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A Review of "Over the Pass, and Other Stories"



Introduction

When author Susan Mary Malone contacted me about this book and told me that she was a native Texan, I was delighted! I don't get too many opportunities to meet Texan authors outside of writers' conferences, and I don't recall ever reviewing a book by a Texan author before. She kindly gave me a .mobi file of Over the Pass, and Other Stories in exchange for an honest review, and I'm certainly glad that she did, because I loved this book!

My Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis: "From the expansive openness of Texas to the steep peaks of Montana, this collection of stories mines iconic landscapes--the internal mirroring the outer realms. Many previously published in Literary journals and anthologies, some, original here, all explore what it means to be human. They are stories of the heart." (via Goodreads)


Thoughts and Comments

Pros

  • Let me start by saying that I think this book is extremely well-written. I was impressed by the syntax and language that the author displayed throughout every story.
  • The vocabulary is beautiful! It adds to the strange and wonderful metaphors and landscapes in the stories, and I was very pleased by it.
  • The descriptions of the scenery were exquisite! They made it easy to visualize what the narrator was seeing and caused the reader to fall in love with both Texas and Montana.
  • There are some rhetorical questions scattered throughout the narration that causes the reader to think deeply about the characterization of the narrator, as well as to empathize even more with the situation that the narrator is in.
  • Typically I'm not a fan of short stories, but despite this being the case with this book, they were all captivating, and I never found myself itching to finish one to get to the next.
  • The author's passion for nature is obvious throughout the stories, and it's a great comfort to know that her passions are reflected in her writing.

Cons

  • The only negative thing I have to say about this book is that there were some blatant typos and MANY formatting issues. I think that if the novel went through another round of proofreading, and if it was adjusted properly to Kindle's settings, it's very possible that I would have no complaints about it at all!


Conclusion

This is the PERFECT book to bring along with you if you're taking a camping trip! The descriptions of Montana and Texas (especially Texas--I have to represent my home state somehow!) will push you to appreciate the beauty of the nature that surrounds you. Ms. Malone, I appreciate the opportunity to review your work, and I look forward to seeing more from you in the future!


Amazon Link: See here
Goodreads Link: See here
Riffle Link: See here


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