A fekking brilliant short story collection.
A two sentence review would look like this...
A fekking brilliant short story collection. Or to put it eloquently - bloody marvellous.
And a slightly longer review...
I loved this book so much. I never re-read short stories or books, at least not since I was a kid, because there are so many books in my to read pile, and so many books I need to buy, and so many stories online, but I've found myself picking up Tiny Deaths again and again and trying to examine its brilliance.
The thing that stood out for me was the characterisation, sure the stories were weird and brilliant (but I read lots of weird, brilliant stories and write lots of weird stories), but the author had a knack of making me care about the protagonists and antagonists almost immediately, like within a paragraph. A damn paragraph and I'm already rooting for them. Now that's talent. He even made me love Hitler's dog.
Yeah, that's right, Hitler's dog.
Favourite stories were Mortal Coil, Perfect, Ashes to Ash, Stuff We Leave Behind, Favourite and Tiny Deaths. The book shall be leaving my greasy hands tomorrow because I need to pass on its magic. I suspect it's travelling to a worthy home. Of course, that's if I remember to put it in my bag.
8 comments:
ooh nice review. Makes me want to buy, thanks for the tip.
Brilliant compilation of stories. Second book of stories Love Songs for the Shy and Cynical from Big Finnish Books. Third book Everyon's Just So Special now available from Big Finnish Books.
You're welcome, Deborah.
I knew about Love Songs but not the other, thanks Anon.
The title kicks ass : )
Okay, character-oriented short fiction? Hell, it doesn't even have to be totally brilliant, that's like a huge bonus.
I'm in.
Only read 'Love Songs For The Shy And Cynical' so far, but that is a fantastic collection. Had the pleasure of hearing Rob read some of his stories live as well- one from 'Love Songs' and one from the new collection. He really is fantastic- he writes stories that feel quite light and whimsical at first, and which, then, suddenly, aren't. Bit like yours really! :)
It does, Natalie (ditto the book)
:D Katey
I've now moved onto the book you gave me - Jonathan Carrol's The Panic Hand - loving it so far.
Hmm. Going to have to check this out.
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