I’m not sure I understand the hype surrounding Elizabeth Strout‘s “Olive Kitteridge” but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Some stories I loved but some not so much and I’m beginning to feel that I may need to give it a second chance down the line. For now it’s 3 stars, but I’m not ruling this one out for a re-read at some point.
"Syrian Brides" is an entertaining peek into what life is like for women in Syria. Through 11 short stories, the author covers a range of marital problems while also highlighting the warmth and compassion a relationship can bring. It's 4 stars from me.
A lovely collection of quaint short stories set over the Christmas period. Beautifully written and easy to read, these stories have put me in a festive mood. It wasn't perfect, but still a very good 4 stars.
It's clear that I've found my new favourite author. This is the third book I've read by Yoko Ogawa and I've enjoyed everyone. Ogawa is a beautifully simplistic story teller and these three short stories are dark but certainly worth a read - 4 stars.
I'd recommended these short stories for someone looking to read something a little dark. Yōko Ogawa writes simply without over-complicating things to tell 11 stories of revenge. They may be odd or strange to some but I have really enjoyed spending a few days engrossed in these little stories and give "Revenge" 5 stars.
I didn't enjoy this collection of short stories. Each story felt unfinished and underwhelming and I found that I couldn't connect with anything I was reading. Like joining a conversation somewhere in the middle where you're not 100% what's going on, these stories seemed more like snippets from a wider story and this lack of connection meant I couldn't get into most of the stories. I didn't hate it, some stories were good, so it's 2 stars for "What it Means When a Man Falls From the Sky".
A collection of well written, quick and easy to read stories which are bound to make you smile - from a man who one day decides he doesn't ever want to get out of bed to a child who meticulously cares for his collection of fireworks only to be left disappointed. David Lodge has pieced together 8 intriguing stories set over different times and in different locations all of which kept me entertained and engaged. It's 5 stars for "The Man Who Wouldn't Get Up and Other Short Stories".
