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That Sadie Thing and other stories edition by Annalisa Crawford Literature Fiction eBooks

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That Sadie Thing and other stories edition by Annalisa Crawford Literature Fiction eBooks

I really enjoyed this selection of 11 stories.

That Sadie Thing: is a story about a victim who should have "played by the rules" and uttered just one "saturated scream" which would have "kept her alive." ~ Ha! I didn't see the twist coming in this one!

Irish Green: tells about a second chance at love for a reluctant loner who "doesn't talk to strangers" ~ I felt a sense of closure by the last line!

Beth: is the story of a boy...a girl...a party...a courtship...a bouquet...an engagement...a wedding...a marriage...some children...a man...an affair...then nothing...and finally, an "extraordinary angel" ~ This one tugged at my heartstrings... life is so unfair!

The Walking Dead: a squatter has a guitar for company, and an old man who helps her to make an important decision. ~ A sense of hope lingers...all is not lost!

Open Windows: in the story, life passes by, as a woman focuses on hanging onto memories of a relationship that ended before it began.~ It left me in a state of limbo...neither here, nor there!

Omelette: this is a beautiful and thought-provoking tale of friendship, both old and new, tied together by a painting and an omelette. ~ There is a friend for every reason and every season!

Shadows Of Autumn: this tale highlights the turbulent thoughts and memories of an anguished mother while she waits for news about her missing daughter. ~ The ending was a tug-of-war between relief and disappointment...and I'm still not sure which one triumphed!

Portrait Of The Painter: is about a long-standing, yet odd association between a quirky, spontaneous artist who is wrapped up in her own world; and a loyal, dependable man who is protective over her and seems to have accepted the relationship for what it is. ~ I get the impression that each one would be lost without the other!

The Girl Who Is Good: is about an outwardly demure and well-mannered young girl, who is tortured by a Jekyll-and-Hyde inner personality, and cold-hearted parents who think they know what's best for her. ~ I wondered about her mental condition...and that of her parents too!

Tasting The Grass: is basically about a one-night-stand behind a partner's back; but I think the other important theme is parental love and acceptance that is NOT unconditional, and the resulting uncertainty/confusion that plagues the recipient and manifests itself in different life choices that are made. ~ I doubt that the character knew what she really wanted!

Rain Dancing: this story focuses on the turning point in a relationship between a risk-taker type of woman who "dances in the rain", and a predictable man who is content to go to work everyday and watch television at night. ~ I couldn't help wondering whether the events signalled the end of their relationship or the beginning of a new-and-exciting-chapter!


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That Sadie Thing and other stories edition by Annalisa Crawford Literature Fiction eBooks Reviews

Well, darn. Whattaya know? Every other reviewer gave this book five stars, too.

Okay, so my reaction isn't unique. Big deal. That doesn't matter, because I'm telling ya, these stories are unique, and this book deserves every five-star review it gets. Every story is memorable, and unlike any you've read before. Not only did I thoroughly enjoy this book, but I may just have to read it again. The first time, I gobbled the stories like a bag of chips. Next time, I'll try to slow down and savor. If I can.
There is a liminal space that exists in certain moments of our lives. When first we begin a relationship with someone - be it romantic or otherwise - and when we reach an end in those relationships, we are in a state of both knowing and not knowing anything about the other. We are also in a state of both knowing and not knowing anything about ourselves. Crawford expresses this state of being with grace and candor. She illustrates the world of unintentional secrets - everything we think we say to someone that we don't, and everything we mean to say to someone that we don't - and allows to unfold in her stories the tension that arises from the act of pulling away from each other and pulling away from ourselves. While this is the overarching impression from this collection, there are a couple stories where she does focus more on how situations cause a state of emotional limbo for people and these are no less amazing. The doubts and fears that arise from these moments are so real and true I couldn't help but relate to the character in that situation - even if I felt that I wouldn't have related to the characters at all otherwise. But this again is an excellent demonstration of how, while we are all different people, there are points or circumstances to which we can all empathize. We can say "why don't you speak, say something," and know that we wouldn't say anything, either. That we would also float in the liminal space and wonder how we got there and who these other people are that we are trying to include in our lives - who we are for trying to include them at all.
I loved this book. I've often been disappointed by short stories, but this collection rocked. Annalisa Crawford creates scenes that draw you right in. It's like she says to herself, "I wonder what it would be like to be ...." and then finishes these sentences A woman getting (or making) nuisance phone calls; A person in a relationship waking up with someone other than their partner; a husband and wife still holding hope that their long-missing daughter might return to them ... alive. And more. She takes us into these people's lives, with vivid description that create scenes so visually and emotionally real. And best of all, she surprised me Every. Single. Time. Crawford has a dark side and a funny side and an emotional side and a compassionate side and all these come through in this collection. It's awesome.
These stories suck the reader in from the get-go. Sometimes from the first sentence we're in the middle of a character's thought that leads us down a winding path that I, for one, was happy to follow, the feeling of being led to a gingerbread house in the middle of a dark forest. Ms. Crawford writes about the topics that one doesn't normally discuss in polite society stalking, bulimia, how marriage can dull our luster, how people need to be loved and/or wanted with a desperation bordering on hysteria. The unique angle she approaches from by flirting shamelessly with life's darker aspects creates an uncomfortable sensation made just bearable by the suggestion of hope and/or unexpected perspectives turning an idea on its head. The stories left me wondering and musing but also strangely and wonderfully satisfied. Thank you for such a treat!
I really enjoyed this selection of 11 stories.

That Sadie Thing is a story about a victim who should have "played by the rules" and uttered just one "saturated scream" which would have "kept her alive." ~ Ha! I didn't see the twist coming in this one!

Irish Green tells about a second chance at love for a reluctant loner who "doesn't talk to strangers" ~ I felt a sense of closure by the last line!

Beth is the story of a boy...a girl...a party...a courtship...a bouquet...an engagement...a wedding...a marriage...some children...a man...an affair...then nothing...and finally, an "extraordinary angel" ~ This one tugged at my heartstrings... life is so unfair!

The Walking Dead a squatter has a guitar for company, and an old man who helps her to make an important decision. ~ A sense of hope lingers...all is not lost!

Open Windows in the story, life passes by, as a woman focuses on hanging onto memories of a relationship that ended before it began.~ It left me in a state of limbo...neither here, nor there!

Omelette this is a beautiful and thought-provoking tale of friendship, both old and new, tied together by a painting and an omelette. ~ There is a friend for every reason and every season!

Shadows Of Autumn this tale highlights the turbulent thoughts and memories of an anguished mother while she waits for news about her missing daughter. ~ The ending was a tug-of-war between relief and disappointment...and I'm still not sure which one triumphed!

Portrait Of The Painter is about a long-standing, yet odd association between a quirky, spontaneous artist who is wrapped up in her own world; and a loyal, dependable man who is protective over her and seems to have accepted the relationship for what it is. ~ I get the impression that each one would be lost without the other!

The Girl Who Is Good is about an outwardly demure and well-mannered young girl, who is tortured by a Jekyll-and-Hyde inner personality, and cold-hearted parents who think they know what's best for her. ~ I wondered about her mental condition...and that of her parents too!

Tasting The Grass is basically about a one-night-stand behind a partner's back; but I think the other important theme is parental love and acceptance that is NOT unconditional, and the resulting uncertainty/confusion that plagues the recipient and manifests itself in different life choices that are made. ~ I doubt that the character knew what she really wanted!

Rain Dancing this story focuses on the turning point in a relationship between a risk-taker type of woman who "dances in the rain", and a predictable man who is content to go to work everyday and watch television at night. ~ I couldn't help wondering whether the events signalled the end of their relationship or the beginning of a new-and-exciting-chapter!