Scan barcode
A review by bratdoll
Five Minutes at Hotel Stormcove by M. Lopes da Silva, Robert Perez, Drew Michaels, Stewart C. Baker, Lazolia Buzuzi, Preeti C. Sharma, Juleigh Howard-Hobson, Maria E. Andreu, F.E. Norley, Mark Frost, Rachel Leidenfrost, Tom Jolly, C. Flynt, Tamzin Mitchell, Demi Elder, Rita Beth Ebert, T.J. Lockwood, Minerva Cerridwen, Irene Punti, Michael Noble, George Nikolopoulos, Laura Johnson, Karen Giery, Janna Layton, Marriah Allen Pina, Elizabeth Shaffer, B.C. Kalis, Holly Schofield, Mike Casto, Michael W. Cho, Joshua Amodeo, Dawn Vogel, J.S. Bailey, Christine Hanolsy, Jakob Drud, Marsalis, Ellen Meny, Kenn Pitawanakwat, Mike Morgan, Robert Bagnall, Kai Hudson, Bo Balder, E.D.E. Bell, Catrine Kyster Giery, Jannae’ Sifontes, John Lowell, Karen Black, L.S. Reinholt, Ruth Olson, Chelsea Cambeis, Chloe Lerit, Jasre' Ellis, Robert Dawson, Jennifer Lee Rossman, Margery Bayne, Indira Ronae Lorick, Ryanne Glenn, Andrew K. Hoe, Kella Campbell, Joy Givens
4.0
*Possible spoilers ahead*
Thank you to Netgalley and Atthis for the advanced copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
I don't usually read books of short stories, but I thought this was a fantastic one! What made it really special to me was the idea behind gathering the stories, and the criteria for the authors to follow. I was pulled in from the first short story, about robots, which I found whimsical. I just wished there had been more to it!
I enjoyed the following short stories: "You Can't Go Back," by Ellen Meny; "Dragon in the Cove," by L.S. Reinholt and Minerva Cerridwen; "Playing in the Snow," by Karen Black; "Cash, Card, Or My Unholy Offspring," by F E Norley; "Room Special," by Jakob Drud; and "How To Hide A Body," by Ruth Olson.
Extra special to me, were "Stormcove Hotel" by Karen Giery; and "The Opaque Oasis," by Marsalis, for different reasons. Marsalis's story broke my heart in many shattered pieces. Despite the 'five minutes' between the characters, I felt every bit of emotion and was left melted and weeping in the end.
I loved Karen Giery's story because, at eight-years-old, this young lady deserves recognition for a short but very moving contribution to the book.
I appreciated the differing stories, and especially the tidbits of information at the end of the stories, about the authors. I found it helpful, such as in Karen Giery's story, to know a little bit about them and how they related to their story. Without knowing that Karen was eight, for instance, I might have questioned the content. Despite another review in which the reader discredited the importance of an author's age, I found it to be relevant to the book and the stories within.
There were some stories I read that I did not enjoy, which is to be expected when there are multiple genres, content, and voices. But I appreciated the diversity of the stories as well, including the heartbreaking story by Marsalis.
The one and only reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 was because I had difficulty finding the point of some of the stories, and/or didn't appreciate how some of them ended. But that doesn't mean they were written poorly or anything, it's just my personal view.
If you enjoy books of short stories, or have never read one and might be interested, this is a good book to read. You'll love some, you'll dislike some, but overall I think you will have an appreciation for many of the authors in the book, as well as the unique idea behind the stories and, further, the variety of stories that will give you a new world each time with the same Hotel.
Side note: I hope that Karen Giery will be encouraged to continue writing. You did a wonderful job.
Thank you again, EDE Bell, Atthis Arts, and Netgalley, for the fun read. I look forward to placing the physical book in my collection.
This review will also be placed on my Goodreads and Instagram accounts
Thank you to Netgalley and Atthis for the advanced copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
I don't usually read books of short stories, but I thought this was a fantastic one! What made it really special to me was the idea behind gathering the stories, and the criteria for the authors to follow. I was pulled in from the first short story, about robots, which I found whimsical. I just wished there had been more to it!
I enjoyed the following short stories: "You Can't Go Back," by Ellen Meny; "Dragon in the Cove," by L.S. Reinholt and Minerva Cerridwen; "Playing in the Snow," by Karen Black; "Cash, Card, Or My Unholy Offspring," by F E Norley; "Room Special," by Jakob Drud; and "How To Hide A Body," by Ruth Olson.
Extra special to me, were "Stormcove Hotel" by Karen Giery; and "The Opaque Oasis," by Marsalis, for different reasons. Marsalis's story broke my heart in many shattered pieces. Despite the 'five minutes' between the characters, I felt every bit of emotion and was left melted and weeping in the end.
I loved Karen Giery's story because, at eight-years-old, this young lady deserves recognition for a short but very moving contribution to the book.
I appreciated the differing stories, and especially the tidbits of information at the end of the stories, about the authors. I found it helpful, such as in Karen Giery's story, to know a little bit about them and how they related to their story. Without knowing that Karen was eight, for instance, I might have questioned the content. Despite another review in which the reader discredited the importance of an author's age, I found it to be relevant to the book and the stories within.
There were some stories I read that I did not enjoy, which is to be expected when there are multiple genres, content, and voices. But I appreciated the diversity of the stories as well, including the heartbreaking story by Marsalis.
The one and only reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 was because I had difficulty finding the point of some of the stories, and/or didn't appreciate how some of them ended. But that doesn't mean they were written poorly or anything, it's just my personal view.
If you enjoy books of short stories, or have never read one and might be interested, this is a good book to read. You'll love some, you'll dislike some, but overall I think you will have an appreciation for many of the authors in the book, as well as the unique idea behind the stories and, further, the variety of stories that will give you a new world each time with the same Hotel.
Side note: I hope that Karen Giery will be encouraged to continue writing. You did a wonderful job.
Thank you again, EDE Bell, Atthis Arts, and Netgalley, for the fun read. I look forward to placing the physical book in my collection.
This review will also be placed on my Goodreads and Instagram accounts