Almost the Truth: Stories and Lies

Amost the Truth: Stories and Lies is a collection of memoirs, short stories, and recollections which crackle with wit, brazen sentimentality, and unfiltered self awareness.

The stories blur the line between fact and fiction leaving the reader wondering what is real and what is not. Characters from the short stories pop up in family recollections and friends make guest appearances in the short stories. These crossovers become increasingly compelling as the more you read the more you realize these seemingly stand alone pieces are inter connected.

There is a tip of the hat to the curmudgeonry of Larry David, self deprecation of Woody Allen, and self awareness of David Sedaris, but Zevy’s voice and humor is unique and very much his own.

After all, you shouldn’t let the truth get in the way of a good story.

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Please find below a 3-story sample from the collection.

Introduction

I have been working with Jules Lewis. He is a Canadian novelist and playwright. His book, Waiting for Ricky Tantrum, is very good. You should look it up. He has suggested I read memoirs in order to get a better feel for the genre. So it is what I have been doing. Turns out, if I want to be a memoirist, I really don’t have very much going for me.
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Le Chinois

At some point in this story, I am going to insult some of my best friends in the world. I will say, somewhat defensively, my intention is not to insult them but rather to praise my late uncle, Henri Ades. But my defense will ring hollow. Because, in truth, I do mean to insult them. Anyway, that's not for now. It is a little bit later in the story.
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Looking for Maurice

That is a picture of my mom, my sister, my Nona, my uncle Henri, and Tante Nandi, and Tante Joel circa 1970. I would have been 11. It is the living room of our house in Montreal. Look closely and you can see that uncle Henri, and both aunts, have cigarettes in their hands. An extra chair has been dragged from the kitchen so it must have been a party.
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Our Father Our King

This story is about the time my car was stolen from my driveway. There is a chance I stray a little and talk about religion, observance of Jewish rituals, and belief in God. If I do stray it is likely because the car was stolen on Yom Kippur—the holiest day of the year on the Jewish calendar. It is a day of fasting and praying. A day of asking for forgiveness from your fellow man. A day spent at the synagogue with fellow Jews.
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