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Momentary Illumination of Objects In Motion
The debut short story collection by Jason Arias.
The car is idling on the road between where we’ve been and where we’re going. The door’s open. You coming?
The car is idling on the road between where we’ve been and where we’re going. The door’s open. You coming?
- GenresShort StoriesFiction
132 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2018
11 people are currently reading
557 people want to read
About the author
Jason Arias
5 books26 followersJason Arias is the author of the short story collection Momentary Illumination of Objects In Motion and the poetry collection nostraDAMus 2032. He lives and writes on the Oregon coast.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 13, 2020
It’s a book that simultaneously makes you feel at home inside someone else’s skull and lost in a nonsensical world without a map. A memoir so fantastical it feels like fiction. The narrator is sometimes wise beyond his years, trying to impart an out of reach moral over a cup of tea and sometimes the fanatic, shortsighted stream of consciousness that is symptomatic of boyhood decisions. The boundaries seem clear but you can’t help but taste the previous chapters as you devour this man’s whole life in a few sittings.
November 21, 2018
A series of short stories captures the reader’s heart and challenges societal norms in author Jason Arias novel “Momentary Illumination of Objects in Motion”. Here is the synopsis.
The Synopsis
Momentary Illumination of Objects In Motion is the debut short story collection by Jason Arias. Focusing on life and death, race and identity, change and resistance to change. They're stories of growth, both in the moment and over a lifetime.
"Jason Arias will break your heart, blow your mind, make you laugh and bring you to the edge of everything that matters."
- Lidia Yuknavitch, author of The Chronology of Water, and The Book of Joan
"Inspired, challenging, heartbreaking, and uplifting—the stories of Momentary Illumination of Objects In Motion are an after midnight bar story, a foxhole prayer, a graveyard shift confession. Jason Arias confronts masculinity and identity and memory and authority—as urgently needed as anything in fiction today."
- Matthew Robinson, author of The Horse Latitudes
"It's a book that makes you feel whispered to and pulled in close. It's a book that makes you wince your eyes and re-see things you thought you knew."
- Rita Bullwinkle, author of Belly Up
"...homes in on powerful imagery, revelatory metaphor, and vibrant characters who are fascinating to watch evolve from one story to the next."
- Samuel Snoek-Brown, author of Hagridden and There Is No Other Way to Worship Them
"At once, both funny and stark. A kickass debut."
- Margaret Malone, author of People Like You
"... Arias finds flashes of humor in the wreckage, as well as rare moments of beauty when humans transcend their limitations to become their best selves."
- Stevan Allred, author of A Simplified Map of the Real World
The Review
The stories told within this collection are truly one of a kind and powerful. From the story of a young man confronted by death in the eyes of an innocent, to a young boy in love taking a leap of faith and even tales that challenge the notion of a definition of “masculinity” and the need to break societal norms, this collection has it all.
The imagery used in these stories really spoke to me personally. The emotional core of these tales that visited themes of love, loss, death and the possibility of a grim future came from these truly remarkable and relatable characters. It’s the kind of collection that highlights the struggles of the world, fusing humor and real life drama with characters that grow and evolve through their struggles.
The Verdict
Overall this was a truly creative, emotional and remarkable collection of short stories. It makes you stop and ask yourself whether or not you and the people around you are treating others the way they deserve to be treated, and whether or not you and the people around you are treated with the respect you deserve. It challenges the notion that we are defined by where we live, how we grew up, and who we love. It’s one of those rare collections that touch the heart and get your mind working, so if you haven’t yet be sure to grab your copy of Momentary Illumination of Objects in Motion by Jason Arias today.
The Synopsis
Momentary Illumination of Objects In Motion is the debut short story collection by Jason Arias. Focusing on life and death, race and identity, change and resistance to change. They're stories of growth, both in the moment and over a lifetime.
"Jason Arias will break your heart, blow your mind, make you laugh and bring you to the edge of everything that matters."
- Lidia Yuknavitch, author of The Chronology of Water, and The Book of Joan
"Inspired, challenging, heartbreaking, and uplifting—the stories of Momentary Illumination of Objects In Motion are an after midnight bar story, a foxhole prayer, a graveyard shift confession. Jason Arias confronts masculinity and identity and memory and authority—as urgently needed as anything in fiction today."
- Matthew Robinson, author of The Horse Latitudes
"It's a book that makes you feel whispered to and pulled in close. It's a book that makes you wince your eyes and re-see things you thought you knew."
- Rita Bullwinkle, author of Belly Up
"...homes in on powerful imagery, revelatory metaphor, and vibrant characters who are fascinating to watch evolve from one story to the next."
- Samuel Snoek-Brown, author of Hagridden and There Is No Other Way to Worship Them
"At once, both funny and stark. A kickass debut."
- Margaret Malone, author of People Like You
"... Arias finds flashes of humor in the wreckage, as well as rare moments of beauty when humans transcend their limitations to become their best selves."
- Stevan Allred, author of A Simplified Map of the Real World
The Review
The stories told within this collection are truly one of a kind and powerful. From the story of a young man confronted by death in the eyes of an innocent, to a young boy in love taking a leap of faith and even tales that challenge the notion of a definition of “masculinity” and the need to break societal norms, this collection has it all.
The imagery used in these stories really spoke to me personally. The emotional core of these tales that visited themes of love, loss, death and the possibility of a grim future came from these truly remarkable and relatable characters. It’s the kind of collection that highlights the struggles of the world, fusing humor and real life drama with characters that grow and evolve through their struggles.
The Verdict
Overall this was a truly creative, emotional and remarkable collection of short stories. It makes you stop and ask yourself whether or not you and the people around you are treating others the way they deserve to be treated, and whether or not you and the people around you are treated with the respect you deserve. It challenges the notion that we are defined by where we live, how we grew up, and who we love. It’s one of those rare collections that touch the heart and get your mind working, so if you haven’t yet be sure to grab your copy of Momentary Illumination of Objects in Motion by Jason Arias today.
December 26, 2019
This collection of fine short stories is about an America few people dare to consider. The characters are embedded in the shrinking middle class, working various low-paying jobs, or in crisis positions such as a paramedic. In these positions, Arias builds out characters who are rich, strange, and deeply perceptive.
In one of my favorite stories, "The Road to Thebes" the narrator reflects on seeing his absent father, and the emotional struggle of expectations:
"How we’re born with open arms and slowly learn to close them in around ourselves to keep everything else out. How on the subway ride back into the city I stumble as the train stops short and Papi cowers, like I’m going to hit him. How I feel like an abusive son because of this. How I hate him, but I still end up hugging him when he opens his arms before disappearing again. How I know I’ll never see or hear from him after this. How I never do. How I feel like I should be okay with that. And I am. And I’m not. And I don’t know what that says about me."
Arias is an authentic, new voice writing about raw experiences that are complicated, tender, and troubling. This is a hard mix to achieve, but one Arias handles skillfully.
I'm looking forward to his next book.
In one of my favorite stories, "The Road to Thebes" the narrator reflects on seeing his absent father, and the emotional struggle of expectations:
"How we’re born with open arms and slowly learn to close them in around ourselves to keep everything else out. How on the subway ride back into the city I stumble as the train stops short and Papi cowers, like I’m going to hit him. How I feel like an abusive son because of this. How I hate him, but I still end up hugging him when he opens his arms before disappearing again. How I know I’ll never see or hear from him after this. How I never do. How I feel like I should be okay with that. And I am. And I’m not. And I don’t know what that says about me."
Arias is an authentic, new voice writing about raw experiences that are complicated, tender, and troubling. This is a hard mix to achieve, but one Arias handles skillfully.
I'm looking forward to his next book.
May 27, 2020
An exceptional writer. Many of these essays are so well crafted, they maintain their impact read after read.
January 27, 2024
This collection offers a little bit to every reader. Jason captivates you with the his vivid imagery and dry humor. I enjoyed each story for different reason and will read it again and recommend it to all.
May 5, 2019
This booked popped up as a suggestion after I read one of David Sedaris’ books - which I just didn’t get. This book I got. Made me think. Some good short stories, some not.
June 12, 2020
This is a great short read with lovely essays by Jason Arias.
October 11, 2018
Jason Arias writes with a directness and an open-wound honesty that lends his stories a profound authenticity. No floral verbosity here; he gets right down to the meat and bone of his stories. Yet -- or perhaps because of that style -- he also homes in on powerful imagery, revelatory metaphor, and vibrant characters who are fascinating to watch evolve from one story to the next. Momentary Illumination of Objects in Motion is a debut that pulls no punches, and Arias is a writer to watch.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews