Review: Short and snappy wins the day
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 7, 2013
It's always great to watch a terrific new talent at the start of his/her career. Rebecca Scarberry began with a novella (or, I'd say, a short novel) starring--you ready?--a pigeon. And the author turned some heads with her blend of YA/Mystery/Suspense/Humor. Now, for her follow-up, she's scaled back still further in length: a short story that can be read easily in a single sitting. Rag Doll tells a story of love, infidelity, betrayal and loss with great simplicity and power...then caps it off with a twist worthy of O. Henry.Scaling back in length can be a wise decision for writers who are mastering their craft. It's not uncommon for best-sellers who've produced tight, controlled first novels, to produce books that grow at the waste-line--almost as if the authors had forgotten what they knew. In scaling back, this author seized the chance to nail down the narrative basics, pacing and tone before moving on to her first full-length novel.I enjoyed this sprint immensely--and look forward to her first marathon run.