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The Eternal Mysteries of Life
PARDONABLE OFFENCES provides readers with a collection of fascinating anecdotes that inspire thought and a laugh. You said in the Author’s Note that this world “feels increasingly strange and alien to my generation.” How did this idea shape the stories you told in this book?
My current view of society did not affect my storytelling that much. Of course I realised younger generations might interpret the tales in a different way to my own age-group. Certainly the most flattering comments have come from the 70+ grey brigade. Notably women, strangely. My motivation was simply to share the fun that we had with my readers and , at the same time, draw attention to some of the eternal mysteries of life. As Plato is supposed to have said (and we all should admit) ” All I know is that I know nothing”.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in these stories?
Love, life, laughter, tears and our everlasting failure to make the most of them. Perhaps a few gentle words of advice too.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am writing a sequel at present. More true stories in the same style that did not come to mind first time around. I hope to have this published by May 2023.
With that in mind, the author has put together a memoir that covers a number of largely hilarious incidents that either involved him directly or were related to him by colleagues and associates he considered to be reliable witnesses.
The title of the book, Pardonable Offences, taken from words in an old Anglican prayer, implies that few, if any, of the escapades the author describes would attract the attention of the gatekeepers of hell. More likely, there would be laughter in paradise.
Not all the stories are entirely light-hearted. The author also deals with some aspects of the supernatural and, in the closing chapters, provides some insight into his own beliefs, anathema to scientism as they might be.
PARDONABLE OFFENCES
Pardonable Offences by Perry Leary is a lighthearted memoir of the author’s experiences he encountered growing up, along with other experiences that were shared with him. Born in South Africa during the war, Leary lived with his mother, brother and grandmother while his father went off to war. We learn of his experiences and the friendships made throughout his school years in prepatory school. Similar to that of heartfelt children’s story The Sandlot, we follow the author’s lifelong friendships and their fond and not so fond memories growing up.
Author Perry Leary provides readers a collection of fascinating anecdotes that inspire thought and a chuckle. The author’s writing style is succinct and his wit comes through well, making this an interesting read. His descriptions of people he interacted with were vivid and unique; he once described the barber as slightly boozy-looking and was a chain smoker of the evil smelling Cavalla cigarettes. I always looked forward to his descriptions after this.
The author does an excellent job of describing unpleasant experiences through a comedic lens so that they are more palatable and allow the reader to absorb the experience more readily. Not to say that this memoir is purely humor, Leary encountered many tragedies and shares them with his readers. He touches upon the cultural aspects of living in South Africa and how things were different during the war. I enjoyed that the author tells reader what became of his friends as they grew older, this gives the story a nice well-rounded feel that leaves you satisfied.
Pardonable Offences is the perfect read for those who are looking for a quick but thoughtful story that will make you laugh and reminisce about your childhood experiences.
Pages: 207 | ASIN: B0B1VXS9BP
LITERARY TITAN 