Review: Relaxing Wonderful Read
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 29, 2014
Dianne Ascroft has definitely mastered the art of writing short stories, and this is evident in her collection Dancing Shadows, Tramping Hooves: A Collection of Short Stories. From the very first story, the reader is transported to a world where people live a simple life and are fascinated by shadows of what was, is and will be within their lives. The stories are simple yet very well written.  They provide a good view of the simple life in Ireland, that seemingly magical land across the sea and Toronto, our delightful neighbor to the north. In one, a woman longs to belong to her new country, only to find out she really did not need to search any farther. In another, a mother soothes her children as they batten down the hatches at home while a fierce storm brews outside. In another, a young woman remembers her life at home while packing up to return to her new home across the ocean. I found myself mesmerized by these simple stories.  They are well written and just long enough to have a start, middle and finish. Writing short stories is not as easy as it would seem, for the author has to cram an awful lot into a short time and space to satisfy the reader, but this author has managed to do so marvelously. At the same, time, the stories are charming and interesting to read.  Anyone who enjoys good writing and wants to relax with a bit of Ireland will enjoy these stories. My only regret is that there are not more of them to read and enjoy.