Review: No Short Cuts At The Cutting Edge.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 6, 2012
If Kindle can re-kindle the fire and heat of the short story then this is the collection that may do it. I came across Claude Nougat when I stumbled on her blog. She exudes balanced insightful journalism in a clear style which is a joy to read. This collection has the same clear prose style - but WOW - do not expect a smooth experience. The stories range across the territory of family, ideology, lust, social class, deception and on and on towards a blood red vanishing point of human interaction. It has a very "Roman" feel at times which took me to where I sometimes stand in the centre of the amphitheatre in Saintes, France. The show is about conflict, loyalty and beliefs. Forces will clash in some stories. In others the struggle is more subtle, touched by guilt yet driven by anger. These are crafted tales that will turn your coffee break into a ristretto snap. These are modern of the minute stories from a classic short story writer.