[Review] - Wither and Other Stories
Wither and Other Stories
By Sonora Taylor
I read and loved Sonora's Little Paranoias. ‘Love’ isn't a strong enough word. Had I not read that one, this would probably be a solid 4, but I feel that inflating the rating of this one would somehow deflate my love of Little Paranoias.
This book contains four stories. Two of them are more traditional in length for short stories, and two are extremely short pieces of flash fiction.
“Wither” is without a doubt the highlight of the book. It’s an emotional tale of a young girl who has been moved to the woods and away from the wickedness of the city to survive and forage off the land. You start off believing that her parents are possibly extreme and choosing this lifestyle (not out of necessity) that may not be beneficial for a small child. You can hear the growling stomach and feel the pangs of hunger. Things shift and maybe her parents had the right idea? But the foraging gets thinner and thinner as our main character continues to grow and require more sustenance. There are things I want to say here about the earth providing for us - providing what we need to sustain ourselves - but I am just going to shut up and keep spoilers to myself.
“Nesting” could have been a second point of view to the world of “Wither.” A woman locked inside her house watches a bird through the window.
“Smoke Circles” is another very short piece about a moment in time, maybe a break from solitude. There’s a bit of a company sitting around a fire with a drink and a smoke.
“We Really Shouldn't” has a man and woman discuss their past over coffee. Alluding to what their relationship was like before a break. There’s a little flirting, little suggestion of picking back up where they left off. It’s a slow build to a shocking end.
Grade: 3.5 Stars
Review by Well Read Beard
Twitter: @WellReadBeard
I purchased this book for review consideration.