Review by cyriladavan -- Just Another Day

cyriladavan · Post by **cyriladavan** » 11 Jun 2020, 08:03

[Following is a volunteer review of "Just Another Day" by E. Alan Fleischauer.]

3 out of 4 stars

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Just Another Morning is a collection of short stories that center around the lives of different people. Narrated from a third person point of view, E. Alan Fleischauer’s collection tackles subjects on love, family, friendship, death, trauma, justice and redemption against the background of Christian ideals.

One thing I like about this collection is how each story proves to be interesting and enticing. There is a mix of eccentricity, optimism, and humor that make the collection achieve balance providing the readers with a rich reading experience. I also liked how the collection began and ended in a hopeful tone without it being too idealistic.

Another noteworthy detail is how the entire collection makes use of the third person point of view. Fleischaeur breaks the stereotype of the stale and reportage feel of the third person point of view. He can command the voice artfully and in many ways that he wants. The voice can exude a kind of tenderness at one point apparent in Just Another Morning and it can move readers at another as can be observed in The Chalice.

It goes without saying that somehow, the point of view used in the collection is also the root of the problems evident in some stories. Desert Easter Dessert and No Horsing Around are both told in a dark tone but the point of view fails to deliver creating a jarring effect which leaves the impression that they are told for the sole reason of shock value.

While the stories are all engaging, some fall short in passing the ‘so what?’ test. The shorter pieces also have the tendency to pull off lazy writing stunts resulting in a poorly written and rushed plot as well as the lack of clear character motivations. Fortunately, the longer pieces make up for the lack thereof by providing clearly fleshed out characters and appropriate setups. Mistakes in handling certain details during plot twists especially in Homeless… But Then… and Sherlock and Tiger could have been avoided if the stories have not resorted to lazy writing.

I appreciate the writer's strong stance against issues faced by the Church as he exposes its corrupt dealings and silencing of the victims of sexual abuse. However, The Birthday Gift is somewhat discouraging as didacticism is prominent in the piece. The experience is like reading a morality piece than a story. Kisses for Valentine’s Day falls into the same trap as it resorts to being preachy. Abruptly Heaven romanticizes suicide which I find concerning and dangerous for readers who are struggling with mental illness. Barely Alive and Grateful uses racial slurs. The story’s premise, while understated seems to be an allegory on the history of America. The piece reinforces white supremacy which is uncomfortable to engage with.

I rate the collection a 3 out of 4 stars. It is not at all perfect but it would be a shame for some of the stories in the collection to be left unread and unexplored. The stories are brimming with potential only that these need more polishing in terms of technique.

I recommend the book to readers interested in the short story genre and to anyone who has brushed it aside in favor of other genres. Reading the collection is an opportunity for the latter to rethink their reservations towards the genre as long as they are open to reading pieces with Christian themes.

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Just Another Day
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Post by **Melisa Jane** » 21 Jun 2020, 03:00

A collection of short stories can, at times, make a reader get the most out of a single book. Nice review.

book_fanatic_ · Post by **book_fanatic_** » 21 Jun 2020, 03:32

A book with short stories always intrigue me. It's like getting many books in a single one. I would like to give this one a try. Thanks for the detailed and nice review.

Miks_solon · Post by **Miks_solon** » 03 Jul 2020, 09:00

Thanks for telling us your opinions that opposes the book. I agree with your stance, thanks for an in depth analysis of the book!

Elvis Best · Post by **Elvis Best** » 03 Jul 2020, 11:35

I love short stories so much, I guess I'd have to check this collection out. Thanks for the honest review.

Post by **Diana Lowery** » 12 Jul 2020, 15:16

I hope that the author takes your advice and "polishes his potential."

Prisallen · Post by **Prisallen** » 12 Jul 2020, 17:05

It sounds as though there are some stories that are really well done and others that need work. I hope the author fixes the problems. Thanks for your wonderful review!