The Time Hotel

“A gritty, unflinching and deeply thought-provoking collection of poems, short stories, songs and artwork which loosely weaves together down-and-out characters, harsh urban jungles and beautiful imagery.

Sexton, a Chicago-based surrealist painter, introduces more than 100 entries—the majority of which are short poems—in ten sections of varying lengths. These poems evoke a wide range of human experience using an approachable free-verse style that can be read on a variety of levels. Although several of the poems and short stories have been previously published in anthologies and reviews, these works meld together well and provide an excellent representation of Sexton’s varied talents. The collection’s major theme is the significance of the places where individuals choose to, or are forced to, sleep. Interspersed within are detail-rich short stories that flesh out the repeating themes, characters and images in the text. In a handful of the stories, the author includes song lyrics that contribute to the overall mood of the narrative. Midway through the book, Sexton also features 11 pieces of visual art. Consonant with the vibe of his written work, these paintings convey a wide range of powerful emotions, especially through the well-drawn and expressive human faces that he features heavily.
Unfortunately, the artwork is presented in black and white and at a low-quality resolution, which dulls the effect of the images. Still, this text expertly uses varying artistic mediums to deliver a compelling reading experience.

A collection of writing and visual art that expresses the pain of the human experience.”—Kirkus Discoveries