Fate and Fortune by Deniz Besim; reviewed by Ally Fell
ABOUT THE BOOK
“Twenty-first Anniversary - Anne forgets an important day in her life but can she convince her husband that she's remembered? Mother Snowman - Amy designs a stunning snowman who comes to life and shows her a world she has never seen before. A Love Despaired - Calum has a secret he intends to tell Marissa. But will revealing his secret destroy their relationship? The Paper - A couple of girls visit a gypsy, both receiving a paper and strict instructions that if not followed, can have dire consequences. Caroline's Witness - The Old Farmer has lost his other half but only his dog knows what's really going on. The Curse of the Stone Statue - A young girl makes her way to an old castle hoping that she'll be the one who can break its haunted spell. The Government Boycott - Miri is in a fight to the death to do something about the oppressive government but when all is said and done will it go her way? A Day in the Life of Malcolm - A homeless man is suspicious of the charity of a well meaning stranger. Lord Medley - An important man is almost burnt to a crisp and Ellie has to find out what is going on.”
MY REVIEW
2 out of 5
Although the variation between stories might provide something for everyone to enjoy, it creates a rather jilted and unfocused finished product. The stories have no common theme or idea tying them together and exist as completely separate entities. Furthermore, the author has a very poetic style that perhaps doesn't translate as well to short stories. Characters and even plot lines remain rather undeveloped. I would have liked to see more background information on characters to understand their motives and actions. The author attempted to draw readers in through suspense, but neglected to establish any reason why we should care.
The individual stories are often clever with strong ideas. Unfortunately, the follow through is not always there, and the book should have had a clearer focus, as a whole.
DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for writing a review. I was not obligated to give a positive review, and all thoughts are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Deniz Besim is a thirty-two year old lady who lives in London and used to teach creative writing to adults. She enjoys reading fiction and sometimes enters short-story competitions. She self-published two poetry books in 2014 (http://poetry-heaven.my-free.website). She enjoys walking, swimming and playing tennis in her spare time and sometimes attends author readings.
https://www.amazon.com/Fate-Fortune-Collection-Deniz-Besim/dp/1540626695
ABOUT THE BOOK
“Twenty-first Anniversary - Anne forgets an important day in her life but can she convince her husband that she's remembered? Mother Snowman - Amy designs a stunning snowman who comes to life and shows her a world she has never seen before. A Love Despaired - Calum has a secret he intends to tell Marissa. But will revealing his secret destroy their relationship? The Paper - A couple of girls visit a gypsy, both receiving a paper and strict instructions that if not followed, can have dire consequences. Caroline's Witness - The Old Farmer has lost his other half but only his dog knows what's really going on. The Curse of the Stone Statue - A young girl makes her way to an old castle hoping that she'll be the one who can break its haunted spell. The Government Boycott - Miri is in a fight to the death to do something about the oppressive government but when all is said and done will it go her way? A Day in the Life of Malcolm - A homeless man is suspicious of the charity of a well meaning stranger. Lord Medley - An important man is almost burnt to a crisp and Ellie has to find out what is going on.”
MY REVIEW
2 out of 5
Although the variation between stories might provide something for everyone to enjoy, it creates a rather jilted and unfocused finished product. The stories have no common theme or idea tying them together and exist as completely separate entities. Furthermore, the author has a very poetic style that perhaps doesn't translate as well to short stories. Characters and even plot lines remain rather undeveloped. I would have liked to see more background information on characters to understand their motives and actions. The author attempted to draw readers in through suspense, but neglected to establish any reason why we should care.
The individual stories are often clever with strong ideas. Unfortunately, the follow through is not always there, and the book should have had a clearer focus, as a whole.
DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for writing a review. I was not obligated to give a positive review, and all thoughts are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Deniz Besim is a thirty-two year old lady who lives in London and used to teach creative writing to adults. She enjoys reading fiction and sometimes enters short-story competitions. She self-published two poetry books in 2014 (http://poetry-heaven.my-free.website). She enjoys walking, swimming and playing tennis in her spare time and sometimes attends author readings.
https://www.amazon.com/Fate-Fortune-Collection-Deniz-Besim/dp/1540626695
RSS Feed
