Review: Tales that make you stop and think
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 16, 2012
I'm a short story fan. They are their own singular art, as distinct from the novel as they are from haiku.  Mathew McFarland's 50/50 and Other Stories is a fine collection of eleven little gems, all set in either Ireland or Scotland.  Some, like the tale of the man who ran into a burning building, have an O. Henry-like twist.  Some read like reflections or slice-of-life, while others--like the tale of a census taker--you hope are purely the figment of the author's fertile imagination.  This  book is a perfect read for the commute on the train or sitting alone in a coffee shop.  None of the stories are very long, but each holds your attention.  I look forward to Mr. McFarland's next collection.