Hello Bookish Friends,
So for the
Orrilium Magical Readathon this year I had a prompt where I had to read a book with water on the cover. Luckily
The Answer, My Friend And Other Short Stories by the People Who Sell Them fit the bill. I've had this book for a minute that I hadn't read. I got it a year of so ago at a thrift store and was finally glad to have an excuse to finally get it read.
This book was published in 1994, it's a collection of stories from the "Winners of a National Booksellers Writing Contest". So basically people who sell books for a living trying their hand at writing stories.
Overall this book is a mixed bag, some stories I adored, others not so much, but I enjoyed it enough to give it four stars, and keep it in my permanent collection. So I thought I'd do some thoughts of each story.
The Stories
The Answer, My Friend by Kathryn Lacey- At first I thought it was someone else painting forty somethings as just grumpy frumpy people, but then you learn what happen to her you understand why she's the way she is. I had a hard time enjoying this one even with the knowledge why she is the way she is. Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault.
Going West by Mick Brady - This one was a good one! It's got two aspiring actors in North Carolina who decide to set out to begin their careers in Wilmington, NC. Their start doesn't go so well, and leads to some crazy situations. I liked this story it's funny and if I'm not mistaken takes place in Western North Carolina where I live. So that was also cool. Sorry I have a soft spot for stuff set or filmed in my home state.
A Way with Words by Christopher Hawthorne- A man who has passed left a letter behind to explain. Given the topic I didn't think I was going to like this one, but it was strangely beautiful. Trigger Warning: Suicide.
The Mary Pictures by Kathy Conner- A woman recounts a funny summer involving some hilarious religious art she made at a church camp after finding them while packing her Mom's things for the move. I found the last paragraph of this hilarious. It was a funny read.
War Hero by Bill Cotter- This is a tale of how a children's summer game takes a dark turn. This had such good imagery. Especially when the girl is watching a storm come in in front of a store.
Killing Harvey by N.C. Reynolds- A man learns his lover is a demon hunting witch, who wants him to join in her crusade. This was one I was looking forward to and it was my favorite. The awesome thing is at some point he asks where the demons come from, and she tells him Kansas, cause there's some disturbance there. As a Supernatural fan I loved that one.
Blanco y Negro by Thomas Cooney- A man goes to Salamanca for school where he meets an older woman and they form a friendship. He's drawn by her pain, cause he is dealing with pain himself and he needs that now instead of the joys most college people have. This one was a well written one. I really don't have much to say... What? Can't have a novel of thoughts for everything.
Bard's Call by Honore Hillman Foster- While sharing thoughts a bard's lover picks up on past trauma and she tells him of how she was kidnapped by Invaders. This was a rough one to read due to the subject matter. Trigger Warning: Sexual assault.
Wild Women Don't Get the Blues by Nancy Orlando- A woman finding adventure in being a new Mom. This one was a bit sad, but a bit sweet too.
Come September by Donna Stuart- A Mom is on a mission to get a new vacuum, this leads to reminiscing of another time Momma set her mind to something. This was a cute final story.
So I hope you enjoyed, check this book out if you can locate it cause there's some good gems in here. Have a good week and read a good book!
*Thrifty Geek*
