Book Details

Ostraca: East-West by Matt Duggan
Series: The Rosy Dream #1
Published by Independent Author on February 1, 2024
Genres: Coming of Age, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Travel
Format: eBook, Hardcover, Paperback
Pages: 291

Ostraca is a nineties "On The Road." A searing work of literary fiction that tackles tragedy and triumph; love and loss; joy and suffering.

The story takes place in the 1990’s, when America’s Generation X was living in a blissful bubble, unaware of the outside world and its seething anger. It was a pre-internet age that will never exist again.

It’s against this backdrop that we’re introduced to Gen Xer Jack Darmody. Jack was seven years old when his parents died in a horrific car crash. He was thrown from the backseat and later found in a patch of roadside grass, unharmed.

When Jack embarks on a road trip in 1996 from New York to Los Angeles, his past confronts him. As he zooms alone down the highways, the solitude forces him to wrestle with his trauma and the very meaning of existence. All of Jack’s misadventures, heartache, and discoveries lead him to his big epiphany at the end of the first novel: Love. Love will see us through. Love’s the trick. It’s all we have in this mad world.

Ostraca is the first novel in Duggan’s Odyssey USA series.

Source: Kindle Unlimited, Received from the author or publisher for review.

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Purchase Links for Ostraca

Ostraca: East-West

Amazon Kindle Edition
Duggan, Matt (Author)
English (Publication Language)
293 Pages - 06/17/2019 (Publication Date) - Man Vs. Film (Publisher)

Ostraca: East-West (The Rosy Dream)

Duggan, Matt (Author)
English (Publication Language)
291 Pages - 02/01/2024 (Publication Date) - Ostraca Press (Publisher)

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My thoughts on Ostraca

Set against the unique backdrop of the 1990s pre-internet era, Ostraca takes us on a poignant journey with Jack Darmody, a Generation Xer grappling with the tragic loss of his parents. As Jack embarks on a solitary road trip from New York to Los Angeles, he is confronted by his past and the existential questions that haunt him. Through a series of misadventures and heartaches, Jack undergoes a transformative journey, inspiring us to confront our own demons and find solace in the transformative power of love. Ostraca is the first novel in Duggan’s The Rosy Dream series. The second novel in the trilogy, In Extremis, will be published in May 2024.

Ostraca is a must-read travel fiction, coming-of-age, literary fiction novel. While it’s a study of overcoming grief and personal growth, it also shares a poignant look at an era before technology exploded.

The author captures this no-tech era well, evoking a sense of nostalgia. Could we go back to traveling with the help of paper maps, no internet, no GPS, and most of all, depending upon the kindness of strangers for directions, points of interest, and restaurants? Obviously, we used to travel that way, but I know I have become so spoiled with the valuable travel tools we have available today.

Ostraca is a wild trip before you add in the hallucinogens. The settings are rich and descriptive, and the characters are well-developed. Protagonist Jack is a combination of worldly and naive, a state we’ve all been in at some point.

I received a digital copy of the book from the author.

Unless otherwise stated above, the book is from my personal library or Kindle Unlimited.

This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.

I plan to have my review of In Extremis, Book 2 finished next week, so please check back in.

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I love to read books through my Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscription.

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About Matt Duggan

Matt Duggan, an award-winning writer and director based in Los Angeles, California, boasts a rich and diverse creative background. After graduating from Boston College with degrees in English and Communications, Matt immediately jumped into the world of filmmaking.

As one of the first members of the renowned Annex Film Group, Matt contributed to the production of their critically acclaimed short films, recognized with numerous awards and global screenings.

His directorial debut, Inverse, a feature film which he produced, wrote, and directed, garnered widespread acclaim, winning multiple accolades throughout its yearlong festival tour. Notably, Inverse premiered at the prestigious Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival, captivating audiences with its innovative narrative. The film continued to impress, securing Best Sci-Fi Narrative Feature Film at the Philip K. Dick Film Festival and other esteemed awards.

Matt's creative endeavors extend beyond the realm of cinema, with his literary works showcased in publications such as The Menacing Hedge and The Literary Hatchet. His debut novel, Ostraca, marked the inception of his compelling The Rosy Dream series, captivating readers
with its vivid storytelling and exploration of the human condition.

In addition to his successes in film and literature, Matt has garnered acclaim for his web series, including Man Vs. and Not Suitable for Work, demonstrating his versatility across various mediums.

A career highlight for Matt was his involvement in Marlon Brando's documentary on acting, Lying for a Living, where he had the honor of spending two weeks alongside luminaries such as Robin Williams and Sean Penn.

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