"It Might Have Been: And Other Stories" by A.K. Frailey is a collection of contemporary short stories involving families, friends, and distant relations. It is the hazards of daily life that test the soul. Nobility, bravery, decency, kindness, and mercy are the shafts of light that pierce the darkness of the human experience. All the drama and excitement of a novel experience in compact short stories, contemporary lives moving through dark trials to light and hope.
This is the second collection of writings from Ann Frailey I have read. I enjoyed it even more than the first. This grouping of short stories has a feel of darkness to it, yet I felt uplifted after nearly every short tale.
The author's writing style is thought-provoking and touches on every human trait and emotion with clarity. The collection is slightly on the dark side, with humorous, sad, and often poignant stories. The characters are relatable, and the author manages to pack a lot into each of her short stories. The book almost has a "noir" feel to it, yet not quite enough to assign it to that genre.
I could not possibly choose a favorite, but every word of “Every Word” resonated with me. I want to give special mention to “The Persian” in honor of the little runt barn cat I lost this week. The man was right; life on the farm is hard.
One of the strengths of the collection is the author's ability to create an entire world in just a few pages, leaving the reader wanting more. The stories are compact and move at a brisk pace, yet are filled with drama and excitement. The book can be read in a single sitting or enjoyed over time as individual stories.
However, some readers might find the endings of some stories a little abrupt, and it would be interesting to see some of the stories expanded into a novella or full-length novel.
Overall, "It Might Have Been: And Other Stories" is a well-crafted collection of contemporary short stories that offers insight into the human experience, with all its joys and sorrows.
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