Review: Dark, compelling stories and poems
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 25, 2013
There are writers who stand out from the crowd. L.M. Stull is one of those writers. I read a lot of books, but not many of them are able to keep me interested and make me feel compelled to read in this way. Not only that, but I was totally engrossed in the stories and really sensing the characters' emotions, and understanding them. L.M. Stull takes the reader to some dark places with this collection of short stories and poems. Reading the collection was almost like reading someone's private diary. The characters' feelings seem real, the characters could be real people. Themes include: abuse, secrets, revenge, betrayal, and regret. At the end of the collection, there is a short story told in about 9 chapters, so it's almost a mini-novella. In this story we follow two different characters, in what is, in essence, a love story.One of my favourites in the collection, only because it totally surprised me at the end, is, 'The Things You Keep To Yourself'.'The Bus' is another stand-out story; very poignant.I enjoyed all the stories, and poems. There is a realism, sometimes quite dark, that pervades the writing.Having read this collection, I am looking forward to reading more from this talented author. If you're looking for a new writer to try, you must pick up a book by L.M. Stull. Her literary skills are exemplary. Definitely an author to look out for.