Review of That Guy What Kill Topsy
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Naomi Nthiga
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Review of That Guy What Kill Topsy
[Following is a volunteer review of "That Guy What Kill Topsy" by Peter Wood Cotterill.]
That Guy What Kill Topsy by Peter Wood Cotterill is a collection of short stories. Each story's characters, theme, and location it took place in is unique and diverse.
The story 'Canned' is about phone call conversations between two sisters about a beer can. The randomness of their conversations makes it delightful and hilarious. 'I was a Teenage Colonial Lackey' is also a pleasant read. The story, set in 1951, follows a 17-year-old British lad who decides to leave the UK and join the Southern Rhodesia Government service. His escapades are an accurate depiction of the wanderlust of teenagehood. It follows his journey from the UK to the Union of South Africa (today's South Africa) and finally to Bulawayo in Zimbabwe. 'Flossie Flanagan-the entrepreneur' is the 6th short story in the book. This story was my favorite. It looks at the rise of Flossie's business empire and her enterprising spirit, accomplished in the backdrop of friendship, family, and loss. You will have to read the entire book to find out about the 48-year-old beggar and his diary or 'The trouble with Uncle George'
What I appreciate about this book is the author's choice of characters and the events surrounding them. The characters in each story are relatable, ranging from a 17-year-old teenager to a 50-year-old- twice-divorced man seeking a fresh start in life. In addition, the short stories' themes are a depiction of the issues in society. From prison system reforms to mental health issues, suicide, racism, and 'Ponzi' schemes. The short stories accurately capture human nature when faced with these problems. Also, the book is exceptionally well-edited, with no grammatical errors found.
However, the use of slang as a stylistic device in the book is overdone. It makes the characters' dialogues hard to understand and follow. The 1st short story based on the book's main title is an example. Also, 'I love Rhinos-a Novella' is too drawn-out. This short story covers several themes at the same time. In addition, the author introduces multiple characters whose roles are not well developed. In the end, it becomes confusing and drudgery to read. As a result, I rate this book 2 out of 4 stars.
Overall, I would recommend this book to an adult audience due to a suicide scene depicted in one of the short stories and the use of non-borderline profanity. Readers who love short stories and have the dexterity to switch between several storylines, characters, and themes will find this compilation of short stories a good read.
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That Guy What Kill Topsy
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
That Guy What Kill Topsy by Peter Wood Cotterill is a collection of short stories. Each story's characters, theme, and location it took place in is unique and diverse.
The story 'Canned' is about phone call conversations between two sisters about a beer can. The randomness of their conversations makes it delightful and hilarious. 'I was a Teenage Colonial Lackey' is also a pleasant read. The story, set in 1951, follows a 17-year-old British lad who decides to leave the UK and join the Southern Rhodesia Government service. His escapades are an accurate depiction of the wanderlust of teenagehood. It follows his journey from the UK to the Union of South Africa (today's South Africa) and finally to Bulawayo in Zimbabwe. 'Flossie Flanagan-the entrepreneur' is the 6th short story in the book. This story was my favorite. It looks at the rise of Flossie's business empire and her enterprising spirit, accomplished in the backdrop of friendship, family, and loss. You will have to read the entire book to find out about the 48-year-old beggar and his diary or 'The trouble with Uncle George'
What I appreciate about this book is the author's choice of characters and the events surrounding them. The characters in each story are relatable, ranging from a 17-year-old teenager to a 50-year-old- twice-divorced man seeking a fresh start in life. In addition, the short stories' themes are a depiction of the issues in society. From prison system reforms to mental health issues, suicide, racism, and 'Ponzi' schemes. The short stories accurately capture human nature when faced with these problems. Also, the book is exceptionally well-edited, with no grammatical errors found.
However, the use of slang as a stylistic device in the book is overdone. It makes the characters' dialogues hard to understand and follow. The 1st short story based on the book's main title is an example. Also, 'I love Rhinos-a Novella' is too drawn-out. This short story covers several themes at the same time. In addition, the author introduces multiple characters whose roles are not well developed. In the end, it becomes confusing and drudgery to read. As a result, I rate this book 2 out of 4 stars.
Overall, I would recommend this book to an adult audience due to a suicide scene depicted in one of the short stories and the use of non-borderline profanity. Readers who love short stories and have the dexterity to switch between several storylines, characters, and themes will find this compilation of short stories a good read.
******
That Guy What Kill Topsy
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: E M P Honeymoon by Dorothy May Mercer
