Book Review - F.G. Paci's Talk About God & Other Stories

Thank you to Guernica Editions for providing me with an advanced copy of F.G. Paci's collection, Talk About God & Other Stories, in exchange for an honest review.

PLOT - F.G. Paci's Talk About God & Other Stories, contains eight stories, including the title piece. Often humorous, Paci's stories range in theme from a reality show chef with family problem, to a story about a group of odd-balls connecting over their deep passion for cinema. 

LIKE- I have to admit that the stories were hit or miss. I felt like the stories fell into two categories: 1. Those that were thematic rants, and 2. those with strong character development. I gravitated towards those with the strong character development.

 I enjoyed Chef of all Reasons for its melancholy tone and the way that it showed the double-life of a reality show persona; the sunny on air personality and the man trying to keep it together behind the scenes. Paci has a knack for dialogue writing and this is particularly memorable in, Talk About God, a story with a very awkward dinner party. I liked the quirky cinema loving characters in Last Movie in Kinmount. Not only does the story have strong characters, but it has this wonderful tonality.

I like Paci's sparse style of writing. It's clean and direct. He also has a wicked, dry sense of humor that I find appealing. 

DISLIKE - I didn't connect with half of the stories, those that seemed to be more of a rant or monologue. I felt that Paci was choosing a theme, over story or character, and they didn't resonate. These stories included The Wager, Reading Boot Camp, and Philosophy for Idiots. In each of these, there were passages or moments that I enjoyed, but on a whole, I found the stories lacking.

RECOMMEND- I'd recommend some of Paci's stories, but I would not recommend Talk About God & Other Stories as a collection. 

Book Review - Diane Bracuk's Middle-Aged Boys & Girls

Thank you to Guernica Editions for providing me with an advanced copy of Diane Bracuk's Middle-Aged Boys & Girls, in exchange for an honest review.

PLOT- Diane Bracuk's short story collection, Middle-Aged Boys & Girls, revolves around the theme of middle-aged adults stuck in some type of childish mentality or behavior. Her stories examine what it means to be a "grown-up" and why it's so easy to revert to childish behavior in middle-age.

LIKE- Bracuk has a gift for creating memorable characters and for writing the unexpected. With each story, I had no clue where she was going to take me. The unexpected is what grabbed and held my attention. 

One of my favorite stories was Lord of the Manor, where a couple finds out that the beautiful home that they have been renting is on the market. In efforts to thwart potential buyers, they concoct a plan to kill a groundhog and place the carcass in the air-conditioning vent. Alternating between guilt: from killing an innocent animal and lying to their young son, and pride: that their plan is working, they end up having to live with the stink. 

Another memorable story was Salvation, about a single, childless woman named Donna. Donna has spent her youth and middle-age building her career and is devastated when she loses her job. Unable to find employment, she decides to volunteer at a homework center for troubled kids. Donna is cut to the quick, by Christina, a teenager with an attitude problem. Donna soon finds herself reverting to high school behavior, alternating between trying to impress and show-up Christina.

A similar theme arises in Dissolution, the story of a yoga teacher who takes on teaching a short-term class at a shelter for homeless teens. Janet becomes obsessed with one of the girls in the class and later regrets that this obsession took away time with her husband, who has cancer. 

DISLIKE- Nothing. This is a fantastic collection and frankly, it was difficult to pick my favorite or most memorable stories. I like the theme of the collection. It's relatable. At thirty-eight, I can understand some of the impulses of these characters and can admit to some childish behavior myself. I think there are some things that we never truly out-grow. 

RECOMMEND- Yes! Bracuk is a wonderful writer and her stories take readers on unexpected journeys. They resonate and are affecting. Many of the stories in Middle-Aged Boys & Girls are also award winners!