Read by Strangers is a collection of sixteen stories exploring the complexities of the human experience. From weary men seeking a ride back from a club but find themselves trapped to a woman addicted to a virtual reality game who is neglecting her child to a man whose fantasies about of his neighbor's wife have begun to take over his life, the characters in each of these stories are enveloped in their commitment to their own personal desires.

Review

"Walker’s scintillating stories crackle with frank sexuality and deadpan comedy. There’s a satirical edge to many of them, but they are always grounded in prose that’s realistic but extraordinarily vivid and even nightmarish." - Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Philip Dean Walker’s Read by Strangers is a nightmare wrapped in a riddle dipped in epiphany. His attention to detail, especially in his characters, makes living, breathing, complicated people heft themselves out of the page, fully-formed creatures from his madcap lagoon. Particularly the way he sees inside women and their oft en secret, darkest views on motherhood, on aging, on desire, on the aging of their once desirable husbands...he embodies the night-vines of our own admissions, those that sneak up our chests and wind around our throats.” —Julia Whelan, author of My Oxford Year

“The stories that comprise Philip Dean Walker’s Read by Strangers are sexually frank, intriguingly open-ended, and nuanced in their depictions of fl awed human nature. Walker is a talented and observant storyteller whose plots and characterizations engage and unnerve in equal measures.” —Wally Lamb, author of I Know This Much Is True

“Vividly and bitingly rendered, these stories oft en made me morally and even politically uncomfortable, which might well be the point. Highly reminiscent of John Cheever, Richard Yates, Bret Easton Ellis and others who excelled at writing people, especially women, at their lowest, Read by Strangers seems confident in its sometimes surreal cruelties, perhaps to try to shake us out of our own worst instincts.” —Tim Murphy, author of Christodora

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Store Description

Originally started as an amateur venture, Seagull Books has grown into a knowledgable and reputable on-line book vendor. Our inventory is growing all the time, and we are constantly updating our stock with the latest finds. Whilst we do not currently offer a book tracing service, we are always happy to hear from customers looking for a particular title, and may just be able to help. We specialise in out-of-print books - particularly paperbacks - and never cease to be amazed at what is no longer considered worth publishing! Many of our customers clearly share that view.

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Seller's business information

Seagull Books
United Kingdom

Sale & Shipping Terms

Terms of Sale

All orders will be dispatched within 1 working day of purchase, and often on the same day.

If the book(s) does not meet a customer's expectations then a full refund, including outgoing P&P, will be offered upon return of the item. The quality descriptions we use match those that are found on Amazon e.g. Like New, Very Good, Good and Acceptable. In most cases, we have also added more detailed comments ourselves about the condition of a particular book.

Right of cancellation

If you are a consumer you can cancel the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.

INFORMATION REGARDING THE RIGHT OF CANCELLATION

Statutory Right to cancel

You have the right to cancel this contract within 14 days for any reason.

The cancellation period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the the last good or the last lot or piece.

To exercise the right to cancel, you must inform us, Seagull Books, 46 Shakespeare Street, BN3 5AG, Hove, United Kingdom, of your decision to cancel this contract by a clear statement (e.g. a letter sent by post, fax or e-mail). You may use the attached model cancellation form, but it is not obligatory. You can also electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". If you use this option, we will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a cancellation on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.

To meet the cancellation deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right to cancel before the cancellation period has expired.

Effects of cancellation

If you cancel this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).

We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.

We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to cancel with contract.

We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.

We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.

You shall send back the goods or hand them over to us or Seagull Books, Portslade-by-Sea, United Kingdom, without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your cancellation from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.

Exceptions to the right of cancellation

The right of cancellation does not apply to:

the delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
the supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not cancel it once delivery had started.

Model withdrawal form

(complete and return this form only if you wish to withdraw from the contract)

To: (Seagull Books, 46 Shakespeare Street, BN3 5AG, Hove, United Kingdom)

I/We (*) hereby give notice that I/We (*) withdraw from my/our (*) contract of sale of the following goods (*)/for the provision of the following goods (*)/for the provision of the following service (*),

Ordered on (*)/received on (*)

Name of consumer(s)

Address of consumer(s)

Signature of consumer(s) (only if this form is notified on paper)

Date

* Delete as appropriate.

Shipping Terms

Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required.

Shipping rates from United Kingdom to U.S.A.

Shipping rates from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Order quantity	14 to 45 business days	7 to 15 business days
First item	� 10.00	� 10.00

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.