In a level-one trauma center in Philadelphia, Iraq War veteran and former Army medic Joe Thomas observes the lives around him and spends his downtime writing about them.
People from his life come and go from the emergency room, including his estranged father, addicted mother and dying uncles. Amid the blood, grit and humanity, the simple joy of chocolate Otis Spunkmeyer muffins weaves through the narrative.
“God Bless You, Otis Spunkmeyer” by Joseph Earl Thomas pays tribute to the little things that get you through the day.
Joe is a single father of four, works 16-hour-plus days when he can get away with it and attends grad school. While he doesn’t get to spend as much time with his kids as he’d like, the playfulness with which he refers to them tells a story of deep affection. Joe’s relationships with the mothers, as well as with coworkers and friends, are casual and transitory, with everyone sleeping with everyone else and spending an inordinate amount of time in family court over custody.
Among the emergency room patients are a regular stream of men from Holmesburg State Prison, many of whom are connected to Joe through blood or personal relationships. His estranged father is there, suffering from painful, infected wounds created by the athlete’s foot products he was paid to test in prison. He has no idea who Joe is.
One of Joe’s uncles is there, dying of high blood pressure, and another community elder is there after having his fingernails pulled off in another prison trial to see if a gel would stimulate regrowth. His mother, addicted, manipulative and needy, is there in restraints after standing in the street screaming and biting staff as they tried to help her.
Told in stream-of-consciousness observation, the timeline is fluid between the Iraq War, Joe’s current life and his memories of growing up in his North Philly neighborhood. The rhythm and intensity of the prose echo the intensity and rhythm of the lives being lived. Humor frequently surfaces as Joe gives voice to the agony and absurdity of the human condition, Otis Spunkmeyer muffins and all.
A work of literary excellence, this is not an easy read but well worth the investment. Check out “God Bless You, Otis Spunkmeyer” at a Denver Public Library branch near you.
Black History Book Buzz
Black History Month is in February, and what better way to celebrate than reading about the Black experience? Join us for Black History Book Buzz from6-7 p.m. on Feb. 12 and come prepared to add to your TBR (to-be-read) list as we explore books about the various aspects of the Black experience, historically and today. Light refreshments will be served.
Wendy Thomas is a librarian at the Smiley Branch Library. When not reading or recommending books, you can find her hiking with her dogs.