In the Shadow of the Water Tower

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Pub Date 15 Oct 2014 | Archive Date 3 Feb 2019

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Description

WITH AN UNEXPECTED PHONE CALL FROM A DISTANT ATTORNEY, THE LIVES OF TWO BROTHERS FOREVER CHANGE.

The Kelly brothers are in their early sixties and live on opposite sides of the country—Joe in Maryland and Darren in California—when they receive a call from a demanding attorney in their small hometown of Glenville, Indiana. The request: to travel to Indiana to hear the final wishes of a recently deceased former neighbor from their childhood, “Uncle” Shorty.

Travel across country to hear the final wishes of a man who appeared to own little more than an old Plymouth car and a fine looking checkerboard? The brothers see all this as a major waste of time—even though Shorty had been a kind and encouraging friend of the family. But Attorney Borland is dead serious: “I promise you, by attending this meeting and hearing Mr. Hazelton’s wishes, both of your lives could be changed forever. I suggest you arrange to get here as soon as possible.”

Returning “home” after forty years will pull Joe and Darren away from their relatively quiet family lives and thrust them into a world of boyhood memories, legendary characters, old grievances, early loves, and a precarious status that elicits power, greed, false adulation, and even crime. Their journey will be full of humor and satisfaction, but also considerable pain—will it all be worth it?

WITH AN UNEXPECTED PHONE CALL FROM A DISTANT ATTORNEY, THE LIVES OF TWO BROTHERS FOREVER CHANGE.

The Kelly brothers are in their early sixties and live on opposite sides of the country—Joe in Maryland...


Advance Praise

Kirkus Reviews: "Like a Midwestern version of The Canterbury Tales, the book is rich in anecdotes from midcentury Middle America."

Readers' Favorite: "A nostalgic narrative depicting the bond of brotherhood...Kirby is a gifted storyteller...writes the history of small town America with grace and charm.

Readers'Favorite: "In the Shadow of the Water Tower is a beautiful novel. It contains pleasant memories of a past that is almost forgotten, greed, sadness, and old grievances that are never forgotten. Kirby has a comforting writing style that I like, and his wry humor is visible throughout."

Kirkus Reviews: "Like a Midwestern version of The Canterbury Tales, the book is rich in anecdotes from midcentury Middle America."

Readers' Favorite: "A nostalgic narrative depicting the bond of...


Available Editions

ISBN 9781634130042
PRICE US$4.99 (USD)

Average rating from 22 members


Featured Reviews

A wonderful story of life. Two brothers are given a task they never thought they would take. Distribute funds to help their home town thrive and once again be a place to be proud to live. The strolls down memory lane and the prices of the past that collide with the future ate fluid.

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WITH AN UNEXPECTED PHONE CALL FROM A DISTANT ATTORNEY, THE LIVES OF TWO BROTHERS FOREVER CHANGE.

The Kelly brothers are in their early sixties and live on opposite sides of the country—Joe in Maryland and Darren in California—when they receive a call from a demanding attorney in their small hometown of Glenville, Indiana. The request: to travel to Indiana to hear the final wishes of a recently deceased former neighbor from their childhood, “Uncle” Shorty.
The brothers head down memory lane as they do good deeds. A truly wonderful book. A joy to share their jouney.

Many thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of the book.

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My thanks to BooksGoSocial and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review a copy of this novel.
In our sceptical and hard-wired world it is a wonderful surprise to read a book that is both delightful and fanciful.
I don’t do spoilers but I do recommend reading this life-enhancing tale. Sit back – forget your worries and the crumbling world and give yourself over to a brilliant amusing and imaginative story.
I have not read Alan Kirby’s other volume “the Ivory Tower” but I will look it out now.
I give “In the Shadow of the Water Tower” 5 stars and look forward to more from this happy author.

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A great idea for a story and wonderfully told. It was a pleasure to read this book. It was happy and sad and memorable all rolled in together.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

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I gave this book a 5 out of 5 star review. It was an enjoyable and I would recommend. to others. Generously provided to me through NetGalley

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Warm and humorous book that feels like it could be a true story...and there's a reason for that. Basically, it IS a true story! When two brothers are given a very unexpected and unusual task to perform, they are brought together in their childhood hometown and begin a month of looking back and looking forward.

Very well written, I felt like I knew these guys by the time the story was over. There was, probably necessarily, a lot of time spent on the civic details of the town, and I didn't find those parts so very interesting. But the relationship of the brothers and their memories of growing up and their encounters with old childhood friends and enemies made it worth the read.

It just felt nice...like a friend sitting down and telling you about a great adventure they've been on. You kind of feel like you've been there yourself!

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What a wonderful story of life about two brothers given a daunting task they never imagined. A trip down memory lane told in a beautiful way. 5*

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Great read. The author wrote a story that was interesting and moved at a pace that kept me engaged. The characters were easy to invest in.

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Engaging and touching story of nostalgia, friendships and brotherhood. Read like a memoir, but it is fiction.

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A very heartwarming book that delves into just how much memory and a childhood can be influenced. It's a well written story that'll have you thinking of all the good you could do wherever you are.
Thanks Netgalley for the eARC.

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Sorry it took me so long to get to read this wonderfully written story of two brothers! It feels you up with warmth,humor,and sadness but happiness above all!! Great story line that makes you feel as you read that you know these two brothers as they grew up!! You never know what will happen when you answer the phone!! 5 years for sure!!😏

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I was interested in this book as it is about a small town in rural Indiana and am from Indiana and have lived in several small towns there. I found #intheshadowofthewatertower to be very touching, true to the character of place and a great read. I was really invested in the story and the two brothers that are the main characters. The author, Alan Kirby, writes with a unique voice and much empathy. This book touched my heart and I think it will touch yours too. In reading the acknowledgements and author note at the end I actually gasped in delight to find that Kirby is a Ball State University graduate-go Cardinals!-as I am also. Thank you #netgalley for this book to read and review, it is heartwarming and gives you faith in humanity-even if it is fiction!

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I listened to this book via VoiceView on my Kindle and I almost broke into tears in the deli ailse at the grocery store toward the end. I became invested in so many of the characters and totally enjoyed my hours with Joe and Darren as they took care of their uncles wishes. I loved the hometown memories and the story was written so well it sounded as if it could have been a memoir.
High 5 stars. Thank you to Books Go Social and NetGalley.

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This is a beautifully written and heartwarming story of two brothers growing up in rural Indiana. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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