Strangers In Another Country
A Short Story
Moby is only one of the countless people originally from the Caribbean and countries
Book Summary
Strangers In Another Country
DESCRIPTION
Moby is only one of the countless people originally from the Caribbean and countries from the African continent who have relocated to Sweden and become a part of the black diaspora there. His life in the Nordic region has given him reasonable contentment. Moby is fond of dating women but avoids protracted relationships, which might be a personality fault or from fear of commitment. He is passionate about a few different topics that are significant to him. One of these is his optimism for universal black solidarity, which is put to the test when he comes across a black American who has found himself in a difficult situation and needs his help. Themes include unattainable dreams, loneliness, alienation, disappointment and frustration.
This story first appeared in my debut book (a collection of four stories) bearing the same title).
Consumer Review 1:
“…These are not sympathetic characters you cheer for. Even knowing their insecurities and difficult backgrounds, they seem selfish and narcissistic. Sometimes you want to reach inside the pages and slap them, yet despite it all you can’t help turning the pages to follow their journey. …”
Consumer Review 2:
“What a fantastic piece of literature!
Honestly, I have not read anything like this since my university days.
A collection of two short stories & two novellas, are as much intense social studies as they are stories. It’s as though the author has held a mirror up to a lost piece of time and allowed us an indepth insight into a very specific social set up.
Lawrence G Taylor has a wonderful ability to capture feelings and translate them on to paper. You do feel the characters loneliness and isolation at times, the desperate sense of wanting to understand, belong and be understood. You get a real sense of their camaraderie – how various characters are propelled together because they are similarly socially isolated.
This is not a book that is about plots or storylines. It is about acute social observations, the exploration of themes. It deals with social and racial obstacles and prejudices, of traversing those complex boundaries and trying to find and assert your place in the world.
Set in London and Sweden in the 1960s, I think the author has a wealth of autobiographical material he has drawn from to bring us this wonderful literary ‘study’. I would fully expect to find this text on a university reading list.”
What readers say about the book🧐
"What a fantastic piece of literature!Honestly, I have not read anything like this since my university days.A collection of two short stories & two novellas, are as much intense social studies as they are stories. It’s as though the author has held a mirror up to a lost piece of time and allowed us an indepth insight into a very specific social set up.Lawrence G Taylor has a wonderful ability to capture feelings and translate them on to paper. You do feel the characters loneliness and isolation at times, the desperate sense of wanting to understand, belong and be understood. You get a real sense of their camaraderie – how various characters are propelled together because they are similarly socially isolated.This is not a book that is about plots or storylines. It is about acute social observations, the exploration of themes. It deals with social and racial obstacles and prejudices, of traversing those complex boundaries and trying to find and assert your place in the world.Set in London and Sweden in the 1960s, I think the author has a wealth of autobiographical material he has drawn from to bring us this wonderful literary ‘study’. I would fully expect to find this text on a university reading list."
Blogging Mama101
About the Author
Lawrence G. Taylor
I was born in Guyana, went to England, and worked and studied in London and relocated to Sweden in autumn 1969.
In the 70s, I tried my hand at mainly writing short stories, a four-act closet drama, a novella, and an unfinished novel. I had spent two years nurturing the ambition to become an author of some repute. But the going was tough, creating a feeling of insecurity for the future. In time, I shelved the idea, got a hospital porter job, and later obtained a BA (Eng. & Edu.). I enrolled in a 4-term course for mental-health carers after a summer job at a psychiatric hospital. After that, I completed the first two stages of psychotherapy education and several short studies in cognitive therapy. After retirement in 2007, I did private mental health counselling for several years, which ended in 2015.
In February 2016, my debut book appeared: Strangers In Another Country – a collection of two short stories and two novellas, available in e-book and paperback at Amazon. This collection and the rest of my stories fall under literary fiction, except for the short story Darker Than Blue – This Mortal Coil, an experimental blend of fantasy, dystopia, and satire.
On December 9th, 2016, I published a novella, The Eternal Struggle: An Amorous Story.
In March 2017, a short story appeared, Two Girls in a Café.
Making Sense of Past Time – a Novel available in paperback and e-book format.
Tell Me Who My Enemy Is – a four-act closet drama published this summer (2018).
The Ballad of Calle and Maja – a novella published Nov 2018.
Getting it Right, if Ever – Romance Novella available for pre-order; to be published
August 22nd -19
Four Bittersweet Romances & A Four-Act Closet Drama was published on November 3rd, 2019.
Short Story “Darker Than Blue – This Mortal Coil was published July 24th, 2020.
Religion as tormentor of the soul and a negative refuge – an essay (an assignment from my university days in the 70s: Go Tell It on The Mountain by James Baldwin, a Black American writer (1924 – 1987)
Binky’s Reverie is a YA story revised and first appeared in my debut book, Strangers In Another Country. This collection of stories received 21 reviews.
A Day In The Life Of Charlie Cheddar – a story which appeared in my debut book.
“Betty And the Black Puppy – Short Story – YA Kindle Edition. Revised (Dec 2021). It is one of four stories in my debut book.
Darker Than Blue––This Mortal Coil ––a dystopian short story set in the fictitious nation Atlantis Island in 2030. Published June, 2020.
SHORT STORIES NOVELLAS A CLOSET DRAMA (a collection of most of my already published writings.
Regarding reviews of my books, reviews are available at Amazon.com.
MY BOOKS ARE REVISED AND UPDATED (2021-2023).
Today I put out STRANGERS IN ANOTHER COUNTRY––A Short Story. February 22, 2023.. The story appeared in my debut book (a collection of four stories) with the same title. The other three stories have appeared as Single stories.
WHAT IS MY WRITING ABOUT?
The reader will likely enjoy my stories for the following reasons.
My writing is literary fiction, which is no longer popular.
My stories are grounded in realism, with a dash of fantasy or humour for flavour.
Based on input from reviews, the target audience will likely be socially, culturally, psychologically, or philosophically minded. I take pleasure in leaving the reader with something to think about. Themes include loneliness, romantic relationships, migrants’ yearning for a better life, and their social and psychological issues in a setting rife with prejudice and xenophobia.
The only exception is my short story Darker Than Blue––This Mortal Coil, in which I attempt satire, comedy, and fantasy.
My Twitter account is @lgt41, and my blog page is lgt41blog.wordpress.com. I’m a hobby photographer, and you can view several of my images at https://www.foap.com/community/profiles/lgt41
I sincerely hope you find my stories enjoyable, and a review of my books would be much appreciated.
Lawrence Gordon Taylor
Are you ready to read it now?
Moby is only one of the countless people originally from the Caribbean and countries