Review by Zgub -- Shackles and More Gripping Tales

[Zgub]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Shackles and More Gripping Tales" by James Hanna.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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Shackles and More Gripping Tales by James Hanna is a collection of short stories that will both make you curious or make you lose interest. Altogether a well written and edited book this collection made me take more time that I would like to finish it. If in some cases I was baffled and wanted to learn more about the characters or situation in others I was left wondering what did I just read and what exactly is the direction of the story.

Thus being a collection the win with reading it is that it doesn't take you much time, you can always relate to one story or another and you can choose what to read or not, depending on your preferences. You can choose to read from science fiction to death experiences, from sex and lust to mystery or you can choose from the incredible vivid police stories.

I am keen on learning new things and see other points of view and I managed to have a favorite story that made me think and imagine a different world. A great idea transposed in an endless story about a couple living in a society where you are not allowed to do almost anything (for example wearing the color blue is also an issue) and if you break the law you will be hanged.

Twist of the book doesn't lie in describing the situations, but in getting to know the characters in a really short amount of time and relate (or not) with them and after letting them go and trying not to link them with the other stories. Nixon or Shakespear's art is present in romantic views on death or lust, one being the tour guide through hell, the other helping a teenager conquer what he believed to be the love of his life.

So if you like to read, but are short on time, you enjoy mystery, science fiction and love stories this book is for you. I rate it 3 out of 4 because it was hard to follow and from my point of view a collection like this should contain similar stories or at least more stories with a beginning and an end. Most of the book I felt like it doesn't satisfy my curiosity and that it never will. Some good ideas for books, but don't expect to fall in love with the characters, because there's not enough time.

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Shackles and More Gripping Tales
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