Manual of Lost Objects (and Other Melancholies)

By Gabriel Ibarroa

Manual of Lost Objects (and Other Melancholies) is a literary collection that wanders through the absurd, the poetic, and the quietly surreal-where Kafka smokes his last cigarette behind a dumpster, umbrellas have names and emotional depth, and unspoken thoughts drift through alleys until they take human form.

Blending existential humor with lyrical melancholy, these stories unfold in a universe where philosophical trash bins debate meaning, memories hide in coffee cups, and rain becomes a character more honest than most people. Think Kafka meets Cort zar in a therapy session moderated by a neurotic Woody Allen-and you're getting close.

In "The Last Cigarette of Kafka", a man begins an unlikely friendship with a cockroach who may or may not be the reincarnation of Franz Kafka. In "Negrito, the Lost Umbrella", the protagonist embarks on a metaphysical quest to recover his umbrella-an object that is more confidant than accessory. And in "The Alley Where Unspoken Thoughts Go", regret takes shape, literally.

These are not just stories about lost objects-but about the fragile threads that tie us to meaning, identity, and the quietly ridiculous act of being human.

Written with sharp wit, philosophical depth, and emotional resonance, Gabriel Ibarroa's Manual of Lost Objects is a guidebook for anyone who has ever misplaced something intangible-and suspected that it still misses them, too.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FD7Y6F5T
• ISBN13: 9798288012570
• Release Date: June 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 150 Pages
• Weight: 0.46 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.0" x 9.0"