Format: Paperback; ISBN: 9781432703110; Copyright Date: 2008; Publisher: Outskirts Press, Inc.; Length: 404 pages; Other: Inscribed. Condition: Very Good. Author inscribed inside front cover. Cover is still in overall nice shape, binding is strong, and pages are otherwise unmarked. Same cover design as that shown here. Synopsis: Based on his own quarter-life crisis and subsequent cross-country journey, WEST OF 16W explores the societal fears and pressures that threaten to drown the seedling aspirations of today's 20-somethings striving for more than instant material wealth. Meet Mark, the son of immigrants, whose need to fulfill familial expectations led to a life of hard study culminating in a Ph.D. by his mid-20's. Yet underneath the disciplined scientist facade, Mark had always dreamed of traveling the country and writing great novels. And so, with diploma in hand and love life in shambles, Mark hits the road to explore his long-suppressed literary aspirations. Set amongst the uncertainty of post-9/11 America, WEST OF 16W takes us into the quarter-life crisis of a young man as told through the scrolling tableau of the American landscape. From the deep south of Charleston, to his North Jersey hometown, to the west coast by bus, the novel is as much an introspective journey as cross-country adventure as Mark seeks balance between familial expectations, personal aspirations, and the affection of the woman he loves. Priority Mail delivery for this item costs $8.00 at the request of a buyer. Otherwise, the shipping rate given here applies to orders shipped via Media Mail within the U.S. only. Orders consisting of multiple purchases packaged together ship by any of these delivery methods at a discounted rate, usually for only $1.00 per additional item plus the shipping fee for the first item (determined to be the one with the highest delivery charge). International buyers: please contact us with your destination country for applicable base shipping rates. Multiple purchases that are packaged together save shipping costs for you, too! Payment is expected within two weeks of placing your order for the first item within a shipment. Paypal is preferred, but money orders and checks (either personal or cashier's) are also accepted. Orders typically ship within 48 hours of PROCESSED payment, excluding weekends and holidays. Inquiries from all shoppers are responded to promptly and courteously. Buyers are encouraged to ask questions prior to placing orders, as all sales are final unless the product you receive differs significantly from that which was advertised here in terms of either the product itself or its promised condition. In other words, "buyer's remorse" does not qualify for a refund. In other words, "buyer's remorse" does not qualify for a refund. Exceptions are made only in the event that a buyer is willing to return at his or her own expense an unopened, BRAND NEW item for a refund of the original purchase price only. No original shipping costs will be refunded, unless we are at fault for sending you the wrong item or misrepresenting the product and/or its condition. This hasn't happened yet, but if it does: you are guaranteed a refund of the purchase price, the original shipping fee, PLUS the cost to ship the item back to us. In addition, we promise that no retaliatory feedback will be left for negative comments received on such transactions. We stand behind our service, and accept responsibility for any mistakes made. Thank you for looking!