The Temporary Life: Stories

Most Jewish-American fiction is centered on Jews from New York City or New Jersey or Boston whose parents all retire to Florida. Wasserman examines the diverse west coast experiences of Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and especially Los Angeles, all having their own unique Jewish-American sensibility and quirkiness. Written early in his career, the stories reflect a young writer who was very hungry to make his mark. The stories all have a youthful immediacy and energy. This edition of The Temporary Life has a new forward written by the author and includes a book group guide.

Eric Wasserman was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, where he attended Lewis and Clark College. He holds an MFA from Emerson College in Boston. His short story, "He's No Sandy Koufax," won First Prize in the 13th Annual David Dornstein Creative Writing Contest, and his work has appeared in many publications, including Glimmer Train and Poets and Writers Magazine Online. Eric is an assistant professor of English at the University of Akron, where he also teaches in the Northeast Ohio Master of Fine Arts Program in Creative Writing (NEOMFA).