A Bricklayer's Tales

A Bricklayer's Tales: A Collection of Short Stories and Memoirs by Gary Troia is a raw, darkly humorous exploration of working-class struggles, self-destruction, and creative frustration. Told through the eyes of Ray Dennis-Troia's disillusioned alter ego-these gritty, unflinching stories dive into the realities of depression, alcoholism, drug use, and the suffocating monotony of low-paid labour.
From bleak construction sites to psychedelic escapes, each tale captures the highs and lows of a man trapped between artistic ambition and brutal wage slavery. Whether facing deportation in Return Ticket, tripping through philosophical hallucinations in Angel Dust, or drowning his dreams in cheap booze in A Bricklayer's Tale, Ray's journey is equal parts tragic, absurd, and painfully relatable.
With the biting wit of Charles Bukowski and the raw realism of working-class fiction, A Bricklayer's Tales is a must-read for anyone who has ever felt stuck in a soul-crushing job, wrestled with addiction, or longed for something more.
Brutally honest. Darkly funny. Deeply human.
Perfect for fans of outsider literature, underground fiction, and Bukowski-style storytelling.