In these short stories, ordinary people grapple with matters of love, death, and fear:
– A talented artist is determined to fulfill her destiny even as her time runs out. – A father learns that love may not be enough. – A troubled young girl meets a pair of runaways and her life, and theirs, are forever changed. – A becomes frighteningly aware of his own vulnerability with disastrous consequences. – A newlywed couple have their new lives shattered by an act of violence, but deal with it in very different ways. – A grieving man learns that if the past can be rewritten, he may not have a place in it. – And a child’s life hangs in the balance as those who love her most must decide if she can be saved–or is even alive.
These characters confront their everyday horrors with extraordinary courage and heartbreaking fragility in D.Bayar’s collection of short but powerful stories.
"the topics the stories cover are raw and the characters brilliantly real. Ranging from Slice of Life to Urban to Sci-Fi, this collection is suggested - no, recommended - for those who like good writing."
Reviewer: Reader for Bookangel.
Many of these stories are the slice of life type that would not usually appeal to me, but the topics they cover are raw and the characters brilliantly real. Ranging in genre from Slice of Life to Urban to Sci-Fi, this collection is suggested - no, recommended - for those who like good writing.
For me the high spots were the first and last stories. The first is a debate over what to do with a child created as part of an experiment when funding runs out - and they aren't sure if she is really alive anyway. The last features a brilliant illustrator and her partner hounded by small town America, which is excellently observed. I know people who went through that crap after moving to small towns: lovely area and nice people as long as you toe the line. The author has captured the frustration, helplessness, and anger completely.
The first story is a group debate over the nature of sentience. It's wonderfully written and with multiple characters each comes across distinctly. Which brings me to the last story in this book, and all I can say is
Breathless.
The last story in this left me breathless. It's...I...all I can say is just read it.The mechanics of hate are laid out so clearly, yet all these people would say they were good people while doing and supporting the unconscionable.
