Margaret Atwood's name always comes up with her most popular work, The Handmaid's Tale, which I haven't read and nor was planning to since hypes of an Margaret Atwood's name always comes up with her most popular work, The Handmaid's Tale, which I haven't read and nor was planning to since hypes of any kind repel me. I stumbled across Stone Mattress while searching for some quick short stories to read and now my old prejudice is standing a bit awkwardly in the background.
It's a fifteen minute reading time, tops. It's thoroughly engaging--I couldn't focus on my episode of The Walking Dead and ended up reading the entire short story before getting back to the series I wonder why I watch. Terrifying suspense and a terrifying heroine tie up in the elegantly worded work.
Recommended for every reader. Read it for free here: 3.5/5...more
After the title of this story grabbed my attention, the art-work and synopsis enticed it further.
The Water That Falls on You from Nowhere is a drama tAfter the title of this story grabbed my attention, the art-work and synopsis enticed it further.
The Water That Falls on You from Nowhere is a drama that can categorize into the genre of Bizarro. The simple fantasy theme belying it is that there's a downpour on every person who utters a lie and, depending on the severity of a lie, can turn into a drizzle, humidity, or even a torrent. The science and visual information behind this phenomenon has been denied to the readers because the sole focus is on the concept of truth and lies, and it is quite nicely delivered.
I am, perhaps, turning a bit biased towards Chinese authors because they have seemed to display exceptional skills of instigating emotional vibes in me through very simple words. I will, for the umpteenth time, mention The Paper Menagerie by Ken Liu, which started off my obsessive chain of short-reads.
The Water That Falls on You From Nowhere (it is a pain to type but so lovely to pronounce) is a drama detailing themes of homosexuality, familial relationships, cultural restrictions and language barrier. That's a lot of subjects in one short story and, yet, they're all present with equal voracity.
In conclusion, this is an extremely engaging read, well written, and sensationally appealing. I recommend this to anyone who has 15 spare minutes where they don't know what to do next in life. Oh and, you can read it for free here: ...more
Ever since reading The Paper Menagerie, I grew a new-found, desperate desire for short-stories. As I ran a quick search on Google for some of the bestEver since reading The Paper Menagerie, I grew a new-found, desperate desire for short-stories. As I ran a quick search on Google for some of the best short literary works, I randomly chose Virginia Woolf off the list.
I expected Mrs. Dalloway to have been my first Virginia Woolf experience, but it did not turn out so. A Haunted House is such a captivating title in itself, but it's rather misleading because it has nothing to do with being creepy, instead, a lot to do with love and nostalgia. I like the point of view through which the narration was done--that of the house's living occupants, observing the house's previous and dead occupants.
What really struck me, however, was the nature of prose this was penned in. It was poetic and less fit for a proper paragraph full of writing. The sentences were short and quick, carrying a sense of urgency in them. I am not sure I liked that style of writing and I hope that Mrs Dalloway, currently lying on my TV shelf, is written in a more wholesome manner.
That aside, there's a whole plunder of short fiction out there that I need to go through and most of my next reviews will probably be those of short-stories. ...more
Short-stories are always great for emergency reading if you find you have a few minutes to spare, perhaps while waiting for your dentist's appointmentShort-stories are always great for emergency reading if you find you have a few minutes to spare, perhaps while waiting for your dentist's appointment, and would want to have an experience of another realm. The Monkey's Paw allowed me to do just that.
With a classical narrative and a tone that suits the sobriety of the story, it's one that holds a moralistic value and aims to warn its reader about and against greed and selfishness. It kept me hooked and I recommend it to every classical or/and short-literature reader....more
My foray into the short-stories world has been limited and I've mostly read those of Jefferey Archer, who has several collections of enjoyable shorts My foray into the short-stories world has been limited and I've mostly read those of Jefferey Archer, who has several collections of enjoyable shorts published. Nonetheless, while I think short-stories are nice because they tell you an entire story in a very small amount of time, I was always of the opinion that they lack enough power to deliver emotional blows or character attachments. Until I read The Paper Menagerie.
It takes on the story of Jack, a Chinese-American, who feels alienated and discriminated in that one land of bigotry because of his Mother's Chinese blood. And, of course, there's a delightful array of origami animals involved, which gives the short a more magical feeling. However, the accolades are all given to its beautiful, clear narration and a big punch to your emotional bag. It succeeded in making me tearful: something only Disney Classics have boasted of ever achieving.
Highly recommended. Instant favourite. It lasts no more than 15 minutes and I only wish it was just a bit longer....more
I've never wondered so deeply about the walks of our universe in 22 years of my life as much as I have in the span of barely fifMind blown in 5 pages.
I've never wondered so deeply about the walks of our universe in 22 years of my life as much as I have in the span of barely fifteen minutes, which began with me opening this story and ended with me finishing it.
There is no proper review for me to provide to do justice to a book this short-lived and astounding. Read it and you'll know it....more
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