Review of The Fly Under

[Justin Christensen]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Fly Under" by Jack Coey.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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The Fly Under by Jack Coey is a tiny tale with a large heart. This short story, which can be read in under an hour, is about a group of men who gather together at a bar to reminisce about a recently deceased colleague named Bronson. The men chat and swap stories, with the longest and final story being the tale of when Bronson flew under a decommissioned railroad trestle bridge.

The book has a very intimate feeling, introducing only a small cast of characters and not providing any backstory on any of them except Bronson. I really enjoyed this style; it kept the story short and allowed Coey to focus on the emotional information rather than unnecessary context or exposition. I am a big fan of short-form literature, and I love walking away from a story like this with something to chew on. In this, The Fly Under did not disappoint. While the narrative was ostensibly focused on Bronson and his exploits, the subtext explored broader concepts of life, relationships, and fitting into society. Bronson is portrayed as a genius but an alcoholic. His colleagues speculate as to whether his intellect, alcoholism, and antisocial tendencies are related, and these conversations are thought-provoking, albeit brief.

There were some spelling and grammar issues that I noticed, which was disappointing given the length of the book. They weren’t anything major but were noticeable enough to comment on. I honestly don’t have anything negative to say about this story other than that.

I very much enjoyed reading this book, and I think it’s worth a read for anyone with an hour to spare. Given the minor spelling and grammar issues, I can’t commit to a full five-star rating. In spite of these problems, however, I would still happily give this book four stars out of five. I hope you will read it and enjoy it as much as I did.

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The Fly Under
View: on Bookshelves

[Steeve Bowen]

This description presents this book as a lite-read. I would also like it as there are not many characters. Thanks for this enlightening and interesting review.

[Oreoluwa Johnson]

I devoured the story , a mesmerizing fantasy novel, Coey masterfully crafts a rich world of magic, intrigue and self discovery, Kaels, journey from Orphan to powerful mage is really captivating with unexpected twists and turns
The supporting cast particularly Zephyr and lyrien adds depths and complexity. Coey's writings balances actions,adventure and emotional depths, making this an unputdownable read
'The Fly under' is a gripping immersive fantasy that will appeal to fans of 'Harry potter' and 'The mortal instrumets' series
This novel is great!!!

[Mary John 10]

The Fly Under by Jack Coey is a short, poignant story about a group of men reminiscing about their recently deceased colleague, Bronson. The narrative focuses on a single tale of Bronson’s daring flight under a decommissioned railroad trestle bridge, shared in a bar. The story, with its small cast and minimal exposition, delves into themes of life, relationships, and the complexities of Bronson's genius and struggles with alcoholism, offering readers a brief but thought-provoking experience.

[Catherine Sweet]

This review intrigued me, and I wanted to know more about the stories they told about Bronson.

[Naimah Agboluaje]

I must say, The Fly Under by Jack Coey sounds like a compelling read! This concise and intimate short story featuring a small cast of characters seems to deliver a powerful emotional impact. The exploration of broader themes such as life, relationships, and fitting into society adds depth to the narrative. While there were some minor spelling and grammar issues, it doesn't seem to detract from the overall enjoyment of the story. Based on this review, I would give this book a solid four out of five stars. I'm definitely looking forward to picking up a copy and experiencing the heartfelt moments within The Fly Under. Compelling storytelling, skillfully woven and compelling.