Silverton Stories: A Collection of Stories from the San Juans

By Cynthia H. Chertos

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0B1LYZRGQ
• ISBN13: 9798801357898
• Release Date: May 2022
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 338 Pages
• Weight: 1.09 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

THE ZENITH OF HISTORICAL FICTION. Read this or die.

I rarely write reviews, leave ratings, or read historical fiction. My experience with "Silverton Tales", however, demands I do everything I can to announce this jaw-droppingly good gem of a book. Chertos is one helluva writer, and her interweaving of fourteen stories representing the decades from founding to present is much more than it appears. Chertos' stuff is infused with a scary intelligence and profound knowledge of Silverton history, but "Silverton Stories" is more than a travel guide or collection of funny tales. Through the critical lens of her outsized smarts, she interweaves her stories thematically and historically. At once, we are reading a story of a town that has survived all the American West throws at it, and a portrait of those spirited inhabitants who kept it alive. We also are reading a book about people who lived real, textured, often tortured lives who, through spirit and community, made something good and big. And they have kept the city alive through tenacity and commitment, through their society, and their story transcends Silverton, becoming a symbol of a special part of the American spirit. Chertos captures this vividly. She's funny, at times droll, then suddenly slapstick. But it is her style that elevates this book above others, her precision of language, perception of nuance, and facility with dialog that are most stunning. I am into language, its musically and ability to transport, and I would read this author's shopping list if it were written as beautifully as are these stories. If I haven't been clear: I really, REALLY liked this book. It is smart and well done; Chertos did her research and it shows. Her gifts as a writer bedazzled me, and I can't help but ask: Where has she been hiding, and what comes next? My recommendation could not be higher.