Archive for short story

Fourteen Western Stories cover

Review: Fourteen Western Stories

By Jan
 on June 9, 2013
The description from Amazon.com:

“Fourteen Western tales, by turns boisterous, bawdy, shocking, sentimental. They’re not for kids—there’s a fair amount of adult content here—but a treat for anyone else who likes old-fashioned stories with new twists and turns, written by someone who loves the West, past and present.”

That’s an excellent description of this little treasure of a collection. I found each of the stories well-written and interesting. The author did include some stereotypical characters, but he’s a screenwriter, after all, and fond of pulp fiction (wink). He added a new slant to some stories to keep things hopping. Definitely not for the squeamish or prudes.
Recommended for short-story lovers, those who like westerns, and anyone who falls in between.
FTC Disclosure: I have an affiliate relationship with Amazon.com. Some of the links in this post may go to their site. If you purchase something using that link, I may receive a small compensation. I am never paid to review books and am always brazenly honest (ask my husband). Thank you!

© Jan McClintock of We Need More Shelves

In categories Book Review, Historical Novel Tagged with , ,

Kurt Vonnegut’s 8 Tips on How to Write a Great Story

By Jan
 on April 3, 2012

From the great post “Kurt Vonnegut’s 8 Tips on How to Write a Great Story” by Maria Popova on Brain Pickings, here is the list:

  1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.
  2. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.
  3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.
  4. Every sentence must do one of two things-reveal character or advance the action.
  5. Start as close to the end as possible.
  6. Be a Sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them-in order that the reader may see what they are made of.
  7. Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.
  8. Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To hell with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages.

© Jan McClintock of We Need More Shelves

In categories Uncategorized Tagged with ,

Recent Reads

By Jan
 on December 12, 2011
Each of the following ebooks was free from the Kindle store at Amazon.com.
Kindle Edition; Genre: Fantasy
This is a ‘group quest’ fantasy with the “save the world” goal that in this case is effective and interesting. The technology involved makes more sense than just being “magic.” The diverse little ensemble includes some appealing characters although the big, bad theocracy is fairly conventional. Definitely the first of a series with a full-on cliffhanger that leaves nothing resolved, so be prepared to purchase the trilogy.

 

Elizabeth Street by Laurie Fabiano
Kindle Edition; Genre: Historical Novel
Very enjoyable historical fiction based on the experiences of Italian immigrants to New York in the early 20th century. The story was written by the main character’s great-granddaughter, and along with some artistic license, a love story, a Black Hand mystery and kidnapping, and the Italian earthquake of 1908, it’s quite a story.

 

The Journey of the Raindrop by Suzanne Burkett
Kindle Edition; Genre: Short Story
This parable is a simple, short story about a raindrop making its way in life. It was an excellent, relaxing read and and uplifting end to my day.

 

Kindle Edition; Genre: Fantasy
There were a few too many characters and background story for me to enjoy this first of a trilogy fantasy. I don’t mind jumping back and forth between two or three places and characters, but more than that is too much. Add to that the different factions and their double-dealings, and it was simply too much work for me to enjoy it. I don’t enjoy entering the story in the middle but rather would like to start at the beginning. This is one I will not be continuing.

 

Kindle Edition; Genre: Non-fiction history
Extremely interesting and thankfully not full of pages of dry details, the book focuses instead on the stories of a few captivating inmates of Broadmoor who left some tangible records. Fascinating stories of incarcerations in jails and asylums and escapes therefrom.
It also reveals information about some of the wardens of the institutions, but not enough — in my opinion — to understand their attitudes about their work. I wanted more about medical and society opinions on mental illness and criminal behavior, for instance. I still found it intriguing and appreciate the great amount of research by the author, Mr. Stevens.
Marysvale by Jared Southwick
Kindle Edition; Genre: Fantasy
Fantasy with scary monsters, mysterious pasts, dangerous journeys, nasty bad guys and new love interests? I’m in! And I was not disappointed by this one, as different as some parts of it were. The lead character is not infallible, which makes him more interesting in my opinion. The monsters are truly frightening, and the bad guys are seriously vicious. This is part of a series, but this first volume does have an ending.

© Jan McClintock of We Need More Shelves

In categories Book Review, Fantasy, Historical Novel, Non-fiction Tagged with

The Short Story Reading Challenge

By Jan
 on January 28, 2010

The Short Story Reading Challenge is hosted by Kate and has different options for readers on varying levels. This is a genre that more people should try, in my opinion, and one in which you can find as much variety as novels.

I have to admit that I’m a sucker for a good short story. The ability to tell a compelling story and not waste words is something I admire. This harks back to my technical editing (once an editor, always an editor), but also to the love of language. I only wish I had the imagination to produce it myself.

My ongoing list for 2010
1. Pedro Antonio De Alarcon’s “Captain Veneno’s Proposal”
2. Pedro Antonio De Alarcon’s “The Nail”
3. Robert Barr’s “How the Captain Got His Steamer Out”
4. Robert Barr’s “My Stowaway”
5. Voltaire’s “Zadig the Babylonian”

To be continued…

© Jan McClintock of We Need More Shelves

In categories Reading Tagged with ,