Official Review: Grace: Stories and a Novella by Dan Burns

[Cecilia_L]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Grace: Stories and a Novella" by Dan Burns.]

---

4 out of 4 stars

---

Share This Review

---

Dan Burns shares storytelling at its finest in his insightful collection, Grace: Stories and a Novella. The collection consists of five short stories and concludes with "Grace: A Novella." The common thread in each tale is the concept of grace under pressure. "All the protagonists needed to dig deep to draw upon their grace.” The collection also traverses themes, such as family, commitment, overpopulation, ageism, alcoholism, betrayal, reconciliation, and redemption. The book includes illustrations by artist, Kelly Maryanski, as well as a detailed note section that gives readers a glimpse into Burns' inspiration and writing process.

The well-written collection is 195 pages, and the editing is exceptional. In all of the stories, Burns consistently introduces well-rounded characters who are relatable and believable. Regarding his cast of characters, my personal favorites are the great-uncle and nephew who reunite and forge a mutually fulfilling relationship in the first story, "Redemption."

There was a lot to like about this evocative collection. I especially appreciated the "Story Notes" segment at the end of the book. In the interest of protecting spoilers, Burns recommended reading the notes after finishing the rest of the collection. I deviated slightly by reading the notes for each story as I completed it. I wanted to read his process and inspiration while the content was fresh on my mind, and it proved to be a most enjoyable experience. The details Burns provided were as interesting as the stories themselves. For instance, he shared the image of a beautiful Christmas card his grandfather had sent to his clients in 1931. Burns later inherited the card from his grandmother, and it featured a ship on the ocean that served as the inspiration for "Adrift at Sea."

On the other hand, as much as I enjoyed reading about the inspiration behind the story, it was the one I connected with the least. As the story focused on a young man's "voyage, adventures, and self-realizations," my lack of connection wasn't surprising. However, this was a matter of preference and didn't detract from the overall collection. The same story would likely appeal to a different reader.

The only thing I disliked is the escalation of profanity toward the end of the novella. However, Burns addressed the scene in the note section: "I thought about rewriting the scene to make it less vulgar, but felt I'd be a dishonest writer if I cleaned up Kenny's language."

Despite my opinion regarding excessive profanity, Burns makes a valid point about remaining true to his character development. Overall, I rate the engaging collection 4 out of 4 stars. I recommend the book to fans of short stories and novellas. It will also appeal to readers interested in the application of grace and the other themes represented.

******
Grace: Stories and a Novella
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Stephanie Elizabeth]

This sounds like a beautifully written book. I love books like this that force us to see the silver lining when times are hard. Thanks for the great review!

[Cecilia_L]

This sounds like a beautifully written book. I love books like this that force us to see the silver lining when times are hard. Thanks for the great review!

Thank you, Stephanie.

[kdstrack]

The 'grace under pressure' theme is inspirational. The story about the inherited Christmas card is very touching. I thought it was more logical to read the notes after each story, as you did! It just makes more sense to connect it to the story while it is still fresh in your mind. Great review.