nothing but snapping, matching wits, and making threats. But the more distance that stacks up between Salem, MA (where they pick up the remains) and Seattle, WA, the less distance there is between these two brothers.

    Between present day influences and flashbacks to the boyhood battles, Jason and Tom have fifteen years to make up for and readers will enjoy the mountain these two men climb in attempting to repair their lost friendship and sense of understanding. The realism of their characters is strong and I think readers will be able to connect with both Jason and Tom on various levels. Manchester has really fleshed out these characters and though Manchester's happy endings are sort of an expectation, Jason and Tom earn theirs from start to finish.
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  • Patricia Singleton
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ashes by Steven Manchester
    Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Steven Manchester's book Ashes is humorous and tear jerking as he tells a story of two brothers on a trip across country to scatter the ashes of their abusive father at a place of his choosing. Neither has seen their father or each other in many years. The trip is difficult and eye-opening for both brothers as they become reacquainted with each other and each struggles with memories of past abuses at the hands of their alcoholic father.
    The story is so real with feelings and memories that both brothers don't want to revisit. The trip together forces them to as they get to know each other. Both have difficult decisions to make about their futures as well. Ashes is a story of survivors who are still being affected by their abusive childhoods even though both brothers have tried to ignore its existence. I highly recommend this book as a story of success over past sorrows and letting go of the past.
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