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Expiration Date

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'Expiration Date' by Duane Swierczynski is a fast-paced, twisty time travel mystery novel that follows the protagonist, Mickey Wade, who discovers pills in his grandfather's medicine cabinet that allow him to travel back in time to 1972. As Mickey navigates between the present and the past, he uncovers family mysteries, including the premature death of his father, and gets entangled in a complex web of events that challenge his understanding of fate and consequences. The narrative blends elements of science fiction and noir, with a frenetic pace that keeps readers engaged and eager to uncover the next twist in the plot. Swierczynski's writing style is described as hardboiled crime pulp, featuring fully fleshed characters and a setting in a depressed area of NE Philadelphia, adding depth and authenticity to the story.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed, featuring a relatable protagonist and a support cast that highlights realistic struggles.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by a first-person hardboiled narrative combined with engaging prose and visual elements.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative is a fast-paced, twisty time travel mystery that deals with family issues and the impact of past decisions.

Setting:

The setting features a depressed area of Northeast Philadelphia with scenes alternating between present-day and the past.

Pacing:

The pacing is frenetic, keeping readers engaged with constant twists and making it difficult to set the book down.
I was sitting on my front stoop, drinking a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. At eleven bucks a six-pack, Sierra’s a splurge beer, so I tried to savor every sip. I’d probably be drinking pounder cans of Pabst B...

Notes:

The book is written in a fast-paced, hardboiled crime style.
It features black and white illustrations by comic book artist Lawrence Campbell.
The main character, Mickey Wade, discovers a way to time travel by taking pills from his grandfather's medicine cabinet.
Mickey Wade's adventures take him back to 1972, the year he was born.
While in the past, Mickey becomes invisible and allergic to light, complicating his time travel.
The story revolves around Mickey's quest to uncover the mystery of his father's premature death.
Mickey has support from his skeptical friend Meghan as he navigates his challenges in both the present and the past.
The author, Duane Swierczynski, conceived this story as a weekly serial for the New York Times Sunday Magazine.
The novel has a total of about 235 pages, making it a quick read.
It blends elements of science fiction and noir, providing a unique take on family and fate.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of addiction, death, and familial strife which could be triggering for some readers.

Has Romance?

While romance is not the core focus of the story, Mickey's relationship with his girlfriend adds emotional depth and support to his character.

From The Publisher:

In this neighborhood, make a wrong turn…

… and you're history.

Mickey Wade is a recently-unemployed journalist who lucked into a rent-free apartment-his sick grandfather's place.

The only problem: it's in a lousy neighborhood-the one where Mickey grew up, in fact. The one he was so desperate to escape.

But now he's back. Dead broke. And just when he thinks he's reached rock bottom, Mickey wakes up in the past. Literally.

At first he thinks it's a dream.

All of the stores he remembered from his childhood, the cars, the rumble of the elevated train. But as he digs deeper into the past, searching for answers about the grandfather he hardly knows, Mickey meets the twelve-year-old kid who lives in the apartment below.

The kid who will grow up to someday murder Mickey's father, in Duane Swierczynski's Expiration Date.

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