⇒ Read City Solipsism A Short Story edition by Zack Love Literature Fiction eBooks

City Solipsism A Short Story edition by Zack Love Literature Fiction eBooks

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City Solipsism A Short Story edition by Zack Love Literature Fiction eBooks

Short stories fascinate me. I have a tendency to ramble, stroll around aimlessly, linger in my writing which is obvious in my reviews, but shorts require a careful cultivation of the specific words that tell that specific story in the designated length. It's the restriction which makes every word matter yet a talented writer manages to convince the reader that there were never any guidelines at all.

Jack takes a regular train ride while fixating on a fellow passenger who shares the subway bar with him on the trip. Their journey isn't any different than any other that he's taken. It's the same rails, same cars, same train, but Jack uses the beautiful woman at his side to make the trip a true journey. He's transported back in time to when he was a younger man who did spontaneous things, traveled Europe, played guitar, and had affairs with women who left him with memories which will last him a lifetime.

He calls the woman Florence because her looks hint to a Spanish or Italian heritage; he can't seem to broach the awkwardness of a first meeting to ask for her real name. It's charming to see Jack struggling to think of his past while trying to appreciate his present at the same time. His reminiscences of a languid youth coupled with his reality of a harried adult make for an interesting paradox of a person. It's hard to imagine this man who can't even say 'hello' to a beautiful lady whose hand is close enough to touch on the same bar once traveled through Italy with nothing more than a backpack and a guitar.

Life takes us all in strange directions though, doesn't it? We're rarely the same person we were after six years have passed us by. Six years of living as an adult have changed Jack.

I loved his story, his thought progression, and I loved how it all ended though honestly? I would have still loved the piece if it had been left open to a missed encounter with the pair of them -Jack and his Florence- parting ways at the train station, two ships sailing the same waters, passing in the night. It gave me a nice laugh since I've had that experience myself.

Overall this piece's point was to make the reader appreciate the small meetings in life since one never knows who'll change one's life, who will result in a beautiful memory, or who will be a missed opportunity for something better.

Five stars for a luxurious train ride which felt far longer than it's actual length.

***Note: Review based upon a complimentary copy provided to This Redhead LOVES Books in exchange for an honest review. I have since purchased the piece to make it a part of my permanent library.***


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City Solipsism A Short Story edition by Zack Love Literature Fiction eBooks Reviews

This is probably one of the hardest reviews I have ever had to write. Why, because if there were ever a story to throw my BD out of whack, it would be this one. What began as a very thought-provoking piece about what goes on inside the head of a man while sitting on a train ended with me wanting to throw my kindle against the wall.

I lived in Japan for 2 ½ years and during that time I spent a LOT of time on the train. In addition to being the easiest way to get from point A to point B in a major metropolitan area, it is also an easy way to learn the language, and just generally watch people and get a feel for the culture around you. Often times I would find myself amused or puzzled by people on the train, whether it be because of their interaction (or lack thereof) with other people, or simply by the interesting things they might be wearing or reading, you can learn a lot about people when you share a train car with them for any length of time.

I can imagine it is only more so as a single person. I wouldn’t know, I’ve been married for nearly half of my life so my thoughts on the train have never crossed over into those of a sexual or nature, but I have seen those who have had those thoughts around me. It’s easy to wonder about someone’s life story; where they work, or if they are single or attached. Single people taking the train could have different motives than married or attached people; it is something I never really had thought of until I read this short story. Zack (Sorry, normally I’m far more formal but I just feel funny referring to him as Mr. Love…queue the porn music!) did an excellent job of getting inside the narrators head. All of his life experiences had an influence on how he saw this woman and the story he fabricated in his head of whom she might be.

Zack is an excellent writer. I was immediately sucked into this story and before I had reached the end, I engaged my husband in a conversation about it because it really was very thought provoking. My training is in anthropology so I am an observer by nature; perhaps that is why I found this so intriguing. The piece was well written, captivating, and I loved it. Until the end.

Then.
I.
Hated.
It.

It seemed like such a cop out of an ending! It really felt like maybe he just got tired of writing, it seemed like such an easy way out. I wanted more, Zack. Why did you have to end it like that? Now I’m left wondering how on earth I should rate it, because it was five stars, right up until that last page and then you pulled the rug out from under me. So, I am going to go with four stars. Or maybe I should drop a bombshell right at the. Very. End.
Short stories fascinate me. I have a tendency to ramble, stroll around aimlessly, linger in my writing which is obvious in my reviews, but shorts require a careful cultivation of the specific words that tell that specific story in the designated length. It's the restriction which makes every word matter yet a talented writer manages to convince the reader that there were never any guidelines at all.

Jack takes a regular train ride while fixating on a fellow passenger who shares the subway bar with him on the trip. Their journey isn't any different than any other that he's taken. It's the same rails, same cars, same train, but Jack uses the beautiful woman at his side to make the trip a true journey. He's transported back in time to when he was a younger man who did spontaneous things, traveled Europe, played guitar, and had affairs with women who left him with memories which will last him a lifetime.

He calls the woman Florence because her looks hint to a Spanish or Italian heritage; he can't seem to broach the awkwardness of a first meeting to ask for her real name. It's charming to see Jack struggling to think of his past while trying to appreciate his present at the same time. His reminiscences of a languid youth coupled with his reality of a harried adult make for an interesting paradox of a person. It's hard to imagine this man who can't even say 'hello' to a beautiful lady whose hand is close enough to touch on the same bar once traveled through Italy with nothing more than a backpack and a guitar.

Life takes us all in strange directions though, doesn't it? We're rarely the same person we were after six years have passed us by. Six years of living as an adult have changed Jack.

I loved his story, his thought progression, and I loved how it all ended though honestly? I would have still loved the piece if it had been left open to a missed encounter with the pair of them -Jack and his Florence- parting ways at the train station, two ships sailing the same waters, passing in the night. It gave me a nice laugh since I've had that experience myself.

Overall this piece's point was to make the reader appreciate the small meetings in life since one never knows who'll change one's life, who will result in a beautiful memory, or who will be a missed opportunity for something better.

Five stars for a luxurious train ride which felt far longer than it's actual length.

***Note Review based upon a complimentary copy provided to This Redhead LOVES Books in exchange for an honest review. I have since purchased the piece to make it a part of my permanent library.***