These Things Happen

A Novel

By: Michael Eon

Narrated by: Quinton Morton

Length: 7 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

Daniel Zimmer will do almost anything to end his pain—except for the one thing that might work.

Growing up in 1970s Brooklyn under the shadow of his tyrannical father and against the backdrop of the Son of Sam murders, the Karen Ann Quinlan tragedy, and the New York Yankees' back-to-back championship seasons, Daniel Zimmer struggles to find a sense of safety and belonging. Daniel and his brother Max find moments of solace in the rebellious rhythms of early punk and metal bands like the Ramones and Judas Priest. But when faced with an unexpected family tragedy—for which he feels responsible—Daniel discovers the magical escape that alcohol can provide, numbing his pain and guilt.

Carrying the trauma of his youth into adulthood, Daniel falls deeper into alcoholism as he fights to face life on life’s terms. Then, just as he finally begins to embrace sobriety, Max attempts suicide and Daniel’s ex-fiancée makes an unexpected reappearance. Forced to face his demons head-on, Daniel struggles to take things one day at a time.

Flashing through Daniel’s life, past and present, this nostalgic ode to Brooklyn is an unflinching account of the inevitable ups and downs of recovery and coming of age. Ultimately, it is a story of the ravages of generational abuse and the power of recognizing addiction and opening the door to the possibilities of redemption.

©2023 Michael Eon (P)2023 Girl Friday Books

Critic reviews

“Urgent, beautifully written . . . with well-drawn characters and a vivid, engaging storyline, These Things Happen . . . imparts a compelling message.”—BookLife Reviews (Editor’s Pick)

“Smooth, evocative prose, well-drawn characters, and the intriguing time and place of 1970s Brooklyn. . . . A thoughtful read.”—BlueInk Review

“Raw and compelling. . . . The energy of being a child in a city that will eat you up if you let it seeps through the pages.”—Readers’ Favorite

I couldn’t stop listening til the end!

I found this book very entertainig, deeply insightful and refreshingly honest. Quinton Morton’s narration was also the best I’ve listened to.
In These Things Happen, Michael Eon tells the story of young Daniel Zimmer, who loses his way due to childhood trauma, a dysfunctional family, and an emotionally abusive father. All of which ultimately leads him to addiction.
There’s a little bit of Daniel in all of us. Despite his downward spiral towards self destruction, Daniel finds the courage and strength to take responsibility for his actions, which may be enough to not only keep him alive, but to also get his life back.
Whether or not Daniel is innately an addict or simply a product of circumstance, Daniel has enough insight to realize that true change begins from the inside-out.
Daniel is the epitome of what doesn't kill us makes us stronger.

Insightful!

Wonderful narration. Hard to push pause. An informed and tense journey through the many lives within a family struggling with addiction and codependency. Thought provoking , insightful and hopeful.

One of those books I just couldn’t put down

Really great story and meaning. Very well written and great narration. Highly recommend and will definitely be reading again in the future.

Highly recommend These Things Happen

This is my second time posting a review for These Things Happens (first, for the kindle version and now, this audiobook.) A book hasn’t resonated with me like this in quite some time. I’m very moved by the story and the narration was great, it truly enhanced my experience. I highly recommend this audiobook.

A heartrending novel about coming-of-age.

"These Things Happen" by Michael Eon is a heartrending novel about coming-of-age and facing the tragedies of addiction and the triumphs of recovery. The backdrop of the novel is 1970s Brooklyn, with all of the chaos that entails, which is truly apropos. A driving theme in the novel is that life happens to all of us and that in order to live with some semblance of sanity and serenity, one must have the means to deal with life on life’s own terms, something many of the characters in the novel never learned how to do. The phrase “These Things Happen” encapsulates that idea. Stuff happens. Life happens. And it’s one’s desire to move in the same direction as life, as opposed to against it, that can heal trauma and enable spiritual growth. The novel is much more than a story about addiction and recovery. It is a coming-of-age tale focused on family dynamics, mental health, and trauma. You don’t need to be an addict or in recovery to enjoy or benefit from the story. Its themes are universal. Wonderfully narrated!

Dogmatic and preachy.

Well written and narrated but felt like an ad for AA. Most depressing book I’ve ever read and I’ve read Sophie’s Choice.