Chanticleer Book Reviews

Tag: Short Story Anthology

  • A WILD REGION: Tales and Stories from the Heartland by Robin Lee Lovelace – Contemporary American Gothic, Short Story Collections, Weird Fiction

     

    A Wild Region: Tales and Stories from the Heartland by Robin Lee Lovelace is a wonderful collection of Weird fiction (emphasis on Weird), showcasing the oddities and fantastic adventures which hide among the everyday people of the midwestern United States.

    Lovelace opens with ‘Virgie’s Headless Chicken’, setting the tone for the full collection as Virgie attempts to reproduce a circus sideshow act. Lovelace shares her familial inspiration for this story in a fascinating preface.

    From there she gifts readers with the award-winning novella, Savonne, Not Vonny, a coming-of-age story of a little girl involving brothels, voodoo, and displaced gods. Savonne faces trial after trial as she grows up in different environments, all while she tries to understand her place in the world. This setting is particularly well-developed, leaving readers wanting more from even the secondary characters. Readers who loved Neil Gaiman’s American Gods will enjoy every page of Savonne’s adventures.

    Varying in emotion and impact, all of these tales will grab a reader’s attention. In every story of A Wild Region, fully-realized characters deal with important problems, approaching them with their own strange solutions.

    A Wild Region, as a whole, deals with themes of belonging. Some stories explore belonging to a family, be it blood or found. Others in relation to society. No matter how strange and fantastic the setting and circumstances, the characters drive each story. Even the most bizarre elements are secondary to the characters, enhancing their journey. Readers will feel for each protagonist, rooting for them to the end.

    This collection will help readers see their own surroundings with a new curiosity.

    Every one of these stories takes place in the mundane, real world, tucked away somewhere at the edges of daily life with ties to the South and Midwest United states. From a southern Indiana farmhouse in the 1940s on to an abandoned mansion in a virus-ravaged Memphis in 2041, readers will look twice at roadside attractions and dusty drives which lead into the unmitigated wilds of this continent, questioning their hidden mysteries.

    Lovelace is a strong voice in contemporary Weird and Southern Gothic fiction whom readers should continue to watch for. Hopefully, she has many more fantastic scenarios and characters yet to share with the world.

    Included in this collection, Uncle won the 2021 Marguerite McGlinn short story competition and Savonne, Not Vonny by Robin Lee Lovelace won Grand Prize in the 2020 CIBA Shorts Awards for Short Stories, Novellas, and Collections.

     

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  • NEW YORK: Give Me Your Best or Your Worst by Elizabeth Crowens – Short Story Anthologies, Photography, City Life Fiction

     

    Prepare to be carried away to bustling, vivacious streets as you read Elizabeth Crowens’ New York: Give Me Your Best or Your Worst.

    This captivating literary anthology is a love letter to the great city from a group of brilliant artists and authors, which delves into the multifaceted lives of New Yorkers.

    Short fiction and a few poems describe the ins and outs of New York living. Murder mysteries, revenge, family struggles, family sagas, and, of course, the most important questions regarding real estate. Finding the perfect place to live in the city may be difficult, but this story brings into vivid relief the heart of what makes New York special: the people.

    Each piece of the anthology maintains a steady focus on its characters’ journey, ensuring their needs and desires stay in the foreground. The city itself becomes a vibrant entity that weaves its way into the fabric of each story.

    New York: Give Me Your Best or Your Worst is set apart by the inclusion of Crowens’ captivating photography.

    The written word and visual imagery interplay elevate the anthology beyond expectations. From glow-in-the-dark skulls welcoming you to the gentrified street, to the twin boys who stand in as the fictional Angel and Israel in Richie Narvaez’s series of three stories, each photo adds depth that allows the reader to reimagine the story they accompany. With each page, these images remind readers of the heartbeat of New York City.

    This anthology is a treasure trove for mystery lovers, with a range of stories that vary from curious to chilling.

    The pieces come together like an intricately crafted puzzle, enticing readers to decipher their enigmatic clues and revel in the satisfying resolution. Perhaps the greatest joy here is that one can return after their first reading to linger gently on the interplay between image and story for a fuller experience. Each readthrough unravels new layers and meanings, expertly arranged by Crowens.

    New York: Give Me Your Best or Your Worst is an outstanding anthology that captures the essence of New York and its myriad stories.

    With its diverse range of voices, skillful storytelling, and the captivating addition of photography, this collection invites readers to embark on a literary journey through the soul of the city. Whether you’re a mystery enthusiast seeking a thrilling read or a lover of New York longing to rediscover its magic, this anthology is sure to leave an indelible mark.

    New York: Give Me Your Best or Your Worst by Elizabeth Crowens won Grand Prize in the 2021 CIBA Shorts Awards for Short Story Collections, Essay Collections, and Anthologies.

     

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