Review of Is Truth Stranger Than Fiction? You Decide . . .
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Arvind Kumar Sinha 21
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Review of Is Truth Stranger Than Fiction? You Decide . . .
[Following is a volunteer review of "Is Truth Stranger Than Fiction? You Decide . . ." by Jody B. Miller.]
J.B. Miller's Is Truth Stranger Than Fiction? You Decide... is a book consisting of three short stories. In each of the stories, Miller throws a challenge to the reader to decide whether the events in the stories have some truth to them or not and whether they are indeed fiction. The first story, "Is P.L. My Half Brother?" is a story of family secrets and the complexities of human relationships. A young girl comes to know that she has half-brother from her father's affair. She has a brother whom she was not even aware of—a brother who is unaware of the real identity of his father. It's a story of how she faced the truth and how she went to such great extents to find her half-brother, who might be a pretty noted celebrity.
The second story, "Tweeker," is about a girl who had a rather bad childhood, abandonment issues, and a hell lot of dysfunctional living.It gets her to want to control everything and how all these backfire on her and how she copes with everything. She also wants to design something like an IDEA; she needs funding for this, and this is going to somehow change her life, or so she believes.
The final story, "The Recruiter," is a chilling tale of corporate espionage and to what extreme measures people will go for power and money. There is Bill, a dedicated employee who has "worked ten years on Wall Street in a happy home with three kids and a fourth on the way." There is a twist: he is fired without any explanations. As he grapples with his sudden unemployment, a recruiter comes and offers him a new tempting position. The rest of the story is what this new offer is and how and why he was dismissed. Miller skillfully weaves a narrative that keeps readers thinking about what's happening while also bringing along the themes of loyalty, betrayal, and dark ambition.
Miller's writing is engaging as well as thought-provoking, as it keeps readers on edge of seats throughout every story.While all the stories do come to the reader as standalone, some subtle connection ties them together. One recurring theme for me in each tale is betrayal. Each of the main characters suffers grave betrayal from at least one whom they trusted. We have to wait until Volume 2 to know exactly what happened with each character regarding that end.
Finally, I rate this book a complete "5 out of 5 stars." I hardly noticed a single error, and this book was so gripping, like a mystery or puzzle you want to solve. Each story offers a unique point of view on the human condition, exploring identity issues, belonging, and the pursuit of success.
The book can be termed mature reading, especially the second one. There is cursing and profanity, so be aware of this, but I think it's a must-read for fans of short fiction or fans who just love to solve mysteries in human psychology.
******
Is Truth Stranger Than Fiction? You Decide . . .
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
J.B. Miller's Is Truth Stranger Than Fiction? You Decide... is a book consisting of three short stories. In each of the stories, Miller throws a challenge to the reader to decide whether the events in the stories have some truth to them or not and whether they are indeed fiction. The first story, "Is P.L. My Half Brother?" is a story of family secrets and the complexities of human relationships. A young girl comes to know that she has half-brother from her father's affair. She has a brother whom she was not even aware of—a brother who is unaware of the real identity of his father. It's a story of how she faced the truth and how she went to such great extents to find her half-brother, who might be a pretty noted celebrity.
The second story, "Tweeker," is about a girl who had a rather bad childhood, abandonment issues, and a hell lot of dysfunctional living.It gets her to want to control everything and how all these backfire on her and how she copes with everything. She also wants to design something like an IDEA; she needs funding for this, and this is going to somehow change her life, or so she believes.
The final story, "The Recruiter," is a chilling tale of corporate espionage and to what extreme measures people will go for power and money. There is Bill, a dedicated employee who has "worked ten years on Wall Street in a happy home with three kids and a fourth on the way." There is a twist: he is fired without any explanations. As he grapples with his sudden unemployment, a recruiter comes and offers him a new tempting position. The rest of the story is what this new offer is and how and why he was dismissed. Miller skillfully weaves a narrative that keeps readers thinking about what's happening while also bringing along the themes of loyalty, betrayal, and dark ambition.
Miller's writing is engaging as well as thought-provoking, as it keeps readers on edge of seats throughout every story.While all the stories do come to the reader as standalone, some subtle connection ties them together. One recurring theme for me in each tale is betrayal. Each of the main characters suffers grave betrayal from at least one whom they trusted. We have to wait until Volume 2 to know exactly what happened with each character regarding that end.
Finally, I rate this book a complete "5 out of 5 stars." I hardly noticed a single error, and this book was so gripping, like a mystery or puzzle you want to solve. Each story offers a unique point of view on the human condition, exploring identity issues, belonging, and the pursuit of success.
The book can be termed mature reading, especially the second one. There is cursing and profanity, so be aware of this, but I think it's a must-read for fans of short fiction or fans who just love to solve mysteries in human psychology.
******
Is Truth Stranger Than Fiction? You Decide . . .
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise by John K Danenbarger
