In 'Thirty Rooms to Hide In,' Luke Sullivan invites readers into a labyrinth of memory and imagination, exploring the complexities of family, identity, and the spaces we inhabit. Through vividly drawn characters and poignant storytelling, Sullivan reveals the hidden corners of life that we often overlook. Each 'room' serves as a metaphor for the emotional landscapes we navigate, offering both refuge and reflection. As the protagonist confronts past traumas, the lines between reality and memory blur, engaging readers in a journey of self-discovery. Will you dare to enter each room and uncover the secrets they hold?
By Luke Sullivan
Published: 2012
"In the midst of chaos, we find the rooms of our mind—each one a refuge, a reflection of the choices we make and the paths we tread."
Author Luke Longstreet Sullivan has a simple way of describing his new memoir: "It's like The Shining . . . only funnier." Thirty Rooms to HideIn tells the astonishing story of Sullivan's father and his descent from one of the world's top orthopedic surgeons at the Mayo Clinic to a man who is increasingly abusive, alcoholic, and insane, ultimately dying alone on the floor of a Georgia motel room. For his wife and six sons, the years prior to his death were characterized by turmoil, anger, and family dysfunction; but somehow they were also a time of real happiness for Sullivan and his brothers, full of dark humor and much laughter. Through the 1950s and 1960s, the six brothers had a wildly fun and thoroughly dysfunctional childhood living in a forbidding thirty-room mansion, known as the Millstone, on the outskirts of Rochester, Minnesota. The many rooms of the immense home, as well as their mother's loving protection, allowed the Sullivan brothers to grow up as normal, mischievous boys. Against a backdrop of the times--the Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, fallout shelters, JFK's assassination, and the Beatles--the cracks in their home life and their father's psyche continue to widen. When their mother decides to leave the Millstone and move the family across town, the Sullivan boys are able to find solace in each other and in rock 'n' roll. As Thirty Rooms to HideIn follows the story of the Sullivan family--at times grim, at others poignant--a wonderful, dark humor lifts the narrative. Tragic, funny, and powerfully evocative of the 1950s and 1960s, Thirty Rooms to Hide In is a tale of public success and private dysfunction, personal and familial resilience, and the strange power of humor to give refuge when it is needed most, even if it can't always provide the answers.
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“In the midst of chaos, we find the rooms of our mind—each one a refuge, a reflection of the choices we make and the paths we tread.”
Thirty Rooms to Hide in
By Luke Sullivan
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Luke Sullivan is an acclaimed author and advertising professional known for his compelling narratives and keen understanding of human emotions. His notable works include the bestselling novels 'Burnt Toast,' which explores the complexities of modern relationships, and 'The Age of Consent,' a poignant commentary on societal norms and personal freedom. Sullivan's writing style is characterized by his witty dialogue, rich character development, and an ability to tackle profound themes with humor and empathy. With a background in creative advertising, he brings a unique perspective to storytelling, making him a distinctive voice in contemporary literature.
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