Broken Maps to Miniature Flights

Broken Maps to Miniature Flights consists of short stories and poems, each leading to new insights and perspectives. Most of the stories are told by the same narrator, a man attempting to figure out the intricacies of love. In one story, the narrator reminisces about a past love as he travels to meet her for coffee. His nostalgia traps him in the past, while she is ready to move toward the future. Emotionally, they could not be more different, and he is unable to come to that important realization before it is too late. In another story, the narrator lives in a world where he finds a perfect possibility for love, causing him to wake up early and go to the coffee shop each morning with the hope of seeing her smile. When she shows interest in him, his mind cannot grasp the reality of love, a feeling where there are both triumphs and pitfalls. He loses her before he ever had her and must live with regret. Similarly, all of these stories explore a concept found in the very best literature: the complexities behind the human condition.

Kerouac meets Emerson, this stream of consciousness writing makes each feeling almost tangible. The narrator’s travels are very real, forcing the reader to reevaluate his or her own past relationships and future opportunities. Poems are sprinkled throughout the collection, each seeming to embody major ideas from the short story they follow, emphasizing each important emotion. This is the type of book best read in small portions, as the ideas really need to be fully absorbed before continuing on to the next story. Every reader who has been in a relationship or wanted to be in a relationship will be able to find a connection while reading this book. These universal truths will resonate with readers and most will read this book a second, third or even fourth time.