Showing posts with label short stories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label short stories. Show all posts

Monday, December 11, 2023

Book Review - Tell Me More: Stories About the 12 Hardest Things I'm Learning to Say by Kelly Corrigan

 


Tell Me More: Stories About the 12 Hardest Things I'm Learning to Say by Kelly Corrigan is a nonfiction book about the author’s journey to make connections with people. The book explores twelve phrases that can encourage people to bond together and forge a deeper connection. For each of the twelve phrases, she includes personal stories about each around the theme. 

This book was pointless and a waste of time. I understand what the author was trying to do, but it could have been executed better. I found her personal stories boring and at times, I didn’t understand why or how it related to the current chapter’s theme. She would go back and forth between topics and experiences, and it made the stories seem fragmented. I would have liked one or two fully fleshed out stories and then explained what exactly she is trying to say instead of her roundabout way. I felt like she just kept complaining about things and then didn’t really close the loop on what lesson she learned and what she will do better in the future. I don’t know what this book's purpose was because it wasn’t motivational nor inspirational. The only thing I learned is that I do not like this book or care a whit about the author’s trivial stories. I did not need to know that her family pet likes to consume human waste because her family does not flush the toilet on a regular basis.

Thursday, December 22, 2022

Book Review - Send Her Back and Other Stories by Munashe Kaseke

 

The novel contains short stories depicting the immigrant experience of black African women in United States with a variety of themes.The stories are told from a female Zimbabwean protagonist view but, none of the stories are related. I found majority of the stories entertaining and relatable. The last story in the book though felt incomplete and it was the only one I didn't enjoy. In a few of the stories, I found that it mimic stories from relatives, friends, and even my own experience as an immigrant. I would be interested in reading more stories by the author as I found this book to be enjoyable.


Wednesday, November 30, 2022

Book Review - A Deadly Affair by Agatha Christie

 

 

 


The book is a collection of Agatha's short stories focusing on the theme of love. This was my first time reading one of her works. I can see why many of her characters and stories are beloved by fans. A few of the stories stumped me but, I was able to guess the culprit behind a few of the stories. Even though the stories were short, they were well fleshed out. There were a few stories that I found the text a bit hard to follow along with because of the dated terms and language the characters used. Overall, it was a clever collection for new fans and old.


 

Sunday, November 6, 2022

Book Review - Deserter: Junji Ito Story Collection by Junji Ito

 

The graphic novel is a collection of Junji Ito's earliest work when he first entered the horror scene. The graphic novel is done in a black and white format and read in the same way as traditional Japanese manga are. Some of the short stories were more fleshed out than others. I think some missed their mark or perhaps, some of it was lost in translation. Most of the stories were creepy and witty as the characters fell prey to their own hubris. Overall, it was an interesting read and great introduction to Junji's work.



Monday, June 13, 2022

Book Review - Lovers on All Saints' Day: Stories by Juan Gabriel Vásquez

 

The book is a collection of short stories set in Europe. It shows themes of love and humanity in seven short stories in various relationships and situations.

I usually like reading short stories but, these felt a bit disappointing. I am not sure if it was the translation but, I had a trouble following some of the stories. I felt like that there was some nuances that were lost in translation. Some of the stories did have a bit of staying power when I really thought about it but, others were pretty forgettable.Some of the stories felt like they really didn't deliver because the story wasn't fleshed out properly. A lot of the stories had a darker and bleak than I was expecting.  However, I would be open to reading other works by the author.

Thursday, March 3, 2022

Book Review - Slasher Girls & Monster Boys by April Genevieve Tucholke


 The book is a collection of young adult authors who write thrilling and terrifying thrillers. Each of the author draw inspiration from different sources to create a new and unsettling story. I found most of the short stories to be an interesting to read. Three stories I didn't care for and stopped reading before I finished. However, I did enjoy reading most of the stories and trying to find out what the inspiration was for each short story. I would recommend this book for anyone who likes scary short stories.

 

Tuesday, February 9, 2021

Book Review - Craigslist Confessional: A Collection of Secrets from Anonymous Strangers by

 


Helena Dea Bala was exhausted and found herself isolated even though she was surrounded by people. One day, she decides to escape outside to take a break and finds herself splitting her lunch with a man who panhandles near her office. The pair chatted like old friends while they were eating. They were honest and open with each other as they didn't fear judgment. After their conversation, Helena felt free and connected in a way she hasn't felt in years. 

Inspired to help others, she posts an ad on Craiglist promising to listen to anyone anonymously for free. The speaker was allowed to talk freely without having any fear. They told secrets that they weren't able to share with anyone including loved ones.  Helena wasn't expecting much responses to come in but, she was surprised when her inbox was flooded with requests from people who were desperate to connect. She decided to defer her student loans, quit her job, and spend her time listening.

The book is a collection of forty people telling a moment in their lives that defined them. Some stories were heart warming and inspiring while, some were sad. I did find a few stories boring or disgusting (one person confessed to drinking his own pee) and I had to skip their story. While reading the book, I felt like I was getting a glimpse into someone's life and sometimes, I wish I knew more. I felt though at times, that the author or person might have embellished their story because it felt "too perfect" or "out there" to be true. However, after reading the book I been trying to be more understanding, empathetic, and patient with people.


Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Book Review - Rural Voices: 15 Authors Assumptions About Small-Town America by Nora Shalaway Carpenter + Giveaway

 


Gracie receives a scholarship for her hard work to attend a private school in South Carolina. When she is invited to a Halloween party, she feels like she can finally fit in with the rich kids until she discovers the theme of the party. Samuel's family stood up against oppression for generations but, now they are the source of oppression. A young Puerto Rican teen realizes that becoming a rodeo queen doesn't mean she needs to shed her heritage.

The collection contains 15 short stories portraying different points of view of people living in rural America. Many of the writers have faced demeaning comments or have been stereotyped based because of their culture and/or where they live. The book contains an assortment of different stories in the form of short stories, poetry, and graphic short stories from all over America. I enjoyed most of the stories but, a few didn't really engage in my interest. Some I thought was "interesting" and illustrated an important key listen, such as, judging people without knowing them. The collection had quite varied stories that there will be something for every reader.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

 



Hardcover : 336 pages
ISBN-10 : 1536212105
ISBN-13 : 978-1536212105
Publisher : Candlewick (October 13, 2020)
Language: : English

Praise for RURAL VOICES

The writers bring authentic voices to their work in addition to their biographies, shared at the back of the book. This collection will be a high-interest read for middle and high school students...This book is a must-purchase for libraries serving middle and high school readers. —School Library Connection

The compilation successfully meets the challenge of serving as a cohesive whole while providing readers with enough variety of tone, pace, and voice to keep the reading experience interesting. A fresh and highly accessible contribution. —Kirkus Reviews

From laughing out loud to holding back tears, readers who enjoy emotionally resonant books will not be disappointed. Those from similar geographic areas will be nodding their heads while every reader, regardless of location, will connect to the universal triumphs and tribulations of teen life. Fans of Rainbow Rowell will dive headfirst into this collection. A great addition that explores an often misrepresented portion of readers. —School Library Journal


Think you know what rural America is like? Discover a plurality of perspectives in this enlightening anthology of stories that turns preconceptions on their head.

Gracie sees a chance of fitting in at her South Carolina private school, until a "white trash"-themed Halloween party has her steering clear of the rich kids. Samuel's Tejano family has both stood up to oppression and been a source of it, but now he's ready to own his true sexual identity. A Puerto Rican teen in Utah discovers that being a rodeo queen means embracing her heritage, not shedding it. . . .

For most of America's history, rural people and culture have been casually mocked, stereotyped, and, in general, deeply misunderstood. Now an array of short stories, poetry, graphic short stories, and personal essays, along with anecdotes from the authors' real lives, dives deep into the complexity and diversity of rural America and the people who call it home. Fifteen extraordinary authors - diverse in ethnic background, sexual orientation, geographic location, and socioeconomic status - explore the challenges, beauty, and nuances of growing up in rural America. From a mountain town in New Mexico to the gorges of New York to the arctic tundra of Alaska, you'll find yourself visiting parts of this country you might not know existed - and meet characters whose lives might be surprisingly similar to your own.

CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS
Nora Shalaway Carpenter, David Bowles, Joseph Bruchac, Veeda Bybee, Shae Carys, S.A. Cosby, Rob Costello, Randy DuBurke, David Macinnis Gill, Nasugraq Rainey Hopson, Estelle Laure, Yamile Saied Méndez, Ashley Hope Pérez, Tirzah Price and Monica Roe 

You can purchase Rural Voices at the following Retailers:
        

Photo Credit: Chip Bryan

Nora Shalaway Carpenter grew up on a mountain ridge deep in the West Virginia wilderness. A graduate of Vermont College of Fine Arts’ MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults program, she is the author of the YA novel The Edge of Anything and the picture book Yoga Frog. Before she wrote books, she worked as associate editor of Wonderful West Virginia magazine, and she has been a certified yoga teacher since 2012. She currently lives in Asheville, North Carolina, with her husband, three young children, and world’s most patient dog and cat.

        
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