Light Readers Need Not Apply

December 12th, 2011

Today’s review is brought to you by the letter “S” as in “Short Story!” And…in keeping with the theme of “Short & Sweet” let’s just get right down to business. (Ok, maybe it’s less “theme” related and more “there’s a pizza waiting for me in the other room” related.) Anyways…

“Elephant” by Jim Breslin

In this debut collection of stories, Jim Breslin explores the soul of suburbia; the disenfranchised and the desperate. The characters in these twenty-one stories struggle to mend relationships and find redemption. Sometimes funny, often sad, the unsettling stories in Elephant portray the suburban landscape of loneliness and hope.

A man is tempted by memories of his past life after his drunk ex-wife pays a surprise visit. A couple wrestles with their fruitless attempts to have children. An eccentric homeowner issues a series of comical concerns to his lawn care company. A young woman discovers her boyfriend has placed a Craigslist ad seeking a three-way. A husband tests the reciprocity of his wife’s love only to find himself in the throes of a dangerous free fall.

Short stories, (unlike novels) take a very distinct “brand” (I guess you can say) of author to write them. (The same (if you are curious) can be said for the people who read (and enjoy) them.) Why? Because short stores are written as if strapped to a time bomb.  While “novels” are laced with hundreds (if not thousands) of pages filled with adjectives, short stories are chopped, condensed, and (more often than not) offered up on a very blunt serving platter.

Does this mean that cohesion, (and enlightenment) cannot be achieved with so few words? Of course not, if just takes a master of manipulation to do so successfully.

Who here has watched the film “The Adjustment Bureau?”  How about “Keith?” Did you know that both of these movies were based on short stories? No? (Yay me for teaching you something today.)

These are just 2 examples of short story brilliance, AND…evidence to the fact that it does not take a million words to tell a good story. It simply takes focus.

This is the problem I had with Mr. Breslin’s stories. No focus. While some of them were good (for example: Elephant, and We’re Not Dog People) others felt like interrupted thoughts.  Not all authors are the same (I’m no where near stupid enough to believe this) and each has their own unique writing style, but I think it is very important for authors not to get too wrapped up in their own prosaic thoughts when trying to get a point across. (Hmmm, that sounded a bit harsh. Let me try again.) Though the writing was good, (even impressive in parts) and yes…the stories did indeed make you think, (which I believe to be  Breslin’s main initiative in writing them to begin with) overall they were a tad TOO abstract. Which (I’m sorry to say) may actually have an adverse reaction and PUSH “causal readers” away instead of drawing them IN.

If you are going to tell a story, even a short one, you must make sure it is still a story.

Now, before you get your La Perla panties in a wad, let me make one thing very clear.  I am NOT opposed to short stories.  I am not opposed to literature that evokes reflection, or appreciation of self-worth. What I’m not keen on is the illusion of plots.

So, here is where I stand… I have read better, I have read worse, but if it were up to me… I would fill my lunch hour with something more filling and less fluffy.

Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: Sometimes good things come in small packages and sometimes it’s just a pair of socks from your Aunt Hilda.

Click images for complete details.

(3/5) <–If you are curious why the 3… I LOVE the cover art & feel that it deserves a little credit. Otherwise…I would have gone with a 2.5

 

Note: In case you are interested… “The Adjustment Bureau” is based on the short story “Adjustment Team” by Philip K Dick and “Keith” is based of a short story (of the same name) by Ron Carlson, found in his anthology “The Hotel Eden.”

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Damn You Late Night Coffee!!

July 20th, 2011

I have never been a big fan of reviewing short stories, that doesn’t keep me from excepting them of course (cause I do enjoy READING them) but I find them difficult to review. Why? Because with the changing of plots comes the changing of emotions, and if my mind (as muddled as it already is) is forced to become a quick-change artist, then my review must mimic it, (or suffer the consequences.)
 
For example, when I first started Bernard Schaffer’s “Women and Other Monsters” I didn’t like it.  I felt that the first story was disjointed and forced, and though the overall concept was a good one, the execution lacked that “certain something” that is required when writing in so few words. (Do I actually know what this “certain something” is? No, but believe me when I say that it is important.) Now..having disliked the first story so much, I went into the second with a “slightly less the honky dory” attitude, and much to my surprise (thank God for Schaffer) I finally found what I was looking for, (a well formed, interesting story, with a twisty plot and interesting characters.) While I won’t go into detail about each story (because they are short stories.. duh.. 2 sentence from me and I’ll blow the ending) I CAN tell you that throughout the course of this collection my views on Shaffer’s work changed approximately every 15 seconds, and at one point I found myself so grossed out (I’m talking oh-for-the-love-of-all-that-is-holy-you-are-a-sick-sick-man grossed out) that I actually hunted down the author on Twitter and wagged my chubby finger at him.
 
So what are these stories actually about? (Now that I’ve pretty much told you that I’m mildly conflicted.)
 
Well, like I said before it is a collection of short stories, (6 to be exact) that span the wildest range of topics I think I have ever had the pleasure of reading.  There were vampires, Death Gods, astronauts, super secret spies (my favorite, and the longest in the book by the way) and…Uh, I can’t even say it… let’s go with a suspicious wife.
 
Each of these stories were told in their own unique way (folklore, suspense, contemporary) and the writing varied in each, but if I am to solidify my “take” on each of these and reduce them to one word I would go with “GOOD”. No, the first story “The Reluctant Death” wasn’t all that great, but the second was actually quite entertaining, and as much as I hate for even mentioning the third, regardless of it’s “topic,” the story was written well and completely caught me off guard which…speaks highly of the authors ability to write “twists.”
 
Do I think these stories are for everyone? Absolutely not… I will actually go on record as saying this is a 35% read. Meaning only 35% of you will get and or appreciate the pictures drawn in your head from Schaffer’s words.  The other 65% of you (those of you that don’t appreciate the slightly insane) will wish you could have your money back. So… here is my suggestion to you.  Think very carefully about the type of person you are and the type of books you enjoy before diving into this one.  It is not nice, clean, normal or meant for children.
 
Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember:  Unless you are 100% certain of the type of “person” your spouse is, don’t “surprise” them at work.
 
Click image for complete details.
 
(3/5)

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Shorty’s Got Game

March 2nd, 2011

Writing short story reviews have always been the most challenging hurdle for me. Being a naturally wordy person (who tends to overanalyze;) finding that perfect balance between informative and well…”giving the milk away for free,” puts me into a tizzy.

My instincts tell me to write a synopsis, break down characters, look for loop holes, but none of these are crucial when determining the WORTH of a short story, ENTERTAINMENT is. Was I entertained by what I just read? Was it a complete story or just a bunch of words cleverly arranged on a page? Was it good? These are the elements that are important when it comes to “bit literature” not (for a lack of a better description) how LONG it is.

A few months ago I approached Kipp Speicher about writing a flash fiction for KO. Being the fantastic sport that he is, he readily agreed. Unfortunately… during this process Kippoe (as I affectionately refer to him) discovered he was born without an off switch. His “flash fiction” very quickly morphed into a short story and before I knew it I was being “gifted” his final product instead of emailed. Now… while I am still a little perturbed at being ripped off, (I still haven’t gotten my promised flash fiction) I will (begrudgingly) admit that Kippoe’s choice to keep writing paid off.

Ladies and gentlemen… let me formally introduce you to “Die Already” a short story whose cover makes me cringe and concept makes me second guess everything I’ve ever assumed to know about Kipp Speicher.

Meet Horace.
Horace has a gift.
That gift is to keep things alive.
Unfortunately that gift has a downside,
His gift keeps things alive.

To be short and sweet about it, (even though I think this review is already longer than the story) “Die Already” hits the mark when it comes short, entertaining (mildly warped) stories. If you are looking for a quick read at lunch or need something to read before bed (warning: this may cause you to have some wicked dreams) this one might just be the one for you.

Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: If you think things can’t get worse it’s probably only because you lack sufficient imagination.

Click image for complete details.

(4/5)

P.S. “Die Already” includes a bonus excerpt from Tom Raimbault’s “Something Quite Perverse” and “The Tree Goddess”


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Ze Puppies!!!

January 28th, 2011

Life is about living and learning lessons. Some of these are difficult, for example: looking UP when you walk, while others are EXTREMELY easy; like memorizing the square root of pi, but all are necessary. Now, I admit that I have learned only a small number of lessons in my 30 years (because I’m stubborn and refuse to admit when I’m wrong) but those that I HAVE learned have served me well; the most important being “don’t take everything so seriously.”

We all know I read more than any person should ever consider normal or acceptable, and doing so I find myself (more often than not) overwhelmed by the constant on slot of heavy reading. So…(every once in a while) in an effort to keep my sanity (or at least spare the people around me from hours of theological discussion) I kick my extremely large “to be read” pile to the side and replace it with “fun fiction.”

Yesterday was one of those days, and the short story that saved my sanity (and made me almost pee myself from laughing so hard) was “Evil Puppies” by Aaron Daniels.

Normally this would be the point where I break down the book, give you a synopsis, and tell you whether or not to run for your lives, but with “Evil Puppies” being so short (7 stories about 45 minutes worth or reading) it’s seems like wasted effort on my part. What I will say however is that it was funny. There are hours worth of “inside jokes” to be had between friends and if that’s not enough to sell you how bout this…

Hitler is alive, Elvis hates puppies, and even sparkly vampires are to slow to lose these “finger munching” freaks of nature.

Take it with a grain of salt, but do indeed take it.

Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember… life is to short to be a cranky ass… have a laugh!

Click image for complete details.

(5/5)

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Monks Gone Wild…

October 6th, 2010

It has taken me a while to jump on the “short story” band wagon, but at last I have arrived… but probably not for the reasons you would expect. I am still not thrilled about a story being cut down just when I think it is gaining momentum, and I am a huge fan of character development in stories… which, lets face it… is not going to happen in 25 pages. But one thing is clear, (and this is why I’m now a fan) in just a few short pages you can tell whether or not you are going to enjoy an author.

About a month ago Vanessa Morgan emailed me about reviewing her novel “Drowned Sorrow.” “Sure” I said. For a woman that was being hailed as the “female Stephen King” I had to know what she was all about. 4 weeks later I still haven’t received her book (and honestly that’s fine considering I’m still VERY FAR BEHIND) but with Halloween quickly approaching I just couldn’t help myself… so I cracked open her little ditty “The Strangers Outside” and took a peek.

Now… while 25 pages is a little too clipped for me to pass her the “Sultan of Scare” crown, I can at least dub her the “Empress of Eek.” There is an undeniable talent that shows through in Morgan’s work, and to that I say… bravo. If an author can manage to make me do the sideways head cock in so few pages… there’s just no telling what they’ll be able to do with a full length novel.

So…if you are a fan of Hitchcock-esq shorts, or even a good tale to share with your friends on a dark night… this one is just what you are looking for, and with the day of the dead quickly approaching, it only seems natural to take a trip on the creepy side.

Happy reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: the number for the police is always 9-1-1 DUH!

For a complete description click image.

(3.5/5)

I was afraid that I would give too much away if I wrote my own description, so here is what Amazon had to say.

Synopsis: Two sisters, Jennifer and Louise, return to their remote holiday cabin after a day at the seaside. But little do they know they’re being surrounded. Shortly after their arrival, the girls will come face to face with THE STRANGERS OUTSIDE. When the assailants make their intentions known, things take a shockingly terrible turn and an intense battle for survival will begin.

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Karma Is A Bigger Bitch Than I Will Ever Be

August 27th, 2010

About a month ago Debbi Mack sent me her collection of short stories “5 Uneasy Pieces.”  I decided to take a chance on them, (not because of the obvious sleuth pretence) but because I knew that at some-point I would need a break. Yes, I know that sounds horrible on so many levels, but sometimes less complicated is just plain nice.  Not all of us have the time to dive into a 500 page book, we need something to read in between switching out loads of laundry, and carpool, or… (for those of us that work a ridiculous number of hours a week) it is sometimes much more convenient to curl up with a 45 minute read than the 20 hour one.

Debbi Mack’s collection offers readers exactly that. Easy reading, investigation style.

All 5 of these stories offer different things; payback, bad timing, deception…but at the same time they are all identical. How? Irony. Mack’s ability to smack her own characters in the face is impressive, and because she weaves a twisted tale BEFORE she does this it makes her stories even more enthralling.

However…the best thing about “5 Uneasy Pieces” is that (with just a few short stories) you are able to get a good clean look into Mack’s writing style.  Is she for you? Can you stand the 500 classic movie references she throws out, and most importantly do you “believe” her self-made glimpses into the world of investigation. If you answered yes, then it enables you to purchase one of her full length novels guilt free. If the answer is no… no big loss, it was only 99 cents and I’m willing to bet you have more than that in your car’s console.

If you like short easy reads…go for it. Why the hell not.

Happy reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: never give your shrink your address…it’s inevitable that one day they will snap. Do you want them knowing where you sleep?

For a complete book description click image

(4/5)

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Swimming In The Blue

July 7th, 2010

There is something to be said for artistic people that cross genres. When I was first introduced to Kipp Poe Speicher it was as an independent film maker, not an author. The fact that these two passions regularly intertwined (in him) eluded me until all of a sudden I started seeing his short stories pop up everywhere.

Speicher is a man that uses fore-sight to write. Here is what I mean. For someone that spends their time manipulating a script into visual stimulation, his use of imagery when writing is astoundingly graphic and detailed. More often than not this trait is lost when a person (who is so focused on the ability to capture an audience through visual means) decides to flip their focus to creating a viable plot/scenario with only the written word.

“Closing My Eyes Helps Me To See Clearly” is made up of only 2 short stories, 1 of which is the namesake for the finished product and the second is “Gas For Grass.” Both are unflinchingly graphic in both the “adult sense” and the “psychotic sense” and take only minutes to read, but what stands out about these 2 very different stories is Speichers use of language.

For example; in “Closing” he uses 3 (very different) characters perspectives to weave one singular apocalyptic plot. Each thought is filled with a slew of colorful adjectives allowing the reader to experience in their head, what would otherwise have been a very captivating scene on screen.

In “Gas For Grass” he detours from the previous floating dialogue and focuses on 1 lone man’s journey to get a little peace and quiet. (which by the way I wasn’t expecting and now has me hoping I never meet Kipp in a dark alley) His writing style makes a very exaggerated left turn, but at the same time still creates a horrifying moving picture in the readers head.

Neither of these stories were perfect, but both show what an amazing talent Speicher has hidden behind closed doors.

If you decide to take a peek at these 2 mildly disturbing literary gems I advise 1 thing. Caution…because neither of them are for the faint of heart.

Happy reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: Weed eaters are really annoying… especially early in the morning when people are trying to sleep.

For a complete book description click image

(4.5/5)

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Dreaming Out Loud

April 16th, 2010

Shortly after I reviewed her novel “Homefront” “Kristen Tsetsi” asked me to review her collection of short stories. “Sure” I said…”No Problem, but be aware I review compilations 1 story at a time” Well, first of all…damn me and my big fat mouth and second…yeah, there is no way in hell I can do that with this book. (sorry Kristen)

“Carol’s Aquarium” is not your everyday collection of shorts; they are not a couple of pages long, they are (more often than not) a couple of paragraphs long, and where a “conventional” short has plot line basics (beginning, middle, end) you are lucky if you get any of these in “Tsetsi’s” work.

This is not to say that they aren’t worth your time. Let me explain…what “Tsetsi” wrote were “dream shorts” – imaginative snippets that are structured and written to fuel free thinking minds. Still don’t get it? Ok…bare with me. If you have every attended a creative writing class, whether it be in college or otherwise, your professor/teacher will at one point or another hand you a concept piece and ask you to expand upon it. That is exactly what “Tsetsi’s” stories are… thoughts. They will generally start somewhere in the middle, more often than not they will be an insignificant part of a larger story, and they will abruptly stop.

This is where you the reader come in. YOU are supposed to figure out the rest, (what happens to the neurotic girlfriend or postpartum inflicted mother?) YOU are supposed to take the set up that was provided for you and let your creative juices run wild, (why did she bail on her wedding?) YOU are supposed to write the beginning, the middle, and the end. (What happens when he finally leaves his wife?)

Let me give you a few disclaimers though, (if you do in fact decide this is something you would like to read.) 1. Do not read this book in one sitting. Yes, it is only 90 pages and yes, it can easily be done (because I did it) but to truly “get” what the experience is about read only 1 short a day, stew on it and then move onto the next one the following day. 2. Read them more than once. Like I said before they are very short so doing this isn’t going to steal away more than a few minutes of your time. And lastly, do not over analyze, there are not subliminal messages in the book, you are not missing the ending…I assure you it is not there.

Overall the writing was good. Yes, it was a little flowery in places (especially when it came to talking about buttercups) but with beautiful prose, comes beautiful dreams.

If you think you can handle not having the story laid out for you… snatch it up, (it’s worth the 2 bucks) but if you aren’t willing to compromise your need for typical literary structure, this is NOT a book for you. Consider YOUR character closely before making the decision, because I don’t want to have to say “I told you so.”

Happy reading my fellow Artists and remember: beauty surrounds you daily… you just have to know where to find it.

For a complete book description click image

(3.5/5)

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