Category Archives: Short Stories
Tripping the Light Fantastic by Allison Symes
Val Penny ♦ September 24, 2020 ♦ 1 Comment
At long last, the second collection of Flash Fiction by Allison Symes is available now. I thoroughly enjoyed the clever twists in the tiny stories told by Symes in her debut book, From Light to Dark and Back Again. That book was a joy to read and inspired many young writers to try their hand …
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The View from Castle Rock by Alice Munro
Val Penny ♦ September 2, 2018 ♦ Leave a comment
The View from Castle Rock was book of the month in my book group recently. It is a book of short stories by the Canadian author Alice Munro, which was published in 2006 by McClelland and Stewart. It is a collection of historical and autobiographical stories. Munro was recipient of the 2013 Nobel Prize in Literature. Munro …
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Potpourri by Anusha VR
Val Penny ♦ January 23, 2018 ♦ Leave a comment
I very much enjoyed a previous book by Chapeltown Books, From Light to Dark and Back Again by Allison Symes is a reviewed here: https://bookreviewstoday.info/2017/03/22/from-light-to-dark-and-back-again-by-allison-symes/ . So, I was thrilled to receive another book from this publisher in exchange for an honest review. I always give honest reviews. Potpourri by Anusha VR is a delicious mixture of …
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‘The Emporium’ a short story by guest author Andrew Roberts
Val Penny ♦ October 27, 2017 ♦ Leave a comment
Today I am delighted that my friend Andrew Roberts is visiting my blog to share his short story, ‘The Emporium’. Andy is an accountant by profession and a writer by choice. We share a love of telling stories and attending Swanwick Writers’ Summer School. We both very much hope you enjoy this tale. The Emporium …
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The Price of Love by Peter Robinson
Val Penny ♦ January 21, 2016 ♦ 2 Comments
My older daughter gave me this this book as part of a Christmas present. I had not realised at first that The Price of Love is a book of short stories. Peter Robinson is an excellent writer and I do enjoy his novels. His short stories are probably less well known than his novels about DI …
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The Good News and The Bad News by guest author Mort Laitner
Val Penny ♦ November 1, 2015 ♦ Leave a comment
This piece of satire by Mort Laitner was first published on 31 October, 2015 at http://mortlaitner.com/2015/10/31/the-good-news-and-the-bad-news/. The Good News and The Bad News Most writers and many people with a book buried deep beneath their gut have a least these three long-shot dreams. For those of you interested in knowing if you are one of these …
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How To Get Your Book Into A Library by guest author Kevin Morris
Val Penny ♦ May 11, 2015 ♦ 3 Comments
I am fortunate to live within 10-15 minutes walking distance of Upper Norwood’s Joint Library, 41 Westow Hill, London, England, SE19 1TJ the oldest and, I believe the only independent institution of its kind. In search of ways to get my book, Dalliance: A Collection of Poetry and Prose into the hands of more readers I …
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The Return Journey and other Stories by Maeve Binchy
Val Penny ♦ April 18, 2015 ♦ Leave a comment
Several people had told me that Maeve Binchy was an excellent writer and told great stories with believable characters. So I was thrilled when her book of short stories The Return Journey and other Stories came up as the book to read on my book group. I had previously read one novel by Maeve Binchy, Full …
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Full House by Maeve Binchy
Val Penny ♦ April 6, 2015 ♦ Leave a comment
Maeve Binchy was born on 28 May 1940 in Dalkey, County Dublin, Ireland, the eldest of four children. Her parents were very positive and provided her with a happy childhood. She studied at University College, Dublin and was a teacher for a while. She also loved travelling and this was how she found her niche as …
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In The Penal Settlement by Franz Kafka
Val Penny ♦ March 22, 2015 ♦ Leave a comment
Many years ago at, High School, Steppenwolf by Herman Hesse and Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis were amongst our required reading for the English Literature course. I had never encountered either Hesse or Kafka before and was both fascinated and inspired by their work. Indeed, The Metamorphosis, which is a novella was first published in 1915 and has been cited …
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