Tag: literary fiction

Elephants in the Room by Betty Jane Hegerat Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Author Betty Jane Hegerat shares a collection of short stories that explore the regrets and lessons people learn in life in the book “Elephants in the Room.”

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The Synopsis

Fourteen jewel-like stories unveil the tender chaos of lives unlived and loves unspoken

In Elephants in the Room, Betty Jane Hegerat masterfully uncovers the quiet fractures of ordinary lives—the unspoken regrets, the buried griefs, and the fragile threads of connection that bind families across generations.

From a devoted son’s frantic dash to help his mother glimpse the Queen to a reluctant father’s stunned reunion with the daughter he never knew, from a woman dressing her mother-in-law for an eternal rest to a boy’s guilty reckoning with a bully’s untimely death, these unforgettable stories illuminate the elephants in our lives we ignore at our peril.

With tender wit and unflinching insight, Hegerat explores the weight of what we leave unsaid: the ache of lost chances, the solace of small mercies, and the stubborn grit that carries us through. As poignant as a stolen glance, as resonant as a half-forgotten lullaby, the stories in Elephants in the Room whisper the unvarnished secrets of family ties—where regrets loom large, and small acts of grace light the way home.

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The Review

These stories have such a significant impact on the reader. The relatability and depth of emotion each story brings to life are fantastic, and the vivid imagery it uses really brings the settings and characters to life on the page. The versatility of the characters and the way each felt unique and different from those in previous stories made the narrative’s pacing feel fast-paced and the atmosphere enveloping. 

The heart of the story was the introspective journey each story took readers on. The story Jawbreaker stood out, as the reader is presented with a tense parental situation that a great-grandmother witnesses. The story not only highlighted the tension and wrongs both parties were part of, but also the feeling of helplessness in a situation with no winners and a child caught in the middle. This story reflected the open-ended nature of many of these stories, as if catching snapshots of people’s lives in a moment in time.

The Verdict

Thought-provoking, engaging, and memorable, author Betty Jane Hegerat’s “Elephants in the Room” is a must-read anthology of unforgettable genre fiction stories. The creativity and the relatability of these characters and their stories will resonate with so many readers and keep them engaged until the final story’s end. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Calgary author Betty Jane Hegerat was a social worker in a long-ago life. The stories she has written since she left that career behind reflect an ongoing need to make sense of conflict and chaos in relationships, and to find moments of laughter and even glimmers of redemption. That seriousness aside, she loves the Calgary writing community. She has taught at the Alexandra Writers’ Centre, Fernie Writers’ Conference, for Continuing Education at the U of C, and was Writer in Residence for the Calgary Public Library. In 2015 she was honoured to receive the Writers Guild of Alberta Golden Pen Award for lifetime achievement in writing. Betty Jane’s stories have been published in anthologies and magazines. She has five previous books: a novel, Running Toward Home (Newest Press), collection of stories, A Crack in the Wall (Oolichan Books), another novel, Delivery (Oolican Books), and two YA novels, Odd One Out (Oolichan Books) and The Boy (Oolichan Books). The Boy is a French braid of investigative journalism, fiction, memoir, and meta-fiction. The book was shortlisted for the Calgary Book Prize, High Plains Book Awards, and Alberta Writers Guild Wilfrid Eggleston Non-Fiction award.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/elephants-in-the-room-betty-jane-hegerat/1147028155?ean=9781998273485

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The Harvesting of Haystacks Kane by Steve Schlam Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A broken and used man must contemplate the truth behind his own existence in author Steve Schlam’s “The Harvesting of Haystacks Kane.”

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The Synopsis

Haystacks Kane is a professional wrestler. A 607-pound professional wrestler. He has been preyed upon, handled, his innate kindness and gentle good nature harvested by unscrupulous promoters and his conniving manager, an ex-wife and fellow denizens of the seamy netherworld he inhabits, the ravenous crowds with a thirst for violent cheap thrills-and sometimes for blood.

Now, gravely injured and unable to speak, he lies motionless in his hospital bed, immobilized, his body broken. Visitors from his past and present enter and leave the room-or perhaps only his disordered inner world. They offer up counterpoint to his own silent ruminations as he drifts in and out of consciousness seeking to uncover the deeper truth of his existence, rummaging through the trunk of his memories to discover exactly what ‘it’ is-the ‘it’ that has deprived him of his wife, taken every member of his family from him, laid him low, and the ‘it’ that will release him from the bonds of his history and transport him to Greece, the Eden he dreams of, his true self set free at last.

The novel’s final moments prompt the reader to decide for him- or herself what Haystacks’ ultimate fate will be-a decision that will reveal in turn the reader’s own worldview, where he or she can be found on the continuum of hope vs. fear.

The Review

What instantly stood out in this story was the unique writing style the author deployed here, giving readers a stream of consciousness style of writing that really did a fantastic job of invoking that sense of an out-of-body experience that someone in the hospital, either in a coma or on death’s door can experience as they dip in and out of memories and the present day. The narrative’s reflective nature was a direct result of this writing style, and the reader was left reeling with emotion and curiosity about Haystack’s journey that brought him to this pivotal moment.

The concepts of legacy and dreams are well-woven into this narrative. Haystacks and his ambitions, and how others manipulate those ambitions and good intentions to use him, are pivotal to the story. The introspective nature of his time reflecting on those choices and the purpose of his life overall is a stark reminder for everyone to live life with intention and no regrets, and to consider the path we tread every day carefully.

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The Verdict

Heartfelt, thought-provoking, and engaging, author Steve Schlam’s “The Harvesting of Haystacks Kane” is a must-read literary fiction novel. The profound emotional depth and compelling character study this narrative offers, and the skillful, almost haunting writing style and detailed imagery the author pours into it, will keep readers invested until the book’s contemplative, open-ended finale. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

STEVE SCHLAM first gained entry to the City of Words through the doors of the public library in Brooklyn, New York, where he was born and spent a good part of his childhood; and has maintained his residency ever since while living in cities and towns across the United States and in Mexico. An actor as well as an author, he has performed on stages in all the places he has called home, and earned a Master’s Degree in Creative Writing and English under the tutelage of Joseph Heller, renowned author of “Catch-22.” He lives currently in Southern California in a pretty little Craftsman bungalow with orange and lemon trees growing in the backyard, in the company of his wife, Liora. “The Harvesting of Haystacks Kane” is his first published novel.

https://www.steveschlam.com/

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https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-harvesting-of-haystacks-kane-steve-schlam/1145014270?ean=9781926716701

Can I Have a Hug First? By Mary Paula Hunter Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A unique blend of humor and tragedy comes to life as author Mary Paula Hunter turns years’ worth of performance art into short stories in the collection “Can I Have a Hug First?”

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The Synopsis 

CAN I HAVE A HUG FIRST? is a short story collection born out of author Mary Paula Hunter’s career as a performance artist. Her monologues turned short stories feature midlife adults struggling to align their crazy minds with an equally crazy world. Hilarious and tragic in a high energy mix, these stories will get the reader questioning what came first— the whacked mind or the whacked world?

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The Review

What a powerful and memorable read. The author establishes a tone of humor and realism in the narrative of each story very early, showcasing the haunting realities that so many women have to face on any given day and how some people cope with those realities. The originality and artistry behind the prose the author utilizes will stay with readers within each story, as the tension in each story is undercut by humorous dialogue or observations of the everyday life people encounter during these situations.

The themes and feelings of strength and paranoia in each story resonate with the harsh experiences that so many women are left to face. The unique delivery of the stories as an almost first-person monologue in a way allowed the reader to feel as if these stories represented personal conversations between the reader and the author. The titular story is an excellent example of this, with the narrator gradually becoming more and more afraid as she has strange encounters and is soon face to face with a unique outcome. 

The Verdict

Thoughtful, performative, and engaging author Mary Paula Hunter’s “Can I Have a Hug First?” is a must-read fiction and speculative fiction genre. The poignant and carefully crafted narrative behind each story and the rich character dynamics built in such a short amount of time in each story made the collection both relatable and alive on the page. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Mary Paula Hunter is a writer living in Providence, Rhode Island. She received early praise for her writing when as a dancer and choreographer, she told stories about her eccentric Midwestern family while she danced.

Laurie Stone, in the now-defunct VILLAGE VOICE wrote that Mary Paula’s writing was brilliant. Jennifer Dunning in THE NEW YORK TIMES also praised her hybrid work, especially the honest storytelling.  Finally the writing won out… although she still creates dances (mainly in her kitchen), and works on performance art projects.

Visit Mary Paula Hunter’s Performance website.

https://www.marypaulahunterwrites.com/

See you In Eden: The Short Stories of Leonid Pekarovsky by Leonid Pekarovsky Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Author Leonid Pekarovsky’s short stories are brought to the English language and showcases the struggles of life through the lens of Judaism, Israeilism, and European views in the collection “See you In Eden.”

The Synopsis

One of Israel’s most distinctive literary voices is showcased in this collection of short stories that are alternately profound, insightful, entertaining, and surprising. Leonid Pekarovsky’s short stories will make you weep, laugh, and shake your head in amazement.

“See You in Eden” is the first English collection of literary short stories penned by one of Israel’s premier masters of the format. With the unique perspective of an immigrant, Leonid Pekarovsky views the surreal, beautiful, and often touching constant struggle of life in modern Israel. Drawing from his own experiences and struggles, Pekarovsky blends the cultural traditions of Europe, Judaism, and Israelism to create a rich tapestry of illuminating and always surprising short stories.

Leonid Pekarovsky broke into the Israeli literary sphere when his short story “Broom,” which describes his spiritual struggles and ultimate elevation while cleaning the streets of Tel Aviv, was accepted for publication in one of the country’s premier literary supplements. Since then, he has regularly published his tales, released several Hebrew collections, and achieved international success with his short stories appearing in various magazines in Russian and English.

“See You in Eden” makes this important Jewish literary voice available to English-language readers for the first time. Pekarovsky skillfully blends the fantastic and the realistic, the diasporic experience with the Sabra experience, and the constant struggle to find the sublime and the artistic even when faced with life’s most dire circumstances, cynicism, and cold necessities.

The Review

It’s such a moving and profound read. The author has found the perfect voice and captured the culture and heart of life in Israel. The honesty and the balance of surrealism with the truthful reality that many face in modern Israeli culture will resonate with many readers who have experienced this firsthand and give others a unique insight into this world. The Jewish culture and the author’s life as a Ukrainian immigrant were also distinct and engaging aspects of these stories.

One story in particular, The Umbrella, really hit a special note for me as a reader. The story speaks of themes of identity, purpose, and the work that we do to fund our passions. The idea of someone or something losing purpose when not being used or utilized and the idea that something can find purpose once again made this a memorable story.

The Verdict

Thoughtful, memorable, and engaging author Leonid Pekarovsky’s “See You In Eden” is a must-read literary fiction and collection of short stories. The artful, almost poetic way the author examines life through these stories and the diversity that the author exudes through this work will stay with readers long after the book ends. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

About the Author

Born in Kiev, Ukraine, Leonid Pekarovsky is a writer, journalist and art critic.

Pekarovsky served in the Red Army before studying art theory and history at the Fine Arts Institute in Kiev. He worked for the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture for many years, where he organized art exhibitions both in the USSR and worldwide.

His essays on art theory and history have been published in professional journals.

After he immigrated to Israel in 1991, he worked as a gardener and a printer and, in 1995, became a security guard until he recently retired to focus on his writing.

His stories and novellas have been printed in the Russian press as well as in the Haaretz Culture and Literature Supplement. His first book, Broom and Other Stories, was published in 2012. His second book, A Parabola of Success, was published in 2015.

His third short story collection, Ten Agorot, published in 2018, was shortlisted for the prestigious Israeli Sapir Prize.

This Kind of Man by Sean Murphy

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Author Sean Murphy shares a series of short stories exploring what it is to be a man in this world in the book “This Kind of Man”.

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The Synopsis

THIS KIND OF MAN offers an unvarnished look at life in 21st Century America, excavating the complicated, tender, wild truth of what it is to be a man across generations and relationships.

These stories interrogate the pressures and tensions of late-stage capitalism, and the ways men grapple with them, often without success. Issues such as marriage, fatherhood, aggression, alcoholism, gender expectations, generational backlash, and the inexorable dread of death, abound.

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The Review

One of the most profound aspects of this modern world is the discussion around gender and “what it is to be a man.” While I have taken a viewpoint that gender norms are nothing but social constructs, constantly changing depending on the era. Yet, as this book so artfully explores, gender norms for men, in particular, have always stemmed from some hard-hitting truths. What I think the author does brilliantly here is write stories that don’t serve as excuses but as insightful nods towards the circle of repeated behavior that has instilled anger and a sense of rash actions within men, more so now than ever. 

Each story was witty yet engaging, skirting the line between comfort and disturbance as the stories explored the many aspects of being a man in this world. Ironically, the emotional depth and honesty with which the author presented each story, and the exploration of troubling behavior linked to toxic family situations, a history of alcoholism, and unrealistic expectations of power and fortune placed on men from an early age, with a faux knowledge that people will view them as weak somehow if they don’t shut out their emotions and focus on career over family and emotions. 

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The Verdict

Vulnerable, heartfelt, and engaging author Sean Murphy’s “This Kind of Man” is a must-read collection of short stories. The author explores manhood and masculinity and how these men and their struggles impact the women around them. In doing so, he captures the mindset of many post-war American men and the often tragic circumstances between a father and their son and the relationship they form. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Sean Murphy is the Founding Director of 1455, a non-profit that celebrates storytelling. He has appeared on NPR’s “All Things Considered” and been quoted in USA Today, The New York Times, The Huffington Post, and AdAge. A long-time columnist for PopMatters, his work has also appeared in Salon, The Village Voice, Washington City Paper, The Good Men Project, Sequestrum, Blue Mountain Review, and others. His chapbook, The Blackened Blues, was published by Finishing Line Press in 2021. His second collection of poems, Rhapsodies in Blue was published by Kelsay Books in 2023, and This Kind of Man, his first collection of short fiction, is forthcoming in 2024. He has been nominated four times for the Pushcart Prize, twice for Best of Net, and his book Please Talk about Me When I’m Gone was the winner of Memoir Magazine’s 2022 Memoir Prize. To learn more, and read his published short fiction, poetry, and criticism, please visit seanmurphy.net/ and @bullmurph.

The Angle of Vanishing Stability by Sally Lee Stewart Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A woman must come to terms with her difficult past to find balance within herself in author Sally Lee Stewart’s “The Angle of Vanishing Stability”.

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The Synopsis

A vessel can heel to one side, but at a certain point, it will no longer balance above water—and it capsizes. This is the angle of vanishing stability.

Thea West, a Northern Californian teenager growing up in the late sixties and early seventies, is one of five daughters trying to stay afloat amid the psychologically catastrophic dynamic between her parents—a covert and commanding mother and an ocean-yachtsman father. A talented sailor and businessman, Mr. West suffers from crippling alcoholism, with frequent rages that mask his fragility. Thea longs to know how to sail, but in her world, traversing the water is a skill that belongs only to men, and she’s terrified to ask her larger-than-life father to teach her.

When her father’s demons drive him to a new low, Thea isn’t sure if she can ever learn to forgive. She strikes out from home in search of love and self, running from what she views as the problem—her father and his hold on her family. As Thea falls in and out of affairs, marriages, and jobs, her travels take her from New York to Nicaragua and finally back to California. There, she must reckon with the legacy of her father’s love and failure and decide whether she’ll let her past capsize her future—or if she can finally find balance with a life of her choosing.

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The Review

This was such a compelling and engaging read. The author does a remarkable job setting the stage for this narrative, exploring the themes of familial relationships, identity, and living a balanced life naturally and honestly throughout the narrative. The heart and emotional struggle the protagonist endures throughout her life and the journey that she goes on that takes her to parts unknown, only to return her home once more, made this feel like such a complete and thoughtful moment in the protagonist’s life. 

The heart of this narrative rested in the character-driven story the author told.  The book perfectly fits the genre fiction outline, giving an honest and depth-filled plot that allows the characters to shine and determine their path. Readers will be able to see not only themselves in these characters at some point but also people in their own lives in these characters, allowing the reader to connect further to the overall story.

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The Verdict

Thought-provoking, honest, and engaging author Sally Lee Stewart’s “The Angle of Vanishing Stability” is a must-read narrative. The twists and turns in the story, the emotional experiences and dialogue, especially those that define the protagonist and her father’s relationship, and the full-circle journey she goes on will keep readers heavily invested in this story. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Sally Lee Stewart is a fourth-generation Californian and elementary education specialist. She lives on a cooperatively grazed ten-acre farm in the coastal hills of Northern California and sails on the San Francisco Bay. “The Angle of Vanishing Stability” is her first novel.

https://www.sallyleestewartauthor.com/book

Ostraca: East-West by Matt Duggan Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A young man struggling with the loss of his parents travels from New York to Los Angeles in author Matt Duggan’s “Ostraca: East-West”, the first book in The Rosy Dream series. 

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The Synopsis

Set against the backdrop of the 1990s pre-internet era, Ostraca follows the poignant journey of Jack Darmody, a Generation Xer grappling with the tragic loss of his parents. As Jack embarks on a solitary road trip from New York to Los Angeles, he is confronted by his past and the existential questions that haunt him. Through a series of misadventures and heartaches, Jack wrestles with the meaning of existence, ultimately finding solace in the transformative power of love. Ostraca is the first novel in Duggan’s The Rosy Dream series. The second novel in the trilogy, In Extremis, will be published in May 2024.

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The Review

This was such a heartfelt and transformative coming-of-age story. The author does an incredible job of delving into an era of adventure that stood just at the edge of the upcoming wave of technology and the internet. In a time before Google Maps, Waze, Uber, and more, travelers had to rely on maps, directions given by locals, and much more rudimentary means. The author was able to tap into this atmosphere and showcase the rich setting of both the states the protagonist traveled through and the era itself.

The heart of this narrative is the personal journey that the protagonist, Jack, took. The grieving that came with the loss of his parents, the hardships he witnessed his Aunt endure, and the journey that he put himself through to not only discover what he wanted out of life but also reconnect with who he was made this story come to life and brought a sense of adventure and even spirituality to the overall story. 

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The Verdict

Remarkable, thought-provoking, and engaging author Matt Duggan’s Ostraca: East-West is a must-read travel fiction and literary fiction novel. The first in a new series, the author’s harmonious writing style and ability to connect readers with profound and relatable characters will keep readers enthralled until the very last page. If you haven’t yet, make sure you grab yourself a copy of this moving story today.

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Matt Duggan lives in Los Angeles, California and is an award-winning writer and director.

He graduated from Boston College with degrees in English and Communications.

Matt was one of the first members of the legendary Annex Film Group, a film cooperative based in Los Angeles that produced sixteen award-winning short films that have played in theaters around the world and won numerous awards.

Matt’s first feature film, Inverse, which he produced, wrote and directed, won numerous awards during a yearlong film festival tour. Inverse is now available on Amazon Prime.

Matt has had several of his short stories appear in publications including The Menacing Hedge and The Literary Hatchet. Matt plans to release the next novel in his “The Rosy Dream” series in May, 2024. It is titled “In Extremis” and chronicles the continuing misadventures and revelations of Jack Darmody.

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Take the Lively Air by Mick Bennett Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

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A simple traffic accident begins a rage-filled confrontation between two families set against the backdrop of toxic culture in American society in the book “Take the Lively Air” by Mick Bennett.

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The Synopsis

In Take the Lively Air, a minor traffic collision escalates into a confrontation between two families haunted by their pasts and apprehensive of their futures. Rage and regret butt heads against the background of America’s toxic cultural climate. But saner voices discover that human frailties are best viewed through the microscope of compassion, and our common humanity must be acknowledged to make way for our futures.

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The Review

This was a thoughtful and beautifully crafted novel. The way the past and present clash with one another and come to a chaotic halt in the course of this one accident really allows the tension and atmosphere to climb and settle over the reader. The wonderful use of imagery in the author’s narrative allowed the vibrant settings along the New Jersey beach to come to life on the page, and bring that relatability that the narrative has.

The heart of this story has to be in the character growth this story holds. The story perfectly examines the complex family dynamics that can be found in a modern home, while also showcasing how the past and the ghosts of that past can impact our present and how we treat one another as well. The steps the protagonist takes to make amends and see life not through the rage and anger that society is holding onto, but the compassion and understanding that we all crave made this a memorable read.

The Verdict

Thoughtful, enlightening, and heartfelt, author Mick Bennett’s “Take the Lively Air” is a must-read literary fiction read. The twists and turns in the narrative and the emotional connection that readers will make with these characters make this quite a compelling narrative. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Mick Bennett is from Belmar, New Jersey. Bennett attended Gettysburg College, and after graduation in 1975, found a job at a high school 15 miles from Gettysburg where he taught for 33 years. Bennett is the author of four books: Missing You in Belmar, Summer Mirrors, Boardwalk Man, and Beat the Blues.

https://www.unsolicitedpress.com/store/p423/TAKETHELIVELYAIR.html

The School of the Haunted River by Colleen Gerwing Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

An outdoorswoman takes her niece on a two-week journey through the wilderness, sharing stories of her life and her passion for the outdoors in author Colleen Gerwing’s “The School of the Haunted River”.

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The Synopsis

We are all born of a river, and that in itself should be enough.

On a two-week outdoor winter snowshoeing trip in northern Saskatchewan with her niece Dilly, outdoor adventurer Jay tells stories as they hike and camp. Some are true – her outdoor training in Wyoming, her early life on the farm – and some are stories within stories within stories. A faux diamond necklace that mysteriously appears and disappears, Jay’s youthful encounters with the mysterious Cowboy, an inspiring series of books that she read on her long-ago canoe trip alone – all are underscored by Jay’s love and respect for the wild.

In The School of the Haunted River, the late Colleen Gerwing fashioned a novel based on her own life as an outdoorswoman, a novel about the natural world that will haunt and enchant even as it educates you.

The Review

This was a heartfelt and captivating read. The author does an incredible job of crafting a narrative that feels both genuine and creative all at once. The character development between Dilly and Jay is great to see, as it transcends the typical mother/daughter tension and instead brings that same energy to an aunt and niece setting, emphasizing the distance that has grown between them and the emotional journey they take both physically and mentally to come back together again. 

For me, the heart of this story rests in the honest and heartfelt writing style the author brings to the narrative. With the author’s long history of being an outdoorswoman and hiking through similar trails as the protagonists of this tale, the setting and atmosphere of the novel felt authentic and memorable, creating a strong sense of imagery in the author’s writing.

The Verdict

Thoughtful, engaging, and captivating, author Colleen Gerwing’s “The School of the Haunted River” is a must-read novel. The creativity and entertaining aspect of the stories Jay tells to Dilly throughout their hike and the emotional bonds that are formed as their journey progresses made this a truly compelling read. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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