Official Review: The Prose of Other People's Lives

[Chigozie Anuli Mbadugha]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Prose of Other People's Lives" by Gayle Ridinger.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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The Prose of Other People’s Lives by Gayle Ridinger is a collection of twenty-three short stories of varying lengths, themes, and settings. The themes explored in these stories range from betrayal, love, friendship in relationships and families to business and work-related issues. The unifying factor in these stories is that the experiences described by the author are universal and believable. The author writes about themes that readers of any nationality, language, or culture can easily understand.

Some of the stories had medical angles to them, and I wondered if there was anything in the author’s background to suggest a foray into the healthcare industry. Her short bio in the book did not suggest any. I have some knowledge of medicine, so I was impressed by the accuracy of the medical information inserted in the stories. It is evident that the author thoroughly researched her topics.

The stories had unpredictable plots with unexpected twists and turns that kept me guessing till the very last page. I found the short story titled ‘Gradual’ unnerving as I was unprepared for the way it ended. The story ‘Business Like’ was a delightful short flash fiction that highlighted deceit and betrayal that can occur in real life. Gayle Ridinger discusses sensitive issues in a lighthearted and non-judgmental manner. Family conflicts, mental health issues in children, and the need for psychological evaluation of children were explored in one of the short stories.

I found this book an enjoyable read. It is the kind of book one can take on a holiday or read during a flight. I read it with the hope of predicting the end or the twist in the plot, but I am afraid I was shocked by the twists inserted in the plots of all the stories. Readers of mystery novels and psychological thrillers will find this book a captivating read. Readers who do not have the patience or the time to read lengthy novels will enjoy reading this book because of the brevity of the stories in it. The brevity of the stories appealed greatly to me. I would have preferred a few more happy endings even though I know this is not the norm in real life.

I found only a few grammatical and punctuation errors, so I think this book was professionally edited. I recommend this book to adults because of the seriousness of some of the themes explored. Also, one of the stories in the book has somewhat graphic details of intimacy, which may make the book unsuitable for young readers. I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars because it was an enjoyable read.

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The Prose of Other People's Lives
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Like CambaReviewer's review? Post a comment saying so!

[Brendan Donaghy]

I don't read too many short stories, but this collections sounds like it might be worth a look. Great review!

[Wyland]

I would enjoy reading this diverse range of stories touching on such themes as love, betrayal because they are multicultural. Thanks for the review.

[kdstrack]

The range of topics in this collection sounds interesting. I like your recommendation to read this book while traveling. Thanks for your comments on this book.

[InStoree]

I like the naturalness of this writing and the fact that it brings different themes of everyday life. An interesting combination of a cocktail of stories that can be served as a shot. Thanks for your vibrant review!

[Chigozie Anuli Mbadugha]

I don't read too many short stories, but this collections sounds like it might be worth a look. Great review!

It definitely is worth a look! Thanks for reading and commenting. Cheers!

[Chigozie Anuli Mbadugha]

I like the naturalness of this writing and the fact that it brings different themes of everyday life. An interesting combination of a cocktail of stories that can be served as a shot. Thanks for your vibrant review!

You have a way with words. Thanks for your kind comments. deeply appreciated!

[Chigozie Anuli Mbadugha]

The range of topics in this collection sounds interesting. I like your recommendation to read this book while traveling. Thanks for your comments on this book.

Thanks for reading and commenting! Cheers

[Chigozie Anuli Mbadugha]

I would enjoy reading this diverse range of stories touching on such themes as love, betrayal because they are multicultural. Thanks for the review.

I think you will enjoy reading this book. Thanks for commenting!