Review: Nailing the "Voice"
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 4, 2011
Warning! Spoiler. (but only for one little story from this collection.)Only read the first half of the stories but had to do a review. Enjoyed the first few stories and thought he was fantastic at conveying literary "voice."  At first I thought I might find the mood too unrelentingly sombre but then I read the story called "Day at the Beach." It gives the balance and one of the most uplifting stories I've read. They say that one of the greatest skills an author can possess is to nail the "voice" of childhood. Frank Mundo has done it in this story. It will haunt me for a long time in a delightful way.  If I were still teaching I'd go straight to school and try this one out on kids. I think they'd love all the BS from the big brother. I reckon they'd totally crack up. But don't get me wrong - these stories are for adults, though kids might enjoy that one.The unpredictability! After all the preceding stories, I thought the big brother intended to half drown him. WRONG! These kids are so real, so cool and so lovable yet wicked. I'm a convert.The "sensing" of the sea is perfect. This so nails the wildness, the scariness, the beauty of the ocean and all through the wondering eyes of childhood.Now I'm off to read the stories I haven't even got to yet.