Title:Â The Weight of a Feather and Other Stories
Author:Â Judy Croome
Genre:Â Short Story anthology
“The promise implicit in an anthology is that it aspires to present something different, unexpectedâ€Â Joyce Carol Oates (Introduction to The Oxford Book of American Short Stories)
Disclaimer: I was provided a free copy of Weight of a Feather for the purpose of this review. All opinions are 100% my own.
From the classical form of ‘The Weight of a Feather’, first published by The Huffington Post (2013), to the suggestive allegory of ‘The Leopard and The Lizard’, this collection of short stories by South African author Judy Croome is an ideal mix of the familiar and the startling.
My Review:
It has been awhile since I read a collection of short stories. I was a little worried I might not be able to get into it because I generally tend to read very long novels, and I particularly enjoy series of novels (i.e. Stephen King’s Dark Tower series, George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones series). I needn’t have worried. I enjoyed Judy Croome’s collection of short stories from beginning to end. Particular favorites include: Born Beneath a Balsamic Moon, Umbrella in the Snow, A Dish Best Eaten Cold, The Leopard and the Lizard, and The Last Sacrifice. Believe me, the irony is not lost on me that the stories I enjoyed most in Weight of a Feather were all of the longer variety.
I always enjoy stories set in surroundings and times unfamiliar to me, it makes me feel a bit like a world traveler as I descend into each new tale. I think that’s why I prefer long novels, it prolongs the journey and provides a satisfyingly long and languid experience as I “live” inside the story. Weight of a Feather was a nice change of pace. I was very satisfied with the extremely wide range of subject matter and differing tones of each tale. I often find myself (when reading longer novels) losing track of time and reading “just one more chapter” and then another and then another, until the wee hours of the morning – often resulting in self-recrimination for not exercising more control over my passion for reading as I yawn my way through the day, struggling not to give in to the temptation for a nap. Croome’s collection made for perfect bedtime reading, providing a natural stopping place as I paused to ponder each story before moving on to the next.
In short, I highly recommend Judy Croome’s Weight of a Feather to anyone interested in expanding their literary range. The book can be purchased online via the following links:
Amazon (paperback)
Amazon (Kindle-ebook)
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