A portrait of a young man's poignant, painful, and occasionally playful coming of age, Rock Bottom Days introduces the reader to the trials and tribulations of Bernie Karf who navigates his world without a compass. Set in Binghamton, New York in the 1970's, it recaptures a bygone era through the stilted lens of a dreamer, and carries us through his unique relationships with people, and the landmarks of his beloved city, including the abandoned Rock Bottom Bridge, across from his apartment. As the novel winds along, it picks up the accumulating detritus of Bernie's contacts with his world, including girls, professors, ghosts, buildings and bridges, street children, and local historical figures, culminating in a most interesting series of events.