MONTRÉAL, September 30, 2025 — Montreal author and book reviewer Andreas Kessaris’ recently released second collection of autobiographical short stories, The Grand Tour of Park Ex, doesn’t have to concern itself with a “sophomore slump”. In fact, this book is just as good—or even better—than his first collection The Butcher of Park Ex.
16 Autobiographical Stories
Through the 16 stories that are featured, we go on a journey through the ups and downs of Kessaris’ life as he tries to find himself both personally and professionally, as well as the joys and pitfalls of growing up Greek in the predominantly ethnic mosaic that is the Montreal district of Park Extension (aka “Park Ex”).
The first impressions conveyed when this book is that Kessaris is a sad sack kind of person; a lovable character who just can’t get a break in life, but we still cheer him on as he embarks upon his next adventure. However, the reader should not have to feel sorry for him. Through a lot of chutzpah (guts), humour and sheer determination, Kessaris goes through all those bumpy roads with a lot of dignity and self-respect, no matter what the outcome is.
Montreal author and book reviewer, Andreas Kessaris.
Personally Relatable Stories
As well, on a more personal note, I surprisingly discovered that some of the stories mirrored similar experiences that I went through during my lifetime. For example, “Mr. Berton”, which recalls his experiences as a student at Barclay Elementary School and Outremont High School, practically echoed what I went through as a student at Gardenview Elementary School and Sir Winston Churchill High School in Ville St. Laurent (except for the Reach For The Top portion, in which I was part of my school’s team for two seasons and won the provincial title in Grade 11); “Sacked”, which chronicled his seesaw working life at a number of banks, financial institutions and retail stores and how he dealt with eccentric bosses and cut throat colleagues who were vying for his job, was quite similar to my years as an employee at The Suburban Newspaper, CAE Inc. and the English Montreal School Board; and “Send in the F***ing Clowns” is reminiscent of the three weeks I spent on the hunt for a new apartment in the fall of 2019, and some of the quirky apartments that were available for rent before I landed my current living space.
The Grand Tour of Park Ex
Perhaps the jewel in this literary crown is the title story “The Grand Tour of Park Ex”. It’s a wonderful magnum opus that gives new meaning to the expression “sentimental journey”. It takes place during the COVID pandemic lockdown, when Kessaris and his current girlfriend Kate decided to take a break from being shut in their TMR apartment to get some fresh air via an impromptu walking tour of his old Park Ex neighbourhood.
In particular, they revisit certain spots that brought him back to the relationship with his father, who made his living as a cab driver and a parking lot attendant. Each stop along the tour is a living testament to growing up in a unique neighbourhood and the unique character who is his father and the bonds that are created between father and son (especially a local eatery called The Corner Restaurant, which not only provided cheap eats for Kessaris and his schoolmates, but also serve as the spot where his father and his fellow cabbies hang out at between taxi pick ups).
Skilled Knitting of Stories
Although he subtitled the book “Assorted Half-Told Yarns”, Kessaris has managed to knit them together with a great deal of skill, cohesion and sharp writing into a short story collection that is so enjoyable and rings true with those readers who spent their formative years in a close knit neighborhood that still evokes fond memories no matter where you lived and how you spent those years there.
After reading The Grand Tour of Park Ex, I have one question for Andreas Kessaris: do you have any more stories to share with us?
book review by Stuart Nulman
