Review: "a freakish spectacle of craving"
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 08 25, 2012
Lady of the Burlesque Ballet (Kindle Single) (Pshares Singles)by Timothy Schaffert was a moody, pensive little story for me tonight. Sometimes I enjoy reading a short story that wants to sit and linger with me for awhile, long after I've finished reading, and this was such a story. I found Irish to be quite a sad and needful character, poor and hungry, begging not just for food but craving love and care, too, wanting to be wanted. As the blurb states, we see Irish morph throughout her life, shrinking and expanding, all due to emotional influence and that ever-present need to fill an empty spot inside herself.With a definite melancholy feel to it, this short story is quite well-written, with Irish a layered and deep character from beginning to end. The author showed me Irish, depicting her in a tender way, easily and not heavy-handedly showing me need and flaw within her, making me care for her and about what happened to her. It's a touching story that will sit with you, maybe make you feel a bit lonely, a bit sad, but it will also leave you feeling as if you read something very much worth reading, and worth thinking about.