Me Before Them

Me Before Them is a collection of exquisite short stories that dispassionately explore life’s temperaments through characters and their actions that give us a better understanding of the enemies of peace―ambition, anger, avarice, envy, and pride―within us.

In Dark Shades, a man embraces childlike trust again by baring his soul to his family and exorcising the ghosts haunting him; alas finding out that genuine happiness also comes with empathy and selfless giving.

In The Grandmothers, brave matriarchs step in to whisk their grandchildren out of the labyrinths of desolation that their adult children are dragging them into.

The Hunger Fire takes us through the insightful tribulations of a man who abandons the trusting love of family and friends, for sexual love and glory.

The Fire and Ice Legend delineates the life of a prodigy whose love for humanity pushes him to become a sinning saint, a jaded soul that finally finds peace in remorse and penance.

In Fateful Ties, a young novice’s dedication inspires two brothers to wonder if giving in life is all about charity, solidarity, or penance.

The Sweetest Madness is about a young couple’s honeymoon that is rudely interrupted by a delusional act that involves killing for God.

The Doctors depicts a despondent sage who sobers up and finds happiness from the outreach of the young woman he wised up.

Janvier Chouteu-Chando’s collection of seven interconnected short stories Me Before Them, will take you on a journey of senseless power, unswerving loyalty, twisted passion, unbridled ambition, unremitting love, inglorious honor, delusional exceptionalism, and of a jaded man that you'll remember for a very long time.