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200+ Islamic Stories (Pro)
Book and Education
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* This is the Pro Version - In Islam, it’s a major sin to make purchases via Credit Card. You can...
Dana (24 KP) rated Close Range in Books
Mar 23, 2018
I enjoyed reading this, mainly from a craft perspective. I am not the biggest of fans of the Western stories, but the characters and their actions really came alive from her descriptions and I felt like I learned a lot.
While I didn't enjoy reading all of the stories, there were a few that were very interesting. As I said, the craft in all of the stories was very cool to be able to pick apart. I liked looking at the moods of each story as I read it. Each one had its own set tone that you should look out for when you read them. Even the smallest parts, like drawing out the settings, were all beautifully rendered.
I had never read "Brokeback Mountain" before and I hadn't seen the movie either, but I enjoyed the story when I read it. Even though she paints the two guys as very similar in the beginning of the story, the both end up having such different personalities at the end.
There was also a very short, two page story that was so beautifully vague. It was called "55 Miles to the Gas Pump." I loved how much characterization and care went into this very short story.
All in all, this was a cool collection of her short stories. I will most likely be picking up some of her other stories and giving them a read if not only to learn more from her craft.
While I didn't enjoy reading all of the stories, there were a few that were very interesting. As I said, the craft in all of the stories was very cool to be able to pick apart. I liked looking at the moods of each story as I read it. Each one had its own set tone that you should look out for when you read them. Even the smallest parts, like drawing out the settings, were all beautifully rendered.
I had never read "Brokeback Mountain" before and I hadn't seen the movie either, but I enjoyed the story when I read it. Even though she paints the two guys as very similar in the beginning of the story, the both end up having such different personalities at the end.
There was also a very short, two page story that was so beautifully vague. It was called "55 Miles to the Gas Pump." I loved how much characterization and care went into this very short story.
All in all, this was a cool collection of her short stories. I will most likely be picking up some of her other stories and giving them a read if not only to learn more from her craft.
The Complete Stories
Book
A Russian author, playwright, and physician, Anton Chekhov is widely considered one of the best...
Honeycomb by Joanne Harris is a collection of short fairy tales that are all connected by way of the Lacewing King so that a bigger picture of this world is built. The Lacewing King is a cruel and selfish ruler, as are many of the Kings and Queens of the Silken Folk. However the Lacewing King begins to learn that there are consequences to his actions.
I loved these stories. I’m a huge fan of fairytales, myths and legends - they’re most definitely not just stories for children, as these dark and often disturbing stories prove. In fact, these short tales are just like the original fairy tales, in that people are tricked, driven to madness and die (but not ALL the time!).
The seemingly separate stories gives the reader more insight to the world of the Silken Folk, and the overarching story of the Lacewing King was just perfection. The beautiful artwork by Charles Vess really does make this a very special book, and I’m going to be sad to see it go back to the library!
I’d highly recommend this wonderful book.
I loved these stories. I’m a huge fan of fairytales, myths and legends - they’re most definitely not just stories for children, as these dark and often disturbing stories prove. In fact, these short tales are just like the original fairy tales, in that people are tricked, driven to madness and die (but not ALL the time!).
The seemingly separate stories gives the reader more insight to the world of the Silken Folk, and the overarching story of the Lacewing King was just perfection. The beautiful artwork by Charles Vess really does make this a very special book, and I’m going to be sad to see it go back to the library!
I’d highly recommend this wonderful book.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2165 KP) rated Kinsey and Me: Stories in Books
Jul 9, 2023
Short Stories and Essays
This book breaks down into two unequal sections. The first roughly 70% is made up of nine short stories featuring Kinsey Millhone, PI in Santa Teresa. She solves a murder with a disappearing body and a case of a man who fell off his roof. She also gets involved when an actor gets kidnapped.
The back section featuring thirteen vignettes as author Sue Grafton reflects on her life growing up with a functioning alcoholic father and a destructive alcoholic mother. While she admits they are autobiographical, she frames them around a character named Kit.
Fans of Kinsey will delight in these nine stories, all previous published, but decades ago so hard to track down outside this collection now. Personally, I found the back section depressing, but I suspect these stories were theopoetic for Ms. Grafton to write, and I can see others benefiting from them, too.
Overall, fans of the series will enjoy the collection. If you are new to the series, you can jump in here, too, and meet Kinsey without ruining any of fun of the novels.
The back section featuring thirteen vignettes as author Sue Grafton reflects on her life growing up with a functioning alcoholic father and a destructive alcoholic mother. While she admits they are autobiographical, she frames them around a character named Kit.
Fans of Kinsey will delight in these nine stories, all previous published, but decades ago so hard to track down outside this collection now. Personally, I found the back section depressing, but I suspect these stories were theopoetic for Ms. Grafton to write, and I can see others benefiting from them, too.
Overall, fans of the series will enjoy the collection. If you are new to the series, you can jump in here, too, and meet Kinsey without ruining any of fun of the novels.
starwarsluvr (236 KP) rated The War Veteran in Books
Jan 30, 2018
Hark! the Herald Angels Scream: An Anthology
7.0
Rate It
Book
Eighteen stories of Christmas horror from bestselling, acclaimed authors including Scott Smith,...
Horror Short Stories Holiday Christmas Anthologies
ClareR (5674 KP) rated Uncommon Type: Some Stories in Books
Dec 31, 2017
Where to next?
To play it safe, I borrowed this book from the library - who knows what to expect from an actor who has decided that he wants to write? To say that I'm surprised by this collection of short stories would be an understatement. They have an old fashioned feel to them: the use of language reminds me of movies set in the 20s - 30s. Perhaps it's because he typed them all up on one of his old-fashioned typewriters? Some interesting stories: a bit of time travel, a couple of immigrant stories and much more (it's a big book!). The newspaper-column type stories didn't do it for me, I'm afraid, and I skipped them.
I'm interested to see where he goes with this next!!
I'm interested to see where he goes with this next!!
Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) rated Snuggle with the Strange: 9 Twisted Tales (The Snuggle Series #1) in Books
Jul 28, 2021
I usually try to stay away from books featuring short stories because usually they aren't that great. However, there was something about Snuggle with the Strange: 9 Twisted Tales by Liane Carter that jumped out at me. I felt compelled to read it, and I'm glad I did. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and all the short stories.
I didn't really know what to expect with Snuggle with the Strange except that the stories would be a bit out there. The first two stories gave me Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz vibes but for adults. These stories were more paranormal/supernatural in nature, and I really enjoyed them. The next six stories were more realistic in the fact that they could actually happen to anyone (which is a scary thought!). The last story returned to being supernatural again. I loved each and every story, and I thought the pacing and world building for each was done very well. Each story has an original feel and isn't like any of the other stories in the book. Even though this is a fairly short book, all the suspense makes it seem as if time has stood still. My favorite stories in Snuggle with the Strange were "Life in the Shed" and "He Looked Like My First Mistake." Although all the stories are written very well, I just loved those a little extra. Oh, and something else I loved was that the cover of the book links each of the nine stories. I thought that was very cool!
All of the characters are well fleshed out in each story. There's just enough information on each character so you can love them or love to hate them. At times, I felt like I was the main character in the story!
As this is an adult horror book, there are quite a few trigger warnings for Snuggle with the Strange which include demons, underage drug use (a few mentions of marijuana), implied rape, implied child rape, attempted rape, death, murder, violence, attempted murder, domestic abuse, child abuse, and profanity.
Overall, Snuggle with the Strange is a breath of fresh air for those who love the genre horror. With it's interesting cast of characters and original short stories, this is one book that every horror lover should read. I would definitely recommend Snuggle with the Strange: 9 Twisted Tales by Liane Carter for those aged 16+ who like their horror with a flair of originality instead of rehashed fiction. If that sounds like you, this is your kind of book!
--
(A special thank you to Liane Carter and Lola's Blog Tours for providing me with a paperback of Snuggle with the Strange: 9 Twisted Tales in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.)
I didn't really know what to expect with Snuggle with the Strange except that the stories would be a bit out there. The first two stories gave me Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz vibes but for adults. These stories were more paranormal/supernatural in nature, and I really enjoyed them. The next six stories were more realistic in the fact that they could actually happen to anyone (which is a scary thought!). The last story returned to being supernatural again. I loved each and every story, and I thought the pacing and world building for each was done very well. Each story has an original feel and isn't like any of the other stories in the book. Even though this is a fairly short book, all the suspense makes it seem as if time has stood still. My favorite stories in Snuggle with the Strange were "Life in the Shed" and "He Looked Like My First Mistake." Although all the stories are written very well, I just loved those a little extra. Oh, and something else I loved was that the cover of the book links each of the nine stories. I thought that was very cool!
All of the characters are well fleshed out in each story. There's just enough information on each character so you can love them or love to hate them. At times, I felt like I was the main character in the story!
As this is an adult horror book, there are quite a few trigger warnings for Snuggle with the Strange which include demons, underage drug use (a few mentions of marijuana), implied rape, implied child rape, attempted rape, death, murder, violence, attempted murder, domestic abuse, child abuse, and profanity.
Overall, Snuggle with the Strange is a breath of fresh air for those who love the genre horror. With it's interesting cast of characters and original short stories, this is one book that every horror lover should read. I would definitely recommend Snuggle with the Strange: 9 Twisted Tales by Liane Carter for those aged 16+ who like their horror with a flair of originality instead of rehashed fiction. If that sounds like you, this is your kind of book!
--
(A special thank you to Liane Carter and Lola's Blog Tours for providing me with a paperback of Snuggle with the Strange: 9 Twisted Tales in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.)