Official Review: The Death of a Doughnut by Tair Rafiq

JenniferBoyce · Post by **JenniferBoyce** » 25 Mar 2014, 16:51

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Death of a Doughnut" by Tair Rafiq.]

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I originally picked this book up because of the title; who could resist a book titled “Death of a Doughnut”? Not only does this book have a catchy title, it’s also a genuinely enjoyable short story.

The reader is introduced to Charlie, a young man who is being hounded by his bank manager to pay back his student loans. Charlie writes a letter to his stepfather, asking for an extension on his allowance, which is promptly refused. So, Charlie is forced to get a job at a local fast-food chain located on the planet of Ashya. While at work one typical day, Charlie is caught right in the middle of (numerous) fights/wars. He’s shot at, kidnapped, and much more, all in a single days work. I won’t give anything away about what happens, but it’s certainly an action-filled day for Charlie (and the reader).

While this story is incredibly short (only 28 pages), it’s still an enjoyable and action-packed read. The action begins right at the beginning, with the introduction of the General, and doesn’t stop until the very last page. At times there is so much action going on that it’s hard to keep track of what’s going on and who’s who, but usually the plot manages to avoid becoming muddled and the twists are easily followed by the reader.

This book, along with being action packed, is also very humorous. I found myself laughing out loud during a few sections of the book, which is something that I don’t normally do. The author does a fantastic job of making fun of everyday things the reader will be familiar with (technology and batteries) in a way that is satirical without being condescending. The author also does a fantastic job of bringing humor and the sci-fi genre together in a seamless blend of hilarious aliens.

The authors writing style was pleasant to read. While I had wished that the story were longer, with a little more detail on the planets and aliens, I understand that it’s a short story and the author really did do a fabulous job writing it. I didn’t find any stylistic issues with this author; T. Rafiq writes in a way that is simplistic and easy to follow, without becoming boring. I really enjoyed the way the author described the action and the interactions between the characters; I will certainly be looking for more short stories by this author.

The characters in this book are enjoyable to read about. The human characters (most notably Charlie) are relatable and entertaining to read about. I think it would be easy for anybody, young or old, to relate to Charlie and his struggles with life. The other characters were also enjoyable to read about. The aliens were original and some seemed to relate to animals already on earth, making them easier to picture and understand. The author did a fantastic job of creating hilarious and enjoyable life forms.

In the end, I would give this book 3 out of 4 stars. While I wish the story had been a little longer and more detailed, it was still incredibly enjoyable overall. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys sci-fi or humor in their books.

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