2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A valuable book, 10 April 2003
By Lionel Nosenchuck - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Rented Rooms: A Collection of Short Fiction (Paperback)
This is a valuable book. It will start you thinking about all sorts of things. The stories are well written and interesting. I found that the more time I put into thinking about the stories in this book, the more I thought about life in general and my life in particular. I found that many of the stories resonate with my own life. There was one story that I reread several times, called "Aunt Leona". Each time I reread it, I found that I was rewarded with a newer and larger understanding of the story.
"Aunt Leona", like many of the stories in this book, is about ordinary people: a secretary, her niece the narrator, an attorney, and the attorney's wife. On the surface, they lead ordinary lives and died ordinary deaths. As I read and reread the story, I began to see that beneath these lives, strong emotions came into play and their lives and deaths were something quite different from what they seemed. Who of us can really tell what someone else is really thinking? Really doing? Really did? Really has done? And why? Do we really ever know one another?
After each story are a few words from the author, commenting on the story and the author's feelings about the story. It's an added benefit of buying the book. Reading this book is sort of like a visit from a favorite friend, like having a cup of coffee with someone you like and respect and want to listen to because of all of the interesting things she's going to say, and the interesting questions she might ask.
5.0 out of 5 stars
We've all been in these rooms, 4 Aug 2008
By Robert S. Swiatek - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Rented Rooms: A Collection of Short Fiction (Paperback)
Linda has created a fine collection of life stories. Once you begin, you will find it difficult to put the book down. If these incidents have not been a part of your experience, someone you know has been there. My only complaint is that the collection comes to an end much too quickly. Fortunately, the author has compiled another one in "Thirst."
5.0 out of 5 stars
Short Shots, 30 Aug 2007
By Fred Tomasello Jr. - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Rented Rooms: A Collection of Short Fiction (Paperback)
These short stories are bullets--shots to the brain that stay on your mind long after you read them.
"Shadow Man" is very powerful. In less than 10 pages, Ms. Lavid made me care deeply for a young woman who's invited to meet her estranged father in the Tea Room of a fancy hotel. The dad abandoned her and her mother years ago.
The events that follow indelibly scorch my mind. I'm amazed how a writer can cram so much emotion, excitement, and vivid descriptive imagery in such a small package.
The stories were so good, I read the book in one day.
Fred Tomasello Jr.