Review of The Fly Under
Posted: 01 Nov 2024, 16:36
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Fly Under" by Jack Coey.]
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.
******
The Fly Under
View: on Bookshelves
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.
******
The Fly Under
View: on Bookshelves