Review: Two Stories About Life Choices- Worthy and Intriguing Reads
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 3, 2012
This was a small anthology of two short stories with one of them being a contemporary allegory and the other contemporary fiction.  They have the common link of two guys being faced with life choices, what they choose and the results of their choices. Both stories in their own ways were challenging to read and stayed with me afterwards giving me reason to pause and reflect on my own life (yeah, they're those kinds of stories).The BeachThe Beach is the story of a man, Allen, who lives along a stretch of beach in Florida.  He loves the beach, but is angered by how visitors to the beach seem to invade his privacy and trash the beach.  One day he finds an object that reveals a way for him to have anything he desires in exchange for him paying something worthy in return for it.  Naturally his thoughts go immediately toward his beach.  He wants it all to himself and determines that anything is worth that cost.  But is it?The story is an allegory with Efil, his 'gift', Allen, the beach and the contract all acting as symbols.  It is a story with a profound lesson for all of us and it is a worthy tale that challenges us to take stock of our thinking particularly as we make each life decision.  It is short, but it isn't light or sunny so keep that in mind if you choose to read it.  I recognized much of what was about to happen just from the foreshadowing of the story that the reader sees, but Allen- because he is obsessed- just blunders along without seeing.  The omniscience of seeing the outcome did not make it a boring read because of the air of mystery surrounding the background of Efil and the why I kept wondering behind Efil's little life contract game.  A worthy, challenging read!Short TimeShort Time picks up at the midway point after a man makes a life changing decision.  He was given the opportunity to eat, drink and make merry for six months and then he would be handing over his life for future unknown use.  The six month party is over and now its time to pay.The man finds himself in a temporary holding cell with four days of 'conditioning' for his assignment.  He meets with a man name Jake who is only there to monitor him before he is sent off to perform his responsibilities.  The man finds now that it comes down to it that he finds the suspense of not knowing what he has signed on for is driving him into desperation so he all but begs and then connives to know what is to come.  Jake debates with wondering whether knowing or not knowing is best for him.  And once he knows?While this one was not an allegory, it still was a challenge to the reader to take stock.  Decisions always have consequences.  And is the choice, once made, worth it?  I found this a fascinating, psychological read because of how it was told first person with only two characters and almost one setting that is stark and unremarkable, but yet that's forces all the focus on the main character's thoughts and his antagonist Jake.  While I was drawn in by the plot of a guy who signed away his life just for a short six month orgy, my interest was held because I wanted to know almost as much as he what the payment would be.  He seemed to think it was selling himself as a government man, but like the first story, there was enough of a hesitation in Jake to keep me wondering if he got it right.  Now Jake, wow!  Jake was the character that actually fascinated me more though there is little to go on.  He was hard and cold and he had to be to do what he was doing, but yet-And the ending proved to me that Jake was indeed the guy to truly be watching in all of this.  Tough, but good read.One thing else I should mention.  I found all the extra notes added to the end of the stories well worth reading because they really helped understand the stories.Both stories can be read easily in one sitting and I recommend them heartily to those who enjoy thought provoking reads.