Feela's fifth

Now for something from the shameless self-promotion department: our very own longtime columnist, poet and Montezuma County friend David Feela has published his fifth book. 

Titled “Feelasophy,” it is a collection of 70 short, wry and often-sublime essays on life’s absurdities and blessings – many of which have appeared in these pages (and others) over the last 10 years. 

From an overly cautious librarian's insistence on treating an internet password as if it were a nuclear code to the  scent of skunks heralding spring, Feela finds ridiculousness and beauty in unlikely places. To each subject he brings a humorist's eye and a humanitarian's heart. The world at large and the world in the palm of your hand are equally fascinating, Feela posits. If he doesn't make you laugh out loud, he will certainly generate smiles.

But be forewarned, if you don’t find puns punny – well, first we can’t be friends – and secondly, this may not be the book for you. However, if you do and are someone who loves writing that focuses on the transformative power of life's little moments, settle in. Whether introducing you to a bus driver with a bad attitude on the Mediterranean island of Malta or "Joanne's Gum Gallery Museum" in Quartzite, Ariz. – all 4,000 pieces on display chewed by Joanne herself – Feela is a glib, engaging and bemused travel guide, uncovering what makes life interesting. 

The typically humble Feela, a former teacher, is coy on tooting his own horn, but contemporaries are singing the book’s  praises. Peter Anderson, author of “Riding the Wheel,” wrote, “Feela is a funny man with a poet’s eye for detail and a keen sense of the ridiculous. His writing is infused with good cheer and humor. He likes puns and isn’t afraid to use them. ‘Feelasophy’ is informed by his love of words and his delight in playing with them. All the better for his readers, as he takes us down the quirky and offbeat backroads of life.”

“Feelasophy” is available at Maria’s Bookshop and online at major book retailers.