elisabethbeck's review
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
kyokroon's review
3.0
I liked this collection, especially the short story by Ali Smith about words and etymolgies! The first story by Mark Haddon on Ariadne was also very interesting, although the ending was a bit disappointing but a very interesting retelling! The other stories were all more or less fine; good short stories but not necessarily anything mind-bogglingly amazing.
captainjemima's review
4.0
This was a charming collection of short stories by some famous authors:
The Island by Mark Haddon
Playing with... by Geoff Dyer
Aflame in Athens by Victoria Hislop
A Family Evening by Sebastian Faulks
The King Who Never Spoke by John le Carré
Into the World by Xiaolu Guo
Sandcastles: A Negotiation by William Sutcliffe
Last by Ali Smith
Long Time, No See by Lionel Shriver
Dog Days by Jeanette Winterson
Whether I'd heard of or read these authors before or not didn't seem to matter in this collection. The stories were fresh and interesting. This book, Fire, is supposed to focus on conflict, as well as the element of fire itself. A couple of the stories left me thinking, "What was the point of that?", but my favourites (The Island, The King Who Never Spoke, Into the World, and Dog Days) really made an impact on me.
The Island follows a woman in some rustic century who lives in a rich household but decides to elope with one of the prisoners in the dungeon. In the end he deserts her on a strange island and she has to try to survive on her basic knowledge of the world, after having lived a privileged, waited-on life.
The King Who Never Spoke showed just how important words are when we use them. The King's kingdom slowly but surely lost its conflict, and everything turned to peace.
Into the World shows how ambition can lead you through life, but at some point we need to step back from ambition and recede into simplicity.
Lastly, Dog Days is a touching memoir about a spaniel and an astute analysis of love - how it forms us and our lives.
I enjoyed reading a book of short stories because it was easy to dip into when I was tired or didn't have enough days left before getting my new book club book.
The Island by Mark Haddon
Playing with... by Geoff Dyer
Aflame in Athens by Victoria Hislop
A Family Evening by Sebastian Faulks
The King Who Never Spoke by John le Carré
Into the World by Xiaolu Guo
Sandcastles: A Negotiation by William Sutcliffe
Last by Ali Smith
Long Time, No See by Lionel Shriver
Dog Days by Jeanette Winterson
Whether I'd heard of or read these authors before or not didn't seem to matter in this collection. The stories were fresh and interesting. This book, Fire, is supposed to focus on conflict, as well as the element of fire itself. A couple of the stories left me thinking, "What was the point of that?", but my favourites (The Island, The King Who Never Spoke, Into the World, and Dog Days) really made an impact on me.
The Island follows a woman in some rustic century who lives in a rich household but decides to elope with one of the prisoners in the dungeon. In the end he deserts her on a strange island and she has to try to survive on her basic knowledge of the world, after having lived a privileged, waited-on life.
The King Who Never Spoke showed just how important words are when we use them. The King's kingdom slowly but surely lost its conflict, and everything turned to peace.
Into the World shows how ambition can lead you through life, but at some point we need to step back from ambition and recede into simplicity.
Lastly, Dog Days is a touching memoir about a spaniel and an astute analysis of love - how it forms us and our lives.
I enjoyed reading a book of short stories because it was easy to dip into when I was tired or didn't have enough days left before getting my new book club book.
clss97's review
3.0
Especially liked dog days - but each story had a surprising aspect of fire in that, not only are the emotions strong, they are poignant in a way that gets that true idea of the element across in an emotional aspect opposed to an obvious elemental one the reader might be expecting.
ashleighm11's review
4.0
The Island
I love Haddon's writing. This story repulsed yet intrigued me at the same time. It was enjoyable, in some sick and twisted fashion. 4/5
Playing With...
I thought this was clever & witty. It was funny, fun & it made me smile. It wasn't too long & it was generally pretty good. But it seemed a little bit, I don't know, empty in places. 3/5
Aflame in Athens
I loved this one <3 So very much. It had me from the very beginning, I loved the flow & I loved the outcome. 5/5
A Family Evening
Good. Short. Sweet. I liked the flow & feel of this one. It wasn't too heavy, it got across what was intended. It was good & I enjoyed it 3/5
The King Who Never Spoke
Totally loved this one. It had the feel of a fairy tale, you know? I think that was the intention but I really loved it. =D 5/5
Into the World
I liked the change of culture in this one. It interested me. The writing was good & I liked the alternating point of views. 4/5
Sandcastles: A Negotiation
So brutally honest & so funny. I liked the flow, the humour. Very funny. It made me smile. 4/5
Last
I love Ali Smith. I lovelovelove Ali Smith. This wasn't my favourite story in the collection, nor is it my favourite short story of hers. But it was enjoyable and the pace & flow were pretty good. I love how she tells stories 4/5
Long Time, No See
I just couldn't get into this one. I don't know why I just, it didn't click with me like all the rest have. Don't get me wrong, his writing is amazing. His language just flows but I just didn't connect 2/5
Dog Days
I think this was just beautiful. It was probably my favourite story in the collection. Perfect way to finish off the collection. 5/5
Overall works out at 3.9/5. But I round up so 4/5 overall. Perfect for a summers day reading ^_^
I love Haddon's writing. This story repulsed yet intrigued me at the same time. It was enjoyable, in some sick and twisted fashion. 4/5
Playing With...
I thought this was clever & witty. It was funny, fun & it made me smile. It wasn't too long & it was generally pretty good. But it seemed a little bit, I don't know, empty in places. 3/5
Aflame in Athens
I loved this one <3 So very much. It had me from the very beginning, I loved the flow & I loved the outcome. 5/5
A Family Evening
Good. Short. Sweet. I liked the flow & feel of this one. It wasn't too heavy, it got across what was intended. It was good & I enjoyed it 3/5
The King Who Never Spoke
Totally loved this one. It had the feel of a fairy tale, you know? I think that was the intention but I really loved it. =D 5/5
Into the World
I liked the change of culture in this one. It interested me. The writing was good & I liked the alternating point of views. 4/5
Sandcastles: A Negotiation
So brutally honest & so funny. I liked the flow, the humour. Very funny. It made me smile. 4/5
Last
I love Ali Smith. I lovelovelove Ali Smith. This wasn't my favourite story in the collection, nor is it my favourite short story of hers. But it was enjoyable and the pace & flow were pretty good. I love how she tells stories 4/5
Long Time, No See
I just couldn't get into this one. I don't know why I just, it didn't click with me like all the rest have. Don't get me wrong, his writing is amazing. His language just flows but I just didn't connect 2/5
Dog Days
I think this was just beautiful. It was probably my favourite story in the collection. Perfect way to finish off the collection. 5/5
Overall works out at 3.9/5. But I round up so 4/5 overall. Perfect for a summers day reading ^_^
treereader's review
4.0
As with all short stories, I liked some and was ambivalent about others.
Favourite: The King Who Never Spoke. Very sweet.
Favourite: The King Who Never Spoke. Very sweet.
meganori's review
4.0
Some really great stories in this collection. Mark Haddon's was the stand out: so haunting!
halfmanhalfbook's review
3.0
Another good set of short stories for the Oxfam collection. The Fire set are highlighting the work that they do in conflict zones.
The John le Carré story is very good, as i would expect by him, and Aflame in Athens by Victoria Hislop has a good plot for such a short story. Sandcastles: A Negotiation by William Sutcliffe is chilling. I like the Sebastian Faulks story too; I must read more by him.
The John le Carré story is very good, as i would expect by him, and Aflame in Athens by Victoria Hislop has a good plot for such a short story. Sandcastles: A Negotiation by William Sutcliffe is chilling. I like the Sebastian Faulks story too; I must read more by him.
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