Our
readers might be interested in two books by former Bibliotekos contributors. Patty Somlo’s short story collection, The First to Disappear; and Janyce Stefan-Cole’s new
novel, The Detective’s Garden.
1. Here’s
what reviewer Jenny Bhatt has to say, in part, about Somlo’s collection. (Full
review here)
“The true beauty...of this collection is that each story is an actual ‘story’ - by which, I mean, that each one has something interesting and different to offer. As Mark Haddon recently wrote in his now-famous Guardian article on short stories: ‘I have read too many beige short stories in my life, too many short stories that feel like fivefinger exercises. There are limits to what can happen in the real world. In fiction there are no limits: anything is possible on paper. It seems to me that if you are writing a short story and it is not more entertaining than the stories in that morning's newspaper or that evening's TV news, then you need to throw it away and start again, or open a cycle repair shop.’ These stories are anything but beige. They shimmer with all the colors of the rainbow, and they are definitely more interesting than what goes viral in news or social media these days. It is clear that Somlo writes for the sheer pleasure of writing and storytelling, and that pleasure transfers easily to us, her readers
“The true beauty...of this collection is that each story is an actual ‘story’ - by which, I mean, that each one has something interesting and different to offer. As Mark Haddon recently wrote in his now-famous Guardian article on short stories: ‘I have read too many beige short stories in my life, too many short stories that feel like fivefinger exercises. There are limits to what can happen in the real world. In fiction there are no limits: anything is possible on paper. It seems to me that if you are writing a short story and it is not more entertaining than the stories in that morning's newspaper or that evening's TV news, then you need to throw it away and start again, or open a cycle repair shop.’ These stories are anything but beige. They shimmer with all the colors of the rainbow, and they are definitely more interesting than what goes viral in news or social media these days. It is clear that Somlo writes for the sheer pleasure of writing and storytelling, and that pleasure transfers easily to us, her readers
2. Here are some testimonials praising Stefan-Cole: “A
mystery both gruesome and metaphysical, this is a story that entertains
while delving into the deepest conundrum of all—the tragedy that make us
human.” -Ed Falco, The Family Corleone. “Fine, suspenseful writing.”
-Bob Shacochis, The Woman Who Lost Her Soul. “Dreamlike, ruminative, and
filled with questions impossible to answer.” -Kirkus Reviews. There is
also a review from Publishers Weekly here.
