I threw this in my purse to read over lunch today. One of the best of the Sherlock Holmes stories that I have read thus far. An eerie locked room mystI threw this in my purse to read over lunch today. One of the best of the Sherlock Holmes stories that I have read thus far. An eerie locked room mystery and when all is revealed quite diabolical! It did make me wonder if the instrument/vehicle that was utilized to commit murder could really be done....more
A sweet although unbelievable short story. However, it was set at Christmas time and magic, or a miracle is certainly needed by the Adams family who hA sweet although unbelievable short story. However, it was set at Christmas time and magic, or a miracle is certainly needed by the Adams family who have been burned out of their home and captured by an Algonquin raiding party. I particularly liked the way Gallico infused the Christmas story with the Native American respect for nature and belief in the Spirit world....more
Needed a short read to occupy me during a quick lunch. This was a delightful story. Full of Holmes' keen observations as he looks at a hat and tries tNeeded a short read to occupy me during a quick lunch. This was a delightful story. Full of Holmes' keen observations as he looks at a hat and tries to develop a profile of sorts about the wearer so they could return it and a dead goose that was dropped by the man. How did this turn into sleuthing about a robbery of a jewel? That sets the Holmes and Watson we all love on the trail....more
Can you believe that I have never read any Poe stories? Just the titular poem The Raven. This was the perfect short story for Halloween night. If it hCan you believe that I have never read any Poe stories? Just the titular poem The Raven. This was the perfect short story for Halloween night. If it had been a stormy night here at home, it would have just elevated the level of fearful anticipation of what was to come in this gothic tale. The atmosphere is set from the very beginning and continues through the telling of the tale. Our narrator has come at the request of his childhood friend, Roderick Usher, to spend time with him as he suffers a vaguely described illness. Poe goes to great lengths to set the foreboding nature of what is to come in both his descriptions of surroundings, the mansion itself and the Usher siblings, the last of their line. Mental illness? Ghost story? Vampiric overtones? It becomes obvious that the "fall" of the House of Usher refers to both the physical house and Roderick & Madeline Usher. The real terror of our narrator really ramps up when he is reading aloud a story to Roderick when they both are nervous and can't sleep. The various sounds in the novel seem to be echoed in the house. ...more
A quick enjoyable read, the 6th short story in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes anthology. Sherlock is working for the wife of a missing man, who wasA quick enjoyable read, the 6th short story in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes anthology. Sherlock is working for the wife of a missing man, who was last seen in a notorious opium den in London. If you've read many of the Holmes stories, it wasn't hard to figure out the mystery of the missing man, of course without all the details of how everything came about. Dr. Watson is pulled into the search but seems pretty superfluous to this story. What is it about red hair that Doyle makes it a part of his stories even if it just a small detail?...more
Well the title of this collection of short stories is quite an understatement!! 88 y/o Maud lives by herself without friends or family, and she has anWell the title of this collection of short stories is quite an understatement!! 88 y/o Maud lives by herself without friends or family, and she has an unconventional way to solve her perceived and sometimes real problems. I read through this collection in just a few hours and am feeling somewhat guilty to say that I like Maud even though I don't like what she did!...more
I opened this short story to read while at the hairdresser, and the opening lines made me think I have picked up the wrong book!! But it was kinda advI opened this short story to read while at the hairdresser, and the opening lines made me think I have picked up the wrong book!! But it was kinda advertised as a ghost story, so I thought I'll go for the ride. Well, it wasn't really a ghost story, and I can't define what category to place it in...but it was funny and creepy at times. I read it in less than an hour (which is good for me, even thought it was only 64pp long). So why did I give it a 2 (maybe a 2.5)??? The very dissatisfying ending. When I turned to the last page, I was WHAT? THAT"S IT? The leaving you guessing does make form something to talk about. Do you believe Susan or Miles?...more
Another round of Dickens with the Dicksonians! group. So we read this 1841 short story at a snail's pace to glean every last bit out of this farcical Another round of Dickens with the Dicksonians! group. So we read this 1841 short story at a snail's pace to glean every last bit out of this farcical and enchanting story of Tom Grieg, a lamplighter who gets caught up in an old gentlemen's occult preoccupations. It is a comedy of errors to be sure. Was it real, was it a dream? What will you the reader decide....more
2.5 stars. This is a small collection of interconnected stories that highlight a particular "queer" trade that in the contemporary world would be cons2.5 stars. This is a small collection of interconnected stories that highlight a particular "queer" trade that in the contemporary world would be considered odd at best and crazy by most. Some of the stories were delightfully funny but others fell flat for me. Most put our narrator and his two friends on what would seem like a wild goose chase only to have the puzzle solved at the end of each story. I will say the final denouement in the last story was a surprise to me!
This was my first foray into the work of Chesterton and I admit I haven't even seen any of the Father Brown mysteries on TV. Although I had this small volume for almost a week, it can be read in a day.
I have read Werner's review of this work and have tagged it for those interested in reading a wonderful more erudite review than mine!...more
I got this for a group read, one chapter a week. Unfortunately, the edition I ordered did not have ALL the stories in it and that took away from the cI got this for a group read, one chapter a week. Unfortunately, the edition I ordered did not have ALL the stories in it and that took away from the continuity & enjoyment of the interconnected stories. Dickens had invited other authors, such as Wilkie Collins, to write 3 of the 7 stories but my edition only had the ones that Dickens wrote. I usually love Dickens' writing, but these left me wanting. The second half of the first story was much more interesting than the first and set up how the following stories came about. Of the 4 Dickens' stories, I enjoyed "His Boots" the best. As usual the discussion by the Dickensians group was lively and robust and I wished I could have stayed engaged despite missing 3 of the stories....more
A sweet short story set towards the end of the Civil War. The Stafford family are keeping the home fires burning while Col Stafford is fighting for thA sweet short story set towards the end of the Civil War. The Stafford family are keeping the home fires burning while Col Stafford is fighting for the Confederacy. He has promised his children the presents they desire the next Christmas when he hopes to be home from the war. This story highlights the Christmas spirit of love and family in times of hardship.
I looked up the author as I thought he probably was impacted by the war as a child and from that this story emerged. What I found is that he was a lawyer and a well-known author of the traditional plantation literature that idealized the South and slavery prior to the Civil War and was used to promote the Lost Cause myth across the New South. This story has maybe only one small overt piece that supports that theme....more
Read this short story at lunch today. I didn't know what a pip was in this story, other than a bad omen, until near the end. Instead of a color, the oRead this short story at lunch today. I didn't know what a pip was in this story, other than a bad omen, until near the end. Instead of a color, the orange referred to the fruit; ahh then one could know that it was an old British word for seed.
A client, J.O., arrives with a strange story of mysterious letters in which only orange pips and some instructions are within. The first recipient, J.O's uncle already displaying eccentric behaviors at time, becomes even more so and fearful after the envelope arrives. About 6 weeks later he is found dead supposedly by suicide. His father is the next recipient and scoffs at the thought that it may be an omen and he also is found dead which the authorities say was accidental. Now JO himself has received an envelope with instructions. He has come to Holmes for help to find out what is the meaning of the letters, who has sent them and to confirm his suspicions that his uncle & father were murdered. ...more
3.5 stars. Enjoyable short story collection, some better than others as probably all collections end up. Hanks wrote all the stories on a typewriter a3.5 stars. Enjoyable short story collection, some better than others as probably all collections end up. Hanks wrote all the stories on a typewriter and a typewriter shows up in all the stories even if it is just a cameo. ...more
4.5 stars. Thoroughly enjoyed this curious story that started out about a mysterious red-headed league that had a paying vacancy and a man who accepte4.5 stars. Thoroughly enjoyed this curious story that started out about a mysterious red-headed league that had a paying vacancy and a man who accepted the position for eight weeks and then POOF it and anyone involved in it vanishes! He takes the case to Holmes. And it is a crazy one indeed!
After all is said and done the inimitable Sherlock Holmes makes the following comment. It saved me from ennui, Alas! I already feel it closing in on me. My life is spent in one long effort to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little problems help me to do so.
Hallelujah for keeping us entertained Mr. Holmes!...more
I haven't read anything by Sally Rooney and if this is an indication of her writing, I probably won't read anything else. Or perhaps it is the limitatI haven't read anything by Sally Rooney and if this is an indication of her writing, I probably won't read anything else. Or perhaps it is the limitations of a short story. The only thing I took away is it's about confusion. Confusion about one's place in the world, and how to navigate relationships. I was left empty at the end and thinking "that's it?!"
I've never read a lot of short stories before and seem to be adding them in periodically the last few years. I think I'll add a new shelf in which to house them....more
4.5 stars. This is a lovely short story written in 1958 which I only unearthed through reading about it on Goodreads. It makes me grateful for this re4.5 stars. This is a lovely short story written in 1958 which I only unearthed through reading about it on Goodreads. It makes me grateful for this reading community. It is a "pay it forward" type story. Set in the bleakest of conditions, a harsh winter followed a difficult summer. People are out of work and without food, yet despite the conditions something sparks a small act of kindness which spreads like a ripple in a pond. Not saccharin sweet, but it felt like drinking hot chocolate and feeling the warmth spread throughout your body.
Why this did not become a Christmas classic perplexes me. I withheld a half star because I so wanted to this to circle back to someone showing kindness to the old and hungry donkey!...more
Great atmospheric story set in a derelict castle with an MC who is the last of his line. His male ancestors all died before they reached their 32nd biGreat atmospheric story set in a derelict castle with an MC who is the last of his line. His male ancestors all died before they reached their 32nd birthday from a centuries-old curse. He has spent his life researching the curse and approaches his destiny with trepidation. As he rambles about the long abandoned areas of the castle will he meet the same fate?
Written in 1916, many similar type stories have been written since then and it wasn't too hard to figure out how the curse lived on, but the gloomy, foreboding tone of the story was spot on! It would be a perfect short story to read out loud to listeners in the right setting....more
It's that time of year to pull out a few Lovecraft stories. This was one of his first published in 1918. I could have used a little more sense of despIt's that time of year to pull out a few Lovecraft stories. This was one of his first published in 1918. I could have used a little more sense of despair & fright with from the MC who was lost in the unending passages of Mammoth Cave; especially when his light was going out and he was hearing something headed his way . The beast's identity didn't surprise me, but I did feel horror thinking of what must have happened in that cave....more
A compilation of sweet short stories that all have open endings that speak to possibilities. The reader can write their own ending to each. Something A compilation of sweet short stories that all have open endings that speak to possibilities. The reader can write their own ending to each. Something I needed....more