A road trip by two estranged brothers at the behest of their recently deceased father; can they heal old wounds? Do they want to? How much does the past play a continued role in their lives?

There was potential here, but it didn’t live up to its promise. Neither the humour nor the poignancy, the author was aiming for, hit the mark for me. I was left feeling pretty meh.

Middle-aged brothers Jason and Tom Prendergast thought they were completely done with each other. Perceived betrayal had burned the bridge between them, tossing them into the icy river of estrangement. But life and death has a robust sense of irony, and when they learn that their cruel father has died and made his final request that they travel together across the country to spread his ashes, they have no choice but to spend a long, long car trip in each other s company. It s either that or lose out on the contents of the envelope he s left with his lawyer. The trip will be as gut-wrenching as each expects it to be . . . and revealing in ways neither of them is prepared for.

At turns humorous, biting, poignant, and surprisingly tender, ASHES puts a new spin on family and dysfunction with a story that is at once fresh and timelessly universal.

Jason and Tom Prendergast are brothers who don’t see that they have much in common except an abusive father whom they both consider an SOB. Their father, who raised the boys, has died and left a letter for them that they can only claim if they join together to take his ashes across country. They must provide picture proof to the attorney to be entitled to open the letter. Both men are reluctant as they are middle aged men who have been estranged for years – once by a childhood betrayal which was compounded by an adult betrayal. Yet their curiosity compels them to proceed.

Jason is a tough prison guard who takes no guff from anyone. Tom is a college professor who appears to have a meek, passive-aggressive nature. Although neither brother is initially very likeable, the author uses the road trip to reveal the depths of the characters, their emotional barriers and vulnerabilities; their dreams and disappointments in life. The men have matured through different career paths but they discover that each has strengths the other doesn’t have and they have a common tie in their love and caring for their children.

Family drama is not my usual book selection. (As a former divorce attorney, I have seen my fair share of dysfunctional families.) I selected this story for review because I was curious to see how the author dealt with the theme. Kudos to Steven Manchester as he made this drama engaging and relatable.

I was impressed how Mr. Manchester slowly showed the brothers their common core and their unique strengths. I was fascinated by the many issues that were subtly addressed through the journey: police profiling, truckers, child custody, volunteering to help others, relational religion versus liturgical religion, the meaning of honor in life and the most important legacies of life.

There is a good bit of gritty language and a few crude scenes – both not my favorite reading. On the other hand, there is wonderful phrasing and an excellent portrayal of lives that may hit close to home for many. I’m not sure if it is too much of a spoiler but I feel compelled to share one lesson that I loved that was expressed in this story. The brothers discover, as they share their memories and current situations, that we make the choices how to live our lives despite our parents, spouses or careers. We can choose to do right or wrong and we can choose to be angry and bitter or move on and find our own happiness.

I like that the characters surprised me at times. The end of the journey and its aftermath have an emotional surprise and impact. I recommend this to readers who do enjoy family drama and especially to readers who might have estranged family members. This story provides a perspective that is worth reading.

I received this from the author and Providence Book Promotions through NetGalley.

1.5★
I saw this book had some good reviews, so I figured it sounded okay. I'm guessing the author has a loyal fan base.

But there were too many lessons and messages for me to enjoy the story. The road trip taken by two estranged brothers has been described by others, so I'll just admit that I skimmed the book enough to get a sense of the story line and give it a chance to appeal to me.

But it never did. The prison warden brother preaches to youth about the dangers of ending up in a life of crime - for page after page - and the professor brother gives history lessons about the places they pass through as a sideline to the story. They alternate between philosophising about "issues" (letting kids grow up, homophobia, The Poor) and swapping vulgarities about pissing and farting.

And there seem to be curvaceous temptations at every diner. Not really - it just seemed that way to me. Kind of a boys-might-like-to-be-boys story.

On the road trip, they have digs at each other, and at one point, Tom (professor) is driving and Jason (prison guard) is asleep and Tom decides to wake him up, so to speak, as payback for something.

He hits the brakes hard.

"The seatbelt did its job and body slammed Jason back into the seat. He gasped for air. 'What the hell?' he said, his eyes as big as whoopie pies.

Although it begged to be freed, Tom concealed his smile."

Their dad was abusive, mother gone, and they seem like a pair of teen-aged boys, footloose and awkward.

Thanks to NetGalley and The Story Plant for the copy for review. Sorry it's not my taste, but fans of the author will no doubt enjoy it. For a sample of his work, you can see an excerpt on his Goodreads profile. https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/3041816-excerpt-of-the-rockin-chair

I’ve always been dubious about road trip books, mainly because I hadn’t read one I truly enjoyed. Ashes by Steven Manchester proved to be the exception.

Two estranged brothers must travel across America to spread their hated father’s ashes before they will learn if he left them anything. But Jason and Tom haven’t spoken for fifteen years – and neither has the desire to rekindle their relationship. Stuck in a car with each other, however, has an interesting effect and the two brothers start to reconnect.

To start with, I didn’t like Jason or Tom – one was too aggressive, the other too weak. But as their journey progressed and emotions began to be displayed (other than calling each other names), they grew on me. Behind the aggression, Jason is genuine in wanting to help people. Tom is slightly naïve, but has his heart in the right place and he cares about his brother. By the end, I wanted to give them both a hug!

Ashes touched me in a way I wasn’t expecting. Maybe I was in just the right mood to be receptive to it? Living for yourself and being happy is the most important thing in life – and the thing that often is overlooked. Ashes displays a powerful message about looking after yourself and striving for contentment.

It also focused on abuse and how fear, anger and hate can dictate our lives. It’s made clear that it didn’t have to be that way for everyone, that there is an escape and a chance to be happy.

The fact that Ashes got to me on an emotional level shows that Manchester is a strong writer. His characters were well-established and certainly three-dimensional – the two brothers discovered they had a lot of emotions to deal with.

There were a few too many meals being described but in general, the focus remained on the plot rather than the road-trip.

A short but enjoyable read that makes you think about your life choices. I would recommend it.

This summary sounded intriguing to me, but I was not as thrilled by the result. I found this book very slow-moving. I found myself putting down the book and coming back determined to finish, only to repeat. It does speed up towards the end, but, in my opinion, this is a little too late.

We follow estranged brothers who are fighting the nightmares of the past. However, it takes a while to reveal the stories of the past in order for the reader to fully understand the nightmares of the past. The motivations for their actions are there I promise - you just need to be patient. Manchester strives to find the hope in family tragedy. I did like how the author throws in comedic moments to lighten the mood and ultimately the resolution.

I did not care for this book. For me it came of as the self righteous preaching of a middle aged white man. It felt smug. I felt as though I was supposed to recognize how clever the author is.

Ashes by Steven Manchester
Have read other works by the author and know I will enjoy this one also as storyline sounds very interesting, something I'd like to do one day.
Jason and Tom have one mission after their father has passed away-to deliver his ashes to a location in Seattle. They do leave the Boston area and we find them on the road.
It's a very angry hateful ride but they do find some insistences they remember from their past years when they were younger, living at home.
Lessons are cruel. Language is cruel at times but necessary to get you in the frame of mind of the scenes.
Jason is the guard at the prison and Tom is a professor. Love bantering between the two as they are able to laugh at one another...
Love travel along the way and the places they stay-learning a bit about them.
End of the journey was quite a shock to me and they learn so much about their life. Like also that the story continued on as we see the changes they each made. Other works by the author are highlighted at the end.
I received this from the author and this is my honest review.

This is a book you don't want to miss. The characters are fully developed and very easy to relate to. The story is so realistic of todays families and the issues that we all face. The heart has a wonderful ability to forgive and continue to love the ones we hold dear even through adversity.

It has been a while since I have read a book from this author. This book made me remember why I first fell in love with Mr. Manchester's writing. He writes with such passion. All of his stories and characters come alive. It was like I was back with family. Which is fitting as this book is about two brothers, Jason and Tom.


Jason and Tom were likable and relatable guys. However, this could have not ended up being the case. They could have both been jerks. The journey that Jason and Tom took was life changing. I really felt like I grew closer to them both as the story went on. The brothers may have thought that their father was playing one of his twisted games with them but in the end I kind of think that even he was asking for forgiveness with where the end of their road trip took them. Ashes will have you thankful for family either by blood or close friends. Ashes is a memorable read!

A GREAT NOVEL - AN INSPIRING JOURNEY ACROSS AMERICA
This novel captivates from the start. Two estranged brothers learn that their recently cremated Dad requires them to transport his ashes by car driving together from Salem to Seattle, East to West Coast America, to scatter them at a precise, unrecognised address. Only by proving that they have travelled the distance (about 3,000 miles) together and scattered his mortal remains to the satisfaction of his lawyer will they get access to his Will and Testament. The last wish of their father is initially treated with contempt by both brothers but they are both tempted by the possibility, albeit small, that financial reward might await them. They are also both intrigued. And eventually inquisitiveness gets the better of them. They decide to give the request a go, even although their Dad mistreated both badly as children. Very badly.
The brothers haven't spoken in 15 years and essentially hate each other. They are opposites: Tom, an educated and snobbish liberal college professor and Jason, a Prison Guard. So one brother is an intellectual and the other physical. More opposite brothers than you can ever imagine. Their experiences of life during their estrangement are as far apart as you could ever imagine.
As the journey progresses the story flows as they exchange mutual experiences from their singular point of view. Their journey is not just about the distance in miles but the opportunity to reflect on their experiences. The novel is packed with comical banter and sad reflections on opportunities lost. Usually the cause was their Dad. This novel packs every emotion into it and was a delight to read. In particular it includes a delightful poem which you can find for yourself when you read this book. The poem is a gem: describing both the ageing process we all face and yet affinity from generation to generation.
As the journey progresses the brothers find that they share more in common than the superficial differences which kept them apart.
This is an uplifting book which can dispel the dreaded glooms. It makes you look inward and then appreciate that your lot, no matter how bad, could be a heck of a lot worse. This novel made me laugh and at its more poignant moments I could feel my eyes welling up. The last novel which had the same effect on me on the poignancy side was Richard Adams's "Plague Dogs" many moons ago. Very few authors are able to successfully achieve that and Steven Manchester does.
The story serves as a travelogue and also packs so much simple wisdom into it.
Few books go onto the must read again list but this is one of them. A masterpiece of observation, wisdom and emotion. It is also touches on the very basis of humanity: how we regard ourselves and regard others and vice versa. Yes, I loved this novel and you will too. A treat to read.

I received a free ARC of this book from The Story Plant in exchange for my honest review.

Steven Manchester is a familiar name to me as a Story Plant reader; I read his book THE CHANGING SEASON almost exactly a year ago now, and reviewed it as well. I remember enjoying the book, though the details hadn't stuck with me, so I figured that I'd have a similar time of it with ASHES.

I was entirely right.

The book follows brothers Tom and Jason Prendergast--Tom is a college professor, Jason a corrections officer, and the two brothers have been estranged for a good chunk of their adult lives. But when their father passes (a loos neither man grieves for; their father was a grade-A jerk, and that's putting it lightly) his will insists that in order for them to earn their inheritance from his estate, they need to travel--together--from Salem, Massachusetts to Seattle, Washington, by car, in order to spread his ashes. Needless to say, this isn't either brother's idea of a good time, but they agree begrudgingly, each hoping that there is a financial windfall waiting for them in the envelope the lawyers tell them contains their inheritance. Tom's marriage is falling apart, Jason's fizzled out years ago, and now his daughter is planning her own wedding--which he's agreed to pay for. In each of their minds, they have a thousand better things to be doing than wasting their time with their brother who they hate.

But as is so often the case, long car rides bring out secrets and truths long hidden and obscured, and the two begin to see that maybe...just maybe...the other brother is worth keeping around, at least for a while. They may have more in common than they ever realized.

I don't have a sibling, so I can't perfectly imagine the journey, and I've always been lucky enough to have good relationships with my parents. However, the themes in this book are universal: love, forgiveness, redemption. Self-reflection. Family and the dysfunction too often found within. That feeling when a problem you allowed to destroy your life in the past...just doesn't seem that important anymore. Watching Tom and Jason travel both physically and emotionally throughout the book is a brilliant insight into the life of the grown child, coming to terms with a past that didn't always do right by them, and the parents who might have been more than they ever knew--for better or worse.

Manchester's writing, while evocative, is a little odd: over-descriptive in some aspects, while glaringly less so in others. (I mean, I know the old joke about action heroes never going to the bathroom, but we were kept more apprised of Tom's bathroom habits that we truly ever needed to be, even with the bit of plot that it eluded to. Also, there is a tendency to repeat full names--something I've picked at in thrillers frequently--which I find irritating and unnecessary. But that's just me.) Both characters were believable--important with they are essentially the only two characters in the book. Real and touching, with an ending that brought a tear to my eye, Manchester has provided another poignant slice-of-life book to the shelves.

Rating: **** (Recommended)

I really enjoyed this journey of two estranged brothers who despise each other, and have not been in contact until their Father's death.
When their Dad dies, he leaves the wacky request of both sons to take a last trip to scatter his "ashes" in a specific location- together.
In return the gift of friendship and genuine love returns for both men as well as an unbelievable gift of finding a "special" person in their lives, once thought of as lost.
I loved travelling with these brothers.
Steven Manchester has done a phenomonal descriptive writing of every hotel, street and city that took these men to their destination. I went too.
You will love this story!