Reviews

Light Lifting by Alexander MacLeod

emmamerriam's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

ovenbird_reads's review against another edition

3.0

I would have rated certain stories a 4. I liked this book for its deep familiarity. The stories are set in Windsor, Ontario where I grew up and the landscape and even details of people's lives dredged up lots of memories. The writing itself was consistently good and really amazing in places. Some of the stories had frustrating unresolved endings but in general I would recommend this book of short stories.

dannybengert's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

jhockin's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

patrick_114's review against another edition

4.0

Really solid stories. Enjoyed them very much.

serendipitymarg's review against another edition

4.0

Very dark endings, but I devoured these stories. A wonderful East Coast writer.

kristaann's review against another edition

2.0

I can't say that I was a fan of the way that most of the stories would end. I have an alright imagination, but it's the authors job to tell their characters stories. I felt left out in the cold with a few of the ones included in this book.

That being said, I still enjoyed MacLeod's writing, and some of the stories really touched me, like "The Number Three".

clarehitchens's review against another edition

4.0

I liked these stories very much. I especially loved the title story and the way it did such a slow build to the climax that I almost thought I was going to escape without that punch at the end. MacLeod uses the randomness of life to turn his stories but not without lulling you into comfort first. My only caveat is to suggest you not read one after the other until you're finished. As in many collections I found a sameness after a while, which doesn't mean that the stories themselves were the same, but they worked better if I read other things in between them.

strikingthirteen's review

4.0

I think I might have to go back and read this again sometime soon. Reading this on the morning shifts was probably a disservice. I really did like a lot of the story - also the urbanity of it all. It's so rare to see that. "Adult Beginner 1" I think has to be my favourite because I am swim instructor and lifeguard and it all rang true with me.

scotchneat's review

4.0

When your dad is a famous award-winning author, it must be damned hard to build your own stories and put them in print.

Alexander MacLeod's first collection of short stories is a corker. He has a great ear for family voices and is a dab hand at sketching big worlds and thoughts in small things, pop culture references, landscapes. He is also absolutely unafraid to leave you to figure out something on your own, and I appreciate that.

Windsor, ON is a character in this book. A Windsor that has a lot of Detroit in it, and dignity and sadness and yearning too.

In "Miracle Mile" we meet two runners as the prep for a race; in "Wonder About Parents" it's the painful experience of parenthood to child and to parent; in "Adult Beginner 1" a girl overcomes her fear of swimming to find something else more ominous. "The Number Three" is gut-wrenching and gritty.

All in all, a great collection.