The Devil’s Crossroads
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Product Details
Publisher: Rhymes Junkies
Release Date: August 16, 2024
Formats: Paperback, Ebook
ISBN: PB: 979-8-218-36235-5; EB: 979-8-218-36236-2
Trim: 5.5 x 8.5
Page Count: 198
Adventures and Musings Hitchhiking the Road of Life
Alexis Brunet
Life is a nothing but a series of crossroads that continuously present us with one single existential question—where to next?
The Devil’s Crossroads in Clarksdale, Mississippi, is known as the location of blues legend Robert Leroy Johnson’s bargain with the Devil, where Johnson sacrificed his soul to become the greatest bluesman the world has ever known. For Alexis Brunet, the famed crossroads became the source of inspiration for this literary work—a series of reflections on the many intersections that paved the way to where he stands today.
As mortal hitchhikers, these character-defining, life-altering crossroads remind us that we are in a permanent state of flux. Change is the only constant. At each junction, our human virtues and their alter egos battle for our attention and feed on our emotions, influencing our decisions in an eternal spectacle for the Divine. These choices shape us into who we are becoming. No one knows what it all means, but attendance is mandatory.
In The Devil’s Crossroads, Alexis explores his personal journey, considering it as unique as it is universal. He shares the many choices that have shaped him into the present-day musician, surfer, skateboarder, husband, father, and man he is today. He explores the idea that although our stories differ, they bring us together as we collectively try to give meaning to our existence while attempting to understand how and why we become who we are. To be human is to be a storyteller, and sharing our experiences forces us to reflect on the universal journey that defines our lives.
About the Author
Alexis Brunet was born in Marseille, France, and moved to the United States as a young adult. There he earned a bachelor’s degree in business/statistics and an MBA. Alexis has a passion for surfing, skateboarding, and skiing. He is a self-taught guitarist who likes to play the blues, husband to a lovely wife, and father to three wonderful children. Alexis firmly believes that everyone has a story to tell, regardless of status, and encourages all to share theirs as well.
Reviews
“Brunet pens a thrumming debut memoir of his life as a series of decisive crossroads, those moments that [determine] and [influence] our lives for years to come and likens his personal junctures to blues legend Robert Johnson selling his soul to the devil in exchange for musical genius. Brunet, who acknowledges his bold decisions have driven many of his circumstances, styles rock and roll music as a cornerstone, and each chapter of his memoir is led by a rock title—from his turbulent and unstable childhood in France to his troublemaking teen years to his many adventures and lifelong friendships as an energetic, driven adult. Brunet’s youthful stories are colorful and compelling . . . [an] existential, reflective memoir of hard-earned life wisdom.”
—BookLife Reviews
“The Devil’s Crossroads traverses constantly shifting ground as Alexis Brunet navigates the influences of his past and the possibilities of creating a different future. The lyrical pen of Brunet is evident from his opening lines. He moves through the world powered by his love of music and life. Call it a memoir or a musical piece, as you will, but the strength of this special blend lies in its ability to move from the Mississippi Delta’s blues origins to topics of family dysfunction and broader life experience. Libraries and readers interested in life journeys that lead to the development of gratitude, responsibility, revised values, and honesty and respect will welcome the opportunity in The Devil’s Crossroads of learning just how these life values develop and are influenced by interests, objectives, and change. Many a book club will also find The Devil’s Crossroads the perfect choice for discussing life transitions as well as the influence of music and culture on these pivot points and choices.” —D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
“A travelogue that models voracious living, The Devil’s Crossroads celebrates rich experiences and asserts that personal and collective good comes from telling one’s own story.” —Foreword Clarion Reviews