A review by serendipitysbooks
Local Fires by Joshua Jones

emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

 Local Fires is a collection of interconnected short stories set in Llanelli, Wales. They are often gritty, exploring themes like sexuality, gender, neurodivergence, toxic masculinity, and the realities of life in a down on its luck working class town. The focus on a single community and the interconnected nature of the stories where characters reappear gave this book a sense of unity that some collections lack. The stories managed to convey both a deep love for the place and the people who live there, as well as an awareness of the very real flaws of both. The writing was strong, and the author seemed adroit at recognising the significance of small moments. I enjoyed the time I spent with this book and value it for the window it provided into lives quite different from my own. 
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