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A review by praptip20
The Last Star & Other Stories by D.L. Orton
4.0
I received an ARC copy of this book from the author, [a:D.L. Orton|13506103|D.L. Orton|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/authors/1427753745p2/13506103.jpg] and was pleasantly surprised by the diverse content!
The first story, THE LAST STAR, was not really to my liking. That could be because I'm not a huge fan of sci-fi. Still, the little bits of philosophy that seeped out of the two characters' somewhat weird relationship was enough to fill my heart. Like they say, the end of the world is no joking matter!
I glossed over JUST FRIENDS, since I'm only fifteen and the title of the story signified that the content wasn't age appropriate material. But I did like the bit about the Scooby-Doo lunchbox! Made me really nostalgic :)
PHOENIX was one of my favourites in the collection and I read it over and over for like, a hundred times. I'm really crazy about animals and loved the way the author talked about her friendship with the dolphin. (I'm guessing it was partly nonfiction) The last part is especially touching, when she narrates what happens in the end to Phoenix and her sweet message to the world to clean up the seas. People nowadays really need to read more stories like this one. Stories that inspire, motivate.
MY KINGDOM FOR A DOUBLE ESPRESSO again wasn't really meant for me, but I did enjoy as the lead character dismantled the espresso machine. Although it was over a little soon, I wished there were more coffee ground spills! Nothing brightens up your awful morning than watching someone else's get ruined! For me, this one was for a laugh.
DOWN IN FLAMES is by far the best story in this book. I literally felt the pain of the author (I'm assuming this was nonfiction too, judging by the tone), and not only did this made for a very touching 9/11 memorial read, it showed me a whole other side of what transpired when the whole world was in chaos over the attacks. There is nothing in this world that can be compared to a mother's love for her child and what their separation might feel like is unimaginable for me. This was probably the most poignant and raw story I've ever read.
WILLING I had to give up reading after a casual tennis match arrangement turned into something, well, more explicit. It's amazing how many stories an author can spin off on tangents to the main theme!
THE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO WRITING WORKSHOPS was absolutely perfect! There was lots of satire, some very helpful facts and I somehow can't stop thinking about all the abbreviations she listed out! It's an ideal read for a frustrated writer who's looking for some help while also wanting to smile. That is, assuming he/she can differentiate between the wit and the truth!
Overall, this was a nice read read for a lazy weekend. I appreciated the fact that the author was very particular about including a life lesson with each story she spawned. When you're in the writing industry, it's quite difficult to hand out advice and still make your stories lively. D.L. Orton did a fantastic job with this and I'll be looking forward to read some of her other anthologies.
The first story, THE LAST STAR, was not really to my liking. That could be because I'm not a huge fan of sci-fi. Still, the little bits of philosophy that seeped out of the two characters' somewhat weird relationship was enough to fill my heart. Like they say, the end of the world is no joking matter!
I glossed over JUST FRIENDS, since I'm only fifteen and the title of the story signified that the content wasn't age appropriate material. But I did like the bit about the Scooby-Doo lunchbox! Made me really nostalgic :)
PHOENIX was one of my favourites in the collection and I read it over and over for like, a hundred times. I'm really crazy about animals and loved the way the author talked about her friendship with the dolphin. (I'm guessing it was partly nonfiction) The last part is especially touching, when she narrates what happens in the end to Phoenix and her sweet message to the world to clean up the seas. People nowadays really need to read more stories like this one. Stories that inspire, motivate.
MY KINGDOM FOR A DOUBLE ESPRESSO again wasn't really meant for me, but I did enjoy as the lead character dismantled the espresso machine. Although it was over a little soon, I wished there were more coffee ground spills! Nothing brightens up your awful morning than watching someone else's get ruined! For me, this one was for a laugh.
DOWN IN FLAMES is by far the best story in this book. I literally felt the pain of the author (I'm assuming this was nonfiction too, judging by the tone), and not only did this made for a very touching 9/11 memorial read, it showed me a whole other side of what transpired when the whole world was in chaos over the attacks. There is nothing in this world that can be compared to a mother's love for her child and what their separation might feel like is unimaginable for me. This was probably the most poignant and raw story I've ever read.
WILLING I had to give up reading after a casual tennis match arrangement turned into something, well, more explicit. It's amazing how many stories an author can spin off on tangents to the main theme!
THE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO WRITING WORKSHOPS was absolutely perfect! There was lots of satire, some very helpful facts and I somehow can't stop thinking about all the abbreviations she listed out! It's an ideal read for a frustrated writer who's looking for some help while also wanting to smile. That is, assuming he/she can differentiate between the wit and the truth!
Overall, this was a nice read read for a lazy weekend. I appreciated the fact that the author was very particular about including a life lesson with each story she spawned. When you're in the writing industry, it's quite difficult to hand out advice and still make your stories lively. D.L. Orton did a fantastic job with this and I'll be looking forward to read some of her other anthologies.