Ollie Tucker, a recent college graduate and student of philosophy, is obsessed with truth and the source of knowledge, questioning the validity of everything he hears from his parents, his girlfriend, and even the voices inside his head. In pursuit of the truth and life's deeper meaning, he invents an alter ego, Oliver, who lives the adventurous and exotic existence Ollie cannot. But Ollie has another problem - a repressed memory of his uncle Scotty that threatens to derail his life, his relationships, and his sexuality. But the memory is a blur. And what he thinks he remembers, he knows is unreliable. The uncertainty is paralyzing. What is the truth? What has his subconscious fabricated? When he learns that his uncle, long-presumed dead, is in fact alive and well, Ollie realizes that to move on with his life and find peace, he must confront his uncle.In Oliver's Travels, Clifford Garstang deftly explores the fragility of memory. Ollie, an aspiring writer, must navigate the mundane while, at the same time, imagining a life of fulfillment for his alter ego, Oliver. Garstang displays his gift for contemplation and characterization as Ollie moves undauntedly in search of answers to life's questions and discovers, in this journey marked with wanderlust, how the past and the present will forever share porous boundaries.Jon Pineda, author of Let's No One Get Hurt One man's search for the truth about himself - a tour of his own head that winds up taking him on a tour of the world. A witty, humane meditation on the slippery slope of childhood memory.Jonathan Dee, finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, author of The Locals and The PrivilegesThis is a novel with an edge and a heart, constantly riveting and always smart, not to mention funny! Its humor, in part, derives from the keen intelligence and the pitch-perfect nature of the sterling prose. A must read.Fred Leebron, author of Six Figures and Welcome to ChristianiaA twisty metafictional and metaphysical tour of the world - and the author's mind - that examines not only how humans make stories, but how they make us. Fascinating and endlessly surprising.Liam Callanan, author of Paris by the Book and Listen and u0026 Other StoriesBook Review from Book ExcellenceOliver's Travels is a poignant story about the very nature of reality, who we are as human beings - and whether it's possible to leave the past behind.Ollie Tucker is fresh out of college and on a quest to discover life's deeper meaning. Haunted by an unclear memory from his past, Ollie sets out on a path of self-discovery. In the midst of writing a novel, where he portrays himself as a more charming, adventurous version of himself, Ollie convinces his wife to travel the world in search of his presumed-dead Uncle and confront the person he is most afraid of, so that he can finally move on with his life and find peace.Garstang's writing is sharp, witty and skilfully captures the intricacies of relationships, as he depicts Ollie's experience in his marriage, with his family and the ever-elusive Uncle Scotty. Effortlessly, the stage is set and the reader becomes emotionally invested in an entire ensemble of familiar characters. What truly makes this book a standout work of fiction is Ollie. Garstang portrays Ollie as a multifaceted character who has a deeply introspective and philosophical approach to life, who like most of us, is trying to figure out who he is and who he wants to become.Overall, Oliver's Travels is a compelling page turner that grips readers with its stunning insight into relationships and the impact they have on one's life. Highly recommended! - Review by Book Excellence