Review: Sharp, edgy, sometimes witty and often gritty... short story that weaves a spell. Worth the read.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 20, 2014
Not always a fan of short fiction, but this is the ind of short that makes me love it. Love a lyrical oft edgy writing style and the gritty disconsolate look at the harsh reality of various humans was worth the read (however dispiriting). The story is generally witty with an edge; think black humor and clever, amidst depressing and dark scenes of people living desperate little lives. The author's prose style is natural and quite engaging. In as few as several paragraphs, the characters--which change by the chapter--sometimes arc, or transform, in the very short course of the story that is theirs to inhabit. There was a slice-of-life, Neil Simonesque meets Jack Kerouac style to the often poetic and naturally flowing prose. Although the story seemed to focus on characters who reside or dabble in the seamy side of reality, there was at least one character (Paddy) who, although down-trodden and essentially in the gutter himself, expressed noble characteristics such as kindness and human decency and another character that he interacted with was changed by that. Happy reading~*