GOING OUTSIDE Paperback – May 5, 2023 by ROBERT LEVIN (Author)

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cyberwit.net (May 5, 2023)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 819631616X
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-8196316167
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.8 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.72 x 8.7 inches

Review by LB Sedlacek

The author states that “Going Outside” was the “free jazz” musicians’ term for breaking with conventional systems. In this new book, he offers up fiction, commentary and jazz selections.

It is a collection that transcends what might be seen as traditional boundaries with this captivating blend of musings on a variety of topics, short stories as well as insights into the world of jazz music.

The short stories range from dark to light offering a glimpse into the human psyche. His narratives seem to canvas a smorgasbord of scenarios and characters. They present a huge array of experiences and emotions.

His narratives delve into a wide range or topics. This diversity of subjects creates a unique reading experience for the reader as if reading three books in one. This showcases Levin’s range and skills as a writer.

He fearlessly takes on important issues of society easily infusing these topics with an easy-to-read style. This consistency that runs throughout the collection makes the book engaging to the reader.

Levin also passionately discusses jazz in almost a spiritual way. His offerings on this much beloved type of music serve to emphasize its profound value amongst other things.

From the fiction story “When Pacino’s Hot, I’m Hot”:

“I still had no reason to regard this incident as

anything more than a bizarre and isolated case of mistaken

identity, until I encountered, a couple of weeks later in a bar,

another woman who was under the impression I was Bob

Dylan — and then another who was thoroughly persuaded

that I was Al Pacino. With these events I could hardly fail to

recognize the pattern that was developing.”

Levin takes readers on a brazen tour of the realms of fiction. He’s not afraid to delve into the darker corners of the mind and to challenge the reader’s perceptions of reality.

Levin’s writing invites readers to take on a deeper understanding. His verbose writing goes way beyond the surface shedding light on societal opinions and perhaps prompting readers to reconsider any of their own preconceived ideas. His stories, essays, and jazz pieces are entertaining yet dive in deep to challenge any reader into a thought-provoking literal journey.

This is a book of self-discovery for both the author and the reader. While readers page through the collection they’ll go from fiction to a shift into non-fiction which serves as an opportunity for experiencing the author’s imagination combined with his perspective all in the same space.

There is much depth here with this transformative collection of the interplay between fiction, reality, and self-reflection. There is much here beyond the literal words.

~LB Sedlacek is the author of several books of poetry including “Unresponsive Sky,” “Chasing Sunsets,” “The Poet Next Door,” “Simultaneous Submissions,” “Ghost Policy” and “I’m No Robot.”  Her short stories books include “The Jackalope Committee & Other Stories” and her poem novel is “The Blue Eyed Side.”