Review of Every Awful Thing
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Dustin Stopher
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Review of Every Awful Thing
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Every Awful Thing" by Sophia Bourne.]
Sophia Bourne recounts memories from her life in Every Awful Thing. Every Awful Thing is a collection of flash fiction and poetry that the author has written over the course of her life, and as such, it acts like a time capsule that captures individual moments from her own history. Bourne is able to find meaningful life stories in the mundane, and the stories contained in the collection are varied in what types of encounters and themes are included. While each selection is short, it feels like the impact that the text as a whole has had on the author is huge.
There are many commendable elements of the work. Bourne’s ability to make something artistic or entertaining out of something common is a skill that not many authors possess. In the writings, I found myself relishing everyday events such as her finding a hidden cookie jar as a child or seeing a bear on a trip to Alaska. I appreciated the digestible nature of the text, as someone could sit down to read a story or poem or two and then move on to something else. The author takes a very straightforward and genuine approach to reminiscing about days gone by, and readers will undoubtedly find comfort in the simple pleasures conveyed. The snippets offer a nice respite from more intensive readings.
That being said, this collection was not my favorite. Though some people may love short tales about this and that, to me, many of the inclusions came across as insignificant or even boring. The writing, particularly in the poems, came across to me as bland. I am accustomed to poetry having elegant prose or interesting structures to effectively articulate an idea or mood. However, the poetry found in this work was virtually the same as most of the flash fiction: basic accounts of uninteresting occasions. Bourne’s writing prowess is shaky at best, and while some may view these stories as homespun, I cannot help but feel they are elementary compared to some of the other memoirs I have read. There were also editorial errors and misspellings scattered throughout the work, which does not help in cementing the book as a worthwhile piece of literature.
I would recommend this text to those seeking a down-to-earth retelling of real-world experiences. Lovers of memoirs could find the collection to be a hidden gem with a less traditional format. Those who gravitate toward poetry and flash fiction may find some pieces in this collection to cling to. However, I must admit that I believe there are better options out there that promise more meaningful selections and memorable events. There are some profanities and mentions of sexual acts in the collection, so those turned off by mature content should keep this in mind.
Overall, I give Every Awful Thing 2 out of 4 stars. At the end of the day, the text was underwhelming, and I do not see what it brings to the genre that other books do not fulfill to a higher degree. Coupled with the fact that the writing had issues and was one-note, the book’s failure to hook audiences with something unique earns the collection a mediocre rating. If I had found something in the work that made it stand out, or if the writing itself would have been cleaner, I would have given it a higher rating.
******
Every Awful Thing
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Sophia Bourne recounts memories from her life in Every Awful Thing. Every Awful Thing is a collection of flash fiction and poetry that the author has written over the course of her life, and as such, it acts like a time capsule that captures individual moments from her own history. Bourne is able to find meaningful life stories in the mundane, and the stories contained in the collection are varied in what types of encounters and themes are included. While each selection is short, it feels like the impact that the text as a whole has had on the author is huge.
There are many commendable elements of the work. Bourne’s ability to make something artistic or entertaining out of something common is a skill that not many authors possess. In the writings, I found myself relishing everyday events such as her finding a hidden cookie jar as a child or seeing a bear on a trip to Alaska. I appreciated the digestible nature of the text, as someone could sit down to read a story or poem or two and then move on to something else. The author takes a very straightforward and genuine approach to reminiscing about days gone by, and readers will undoubtedly find comfort in the simple pleasures conveyed. The snippets offer a nice respite from more intensive readings.
That being said, this collection was not my favorite. Though some people may love short tales about this and that, to me, many of the inclusions came across as insignificant or even boring. The writing, particularly in the poems, came across to me as bland. I am accustomed to poetry having elegant prose or interesting structures to effectively articulate an idea or mood. However, the poetry found in this work was virtually the same as most of the flash fiction: basic accounts of uninteresting occasions. Bourne’s writing prowess is shaky at best, and while some may view these stories as homespun, I cannot help but feel they are elementary compared to some of the other memoirs I have read. There were also editorial errors and misspellings scattered throughout the work, which does not help in cementing the book as a worthwhile piece of literature.
I would recommend this text to those seeking a down-to-earth retelling of real-world experiences. Lovers of memoirs could find the collection to be a hidden gem with a less traditional format. Those who gravitate toward poetry and flash fiction may find some pieces in this collection to cling to. However, I must admit that I believe there are better options out there that promise more meaningful selections and memorable events. There are some profanities and mentions of sexual acts in the collection, so those turned off by mature content should keep this in mind.
Overall, I give Every Awful Thing 2 out of 4 stars. At the end of the day, the text was underwhelming, and I do not see what it brings to the genre that other books do not fulfill to a higher degree. Coupled with the fact that the writing had issues and was one-note, the book’s failure to hook audiences with something unique earns the collection a mediocre rating. If I had found something in the work that made it stand out, or if the writing itself would have been cleaner, I would have given it a higher rating.
******
Every Awful Thing
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Reconfigurement by E. Alan Fleischauer
