Review of The Blandford Fly

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Harshitha G B
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Review of The Blandford Fly

Post by Harshitha G B »

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Blandford Fly" by D.N. Moore.]
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5 out of 5 stars
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The collection of short tales "The Blandford Fly and Other Tales" by D.N. Moore centers on the themes of magic, supernatural power, and mystery aspects.

The central character of the first tale, "The Blandford and Fly," is a young boy named Danny, who has a bug obsession. Examining and appreciating the peculiarities of the insects and other creatures in his environment is his favorite thing to do. During this favorite activity, Danny once met Ginger, a little girl who had seen a beautiful big butterfly saved through magic, and she accepted Carson's stories about magical living things. Because of this, they grew up as friends and didn't give magic much thought, while Danny concentrated on his work as an entomologist. As things were settling down, Danny experienced a life-threatening incident that motivated him to experiment on a specific fly as a form of retaliation. The experiment produced an amazing magical phenomenon that Danny found hard to believe. The author's meticulous description of this mystical setting captured my entire attention. What is the experiment's aim, and what is its result? Why did he attack his favorite fly? How did he become Professor Fly, and how has magic changed his life? This captivating story tackles all these subjects.

In "The Living Boy: A Very Strange Christmas Story," a little child named "Davie McDaniel" finds himself enmeshed in a cycle of starvation. Then he met a doll girl, the Lady of the House, who showed him two different situations of hunger, making him wonder who was telling the truth and who wasn't. How will he be able to save himself? Who is right? Will there be a solution to hunger during Christmas? You will find answers here, but the narrative lacked strong narration and seemed flat and inconsistent, even if the author tried to make a point.

Georgia, a teenage artist with heightened eyesight, faces familial abuse due to her creative endeavors. In the "Sardines and Ice Cream" story, the author describes her. As a result, she left her home in search of calm, and along the way, she encountered amazing street artists, especially Chetan, who took her under his wing and helped her in every way. Her fantasies transformed into paintings, depicting real people or actual events that granted her renowned status and power, marking the beginning of the magical era. This is the beginning of her adventure. What use will she make of these gifts? How does she intend to pursue art? Her family—what about them? What if the people she meets have a positive influence on each other's lives? The author presents her narrative with passion, bringing the reader right into it. This inspires us to strive towards becoming the people we aspire to be.

In "Radio Sweethearts," the last story, there's a whiff of horror. A mother-daughter team named Jane and Gemma were exploring the city while listening to Levi Strife's radio show. At that moment, Jane sensed an unidentified presence. Abruptly, a spirit began to talk, identifying herself as Alice Riley and stating that she was trying to find her son. She told Jane her whole story, begged for her help, and gave indications that revealed some details about the person she was looking for. In this tale, a woman looks for her child. Will she find her son? What part does Levi's radio station play in this narrative? This section outlines the plot's development.

Overall, I give this book a 4 out of 5 rating. The story's strongest points are Georgia and Danny's intriguing plot and engrossing writings on magic. Within a few pages, these two tales have a strong narrative, likable characters, and superb narration; for that, the author is deserving of praise. The challenging aspect of Davie's novel was that it lacked a compelling plot and strong characters, making it uneven and difficult to read. Alice's story was not as compelling as the others; it felt haphazard and lacked any noteworthy events. I was thus unable to give it five stars due to this issue.
With a flawless book that makes for a pleasant read, the editing team performed a terrific job. I recommend this book to everyone who enjoys short tales and stories about magic.

******
The Blandford Fly
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With Warmest Regards,
Harshitha
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Priya Murugesan
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Post by Priya Murugesan »

A very good review! I love to read short stories and absolutely love magic. So I think I will love this book!
In a world where you can be anything, be kind :)
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David Awunor
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Post by David Awunor »

A very nice review,I am not a fan of this genre. I am glad you enjoyed it.
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Gerry Steen
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Post by Gerry Steen »

You did a detailed and honest review of this book. i also read this book and really enjoyed it. My 2 favorite stories were: "The Blandford Fly" and "Sardines and Ice-cream". I also enjoyed the other short stories. :techie-studyinggray:
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Rajaee R
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Post by Rajaee R »

Good review. The reviewer clearly pointed out which stories she liked and which she did not. I don't enjoy stories about magic that much, so I will have to pass.
Thanks for the review.
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Ashwini Tawade
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Post by Ashwini Tawade »

Your review and this storybook both look fantastic. I think I will enjoy reading all the stories from this book. Thanks for the review.
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Stephen Christopher 1
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Post by Stephen Christopher 1 »

I love short stories with paranormal themes, so I'm going to enjoy this book. The great thing about short stories is that not every one of them resonates with every reader. I wonder if I'll feel the same as you with each of these. I'm looking forward to finding out.
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Post by Abhishek3m4 »

"The Blandford Fly and Other Tales" by D.N. Moore offers a captivating collection of short stories themed around magic, supernatural power, and mystery. From Danny's transformation in "The Blandford Fly" to Georgia's artistic journey in "Sardines and Ice Cream," the narratives are rich with imagination and detail. While stories like Davie's in "The Living Boy: A Very Strange Christmas Story" and Jane's encounter in "Radio Sweethearts" may lack the same depth, the overall collection is engaging and well-crafted. I rate this book 4 out of 5 for its compelling characters and enchanting storytelling.
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