Little Stories
by Jeff Roberts
Recent Reviews for this self-published book:
“The hallmark of Roberts’ collection is his strong writing. He captures scenes with expertise, and his characters come to life through the dialogue. The author’s stories are moving, light-hearted when appropriate, and explicitly human. In its best moments the powerful stories quickly become page turners once you get into the text.”
—Writer’s Digest
“…Roberts demonstrates a talent for tapping into the fault lines of human landscapes and the brittleness of relationships that are felled with a single word.”
—Kirkus Discoveries
“The unassuming title of Jeff Roberts’ ‘Little Stories’ belies the richness of the narratives within. These character-driven stories are haunting and believable. A master of writing ‘tight’ (as one of my college English profs termed it), Roberts is capable of crafting psychological portraits of his characters in very few words…My personal favorites, ‘A Triptych’ and ‘The Red and The Black’, revolve around a failing marriage, a lonely old man, and the death of Roberts’ grandfather. The characters in these stories are not happy people, but Roberts reveals glimpses of beauty in their lives. Readers will feel compassion for the characters, and squirm occasionally as they recognize aspects of themselves.”
-Adrienne Muncy of BookReview.com
“Jeff Roberts is an author to watch. His first book, LITTLE STORIES, a compilation of works written while an undergraduate at University of Iowa, is such a rich literary experience for the reader that it seems we have a very important new voice rising in American literature. He has the ability to observe quiet events of everyday life and from them mold brief episodes of stories that seem so much a part of our own experiences that he startles us with his intuitive eye. Most of the emotions he creates or shares suggest a preoccupation with the tenuous threads that hold our lives together…This is a winsome little book, one that holds more moments worth re-reading than most authors accomplish in a major novel. To say that he is sensitive to the human condition is too embarrassingly obvious to state. He is a bornstoryteller and a poet the likes of whom we rarely encounter in first books. This is one of the finest book releases of the year, and a welcome to the field of literature.”
—Grady Harp, “Top 10 Reviewer” for Amazon.com
‘Little Stories’ contains a collection of eleven short stories about human nature. The author, Jeff Roberts, did an incredible job with writing these tales. He brings each one to life and is able to vividly describe them in a way that makes them appear real. The stories range from a tale about a mischievous boy who gets in trouble, to one about an elderly grandfather who is preparing to die as his great-granddaughter is welcomed into the world… I found myself wishing that there were more. I think that ‘Little Stories’ by Jeff Roberts will make an excellent addition to the collections of people who enjoy quality fiction. It would also be a great book for a college-level reading course and it would be a great selection for reader’s groups. I truly hope that more stories will be forthcoming from Mr. Roberts.”
—Paige Lovitt of Reader Views
“Little Stories is a collection of short stories that lure the mind into a dream space of relationships and turbulent feelings. The author uses vivid scenes, live images and real strong characters and situations. His stories are detailed and well crafted, and his writing style is highly emotional and sensitive. Jeff tries to capture moments in real life, just like a photographer does. He depicts the raw reality using detailed descriptions, complex sentences and live dialogue. He talks about relationships, love, death, betrayal, misery, desperation and loneliness, all the emotions a man can feel. The readers will sympathize with him and feel the emotional ups and downs his stories convey. . This book is enjoyable to read and feel; Jeff’s stories stimulate imagination and leave the reader thinking about the future. ”
—Reviewed by Liana Metal; Corfu, Greece
“…the beauty of Robert’s “little stories.” They transplant you into the situation and you find yourself questioning how you would react. I even came across a few stories that seemed to be written about me, and while reading those it came to my attention that Roberts has a gift. He recognizes that life is not all roses and happiness and joyful times. Life is sometimes tough and his little stories are a fantastic snapshot of what some people choose not to pay attention to…I made a small list of friends and family that may enjoy reading this: friends graduation from college, mothers, daughters, people in relationships, sons, fathers, anyone that has lost a loved one… There is something in this small book for everyone. I suggest you pick this up, pour yourself a cup o’ Joe, and let yourself get sucked into this great book. ”
—Ashley Newsom of Book and Cranny
For more information or to order the book, visit the Author’s Webpage
The Book of Life
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