The Dark Side of White Bread

<p>The relationship between Father and Son is one of if not the most influential in any family hierarchy. For a young boy it can be the difference between love and fear between success and failure and between respect and resentment. <em>the dark side of white bread: surviving our fathers</em> is one man's chronological journey of his paternal relationship and the lifelong impact of experiencing emotional and physical trauma. It is a must read for anyone who spent their childhood seeking safe refuge simply to survive and to heal from the past without anger or regret.</p><p><br></p><p>Can the earth swallow up men and their anger? asks Elmo Shade in his new book <em>the dark side of white bread: surviving our fathers</em>. If yes what is left? Because the father rarely asks Are you alright son? Elmo reimagines his future: Maybe we could...sit down together and have the conversation we never had. His poems find the tender possibility of repair under the wounds reminding us of the sweetness of forgiveness.</p><p>- Claudia F. Saleeby Savage poet & author of <em>Bruising Continents</em></p><p><br></p><p>Elmo Shade shares intimate stories of unreciprocated love and brutality during a time when fathers used children to validate their manhood. Raw funny dark terrifying and helpful to any adult striving to understand and accept a challenging childhood.</p><p>-Jim Bellar writer & co-author of <em>Am I Too Late?</em></p><p><br></p><p>How do we make peace with the memory of those who have hurt us? In <em>the dark side of white bread</em> Elmo Shade doesn't pretend there are easy answers to impossible questions. Instead he faces head-on the shame confusion and fear of his childhood now as a father and grandfather and transforms the years of pain into compassion. Compassion for his father yes but even more so compassion for himself.  </p><p>-Armin Tolentino poet laureate & author of <em>We Meant To Bring It Home Alive</em></p>