Review of Playing Chess with Bulls

[Rebecca De Figueiredo]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Playing Chess with Bulls" by Sarah P. Blanchard.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Playing Chess with Bulls
Sarah P. Blanchard.

This is a collection of 10 short stories. Some have a beginning and an end, and some are rather poignant scenarios taken from a time in someone's life with no written conclusions. The author encourages readers to imagine an ending and judge the characters themselves. They are not action-packed stories; they are not beyond the realm of imagination, but they are human experiences that also reflect society. Animals, usually horses, are mentioned in every story. I feel a sense of sympathy from the author: the plight of the feral pigs in 'Rift Zone' and the forced artificial insemination of the heifer in 'Lizzy Baby'. Also, the innocence of children is a theme throughout the book, in the near attack on Brandi in 'The Bus Driver' and the incident of sexual abuse on the nine-year-old Liz in 'Lizzy Baby.' Other subjects in the book include the terrible loss of a young baby and, on the other end of the scale, the conversation between a social worker and a 91-year-old woman regarding her claim for more home help. Both scenarios were poignant and sad.

Some stories are short but no less impactful, a testament to the author's excellent penmanship and masterful use of language. I found no errors, the descriptive passages were lovely, and I found nothing I disliked.

The section at the end regarding guns was thought-provoking. The women at the target practice discuss the 'Rust' tragedy and conclude that it was not an accident but a failure, and when asked why they own handguns, they point out that it's for their 'personal security'.

I enjoyed reading 'Playing Chess with Bulls' and recommend it for all ages (although children might not understand it). There was nothing to dislike, no grammatical errors, and I have written about why I liked it. I award it 5 out of 5 stars.

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Playing Chess with Bulls
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