Review of Is Truth Stranger Than Fiction? You Decide . . .

[Chinazo Anozie]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Is Truth Stranger Than Fiction? You Decide . . ." by Jody B. Miller.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Is Truth Stranger Than Fiction? You Decide . . . by JB Miller is a collection of three short stories: Is P, L My Half Brother?, Tweeker, and The Recruiter. The first two follow the lives of two unnamed women grappling with the repercussions of a parent’s affair in their early childhood and how it has affected them in their adult lives. The third story is set in the world of corporate politics and follows Bill, a salesman who has slaved his whole professional life on Wall Street trying to earn his father’s approval. Bill gets abruptly fired and has to figure out his life, especially with a fourth baby on the way. Miller says these stories are connected and have some truths in them. She invites readers to guess how the stories are connected.

The book had a slow start, especially with the first story, but it grips you once it picks up with the second, which was my favorite. The unnamed female narrator’s story in Tweeker was raw, honest, funny, and shocking. It’s incredible to think that all three stories have some truths in them. Although I could spot some connections, I couldn’t connect them all.

Is Truth Stranger Than Fiction? You Decide . . . is a great book. Unfortunately, it had errors—too many for a book of its size. Also, the ending of the third story felt rushed, and I had many questions regarding Bill and his father’s relationship, the identity of Elizabeth’s friend and the details of their plan, and Elizabeth and Bill’s sudden affection for each other with no build-up to it.

Considering the above, I rate the book 4 out of 5 stars. I couldn’t rate it any lower because, despite the issues, I enjoyed the stories and had fun trying to figure out how they were all connected.

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Is Truth Stranger Than Fiction? You Decide . . .
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[Sean Patrick Tracy]

"Is Truth Stranger Than Fiction? You Decide . . ." by JB Miller sounds like an intriguing collection of short stories that explore the complexities of family dynamics, personal identity, and corporate politics. While it had a slow start, the gripping narrative and raw honesty of the second story stood out as a highlight. The author's invitation to readers to guess how the stories are connected adds an extra layer of engagement. However, the presence of errors and a rushed ending in the third story detracted from the overall experience. Nonetheless, the enjoyment of the stories and the challenge of uncovering their connections warranted a 4-star rating. As a prospective reader, I'd be curious to delve into these thought-provoking tales and unravel their mysteries.

[Kristin Cowan]

I like the idea that it gives the reader the opportunity to try to put the puzzle pieces together on his/her own. It doesn't sound like it is too predictable!

[Risper Ouma Anyango]

It's a fun idea to guess how the two stories are connected instead of making it super obvious by the author. From the face of it, they look like two completely different stories but I would love to find out if they are really connected.

[NetMassimo]

Three stories that have some connections, and it seeme like the author challenged readers to find them. Quite an intriguing idea. Thank you for your great review!