‘No Greater Gift’ by Simon Van Booy

Title: ‘No Greater Gift’ by Simon Van Booy
Collection/Anthology?: The Secret Lives of People in Love (Beautiful Books)
Date Read: 29 August 2010
Briefly: Having just picked up a mysterious package, Gabriel considers the passengers with whom he shares his subway journey home with. In turn the passengers are considering Gabriel, and many of them do [...]

‘Ideal Homes’ by Kevin Barry

Title: ‘Ideal Homes’ by Kevin Barry
Collection/Anthology?: There Are Little Kingdoms (Stinging Fly Press)
Date Read: 29 August 2010
Briefly: This story takes the reader on an evening tour around a quintessential Irish village, with brazen twins, Donna and Dee, acting indirectly as impromptu tour guides.
Afterthoughts: If I were asked what kind of story I was [...]

‘Distant Ships’ by Simon Van Booy

Title: ‘Distant Ships’ by Simon Van Booy
Collection/Anthology?: The Secret Lives of People in Love (Beautiful Books)
Date Read: 28 August 2010
Briefly: The narrator speaks of his life in a small coastal town in Wales. His nights are filled with purpose as he carries out his duties in a Royal Mail sorting office. His days [...]

‘The World Laughs in Flowers’ by Simon Van Booy

Title: ‘The World Laughs in Flowers’ by Simon Van Booy
Collection/Anthology?: The Secret Lives of People in Love (Beautiful Books)
Date Read: 26 August 2010
Briefly: Heading out on a plane to attend the wedding of ex partner, the narrator reminisces on the time when he regretfully turned away from the relationship, with his reasoning [...]

‘Animal Needs’ by Kevin Barry

Title: ‘Animal Needs’ by Kevin Barry
Collection/Anthology?: There Are Little Kingdoms (Stinging Fly Press)
Date Read: 26 August 2010
Briefly: With an inspector from the Organic Certification Board due at his poultry farm, John Martin has certainly got his work cut out. And if things weren’t busy enough for him already he’s also got to deal [...]

‘Where They Hide Is a Mystery’ by Simon Van Booy

Title: ‘Where They Hide Is a Mystery’ by Simon Van Booy
Collection/Anthology?: The Secret Lives of People in Love (Beautiful Books)
Date Read: 25 August 2010
Briefly: Grieving the loss of his mother and escaping an intolerable atmosphere at home, a young son takes secret trips across 5th Avenue to a bench at the end of [...]

‘See The Tree, How Big It’s Grown’ by Kevin Barry

Title: ‘See The Tree, How Big It’s Grown’ by Kevin Barry
Collection/Anthology?: There Are Little Kingdoms (Stinging Fly Press)
Date Read: 25 August 2010
Briefly: Having no memory of who he is or where he’s come from, Richie Tobin steps off a bus in a sleepy Irish town with a scuffed holdall full of clothes, €600, [...]

‘Not the Same Shoes’ by Simon Van Booy

Title: ‘Not the Same Shoes’ by Simon Van Booy
Collection/Anthology?: The Secret Lives of People in Love (Beautiful Books)
Date Read: 25 August 2010
Briefly: Alone and wandering the Kentucky countryside, a man reminiscences on a love lost; on a time when he returned unexpectedly to his former lover, following a lengthy absence of six years.
Afterthoughts: [...]

‘As Much Below as Up Above’ by Simon Van Booy

Title: ‘As Much Below as Up Above’ by Simon Van Booy
Collection/Anthology?: The Secret Lives of People in Love (Beautiful Books)
Date Read: 24 August 2010
Briefly: The narrator sits on a New York beach; half on the sand, and half on a foam bodyboard. He’s middle-aged, overweight and Russian, and he has a fear of [...]

‘To The Hills’ by Kevin Barry

Title: ‘To The Hills’ by Kevin Barry
Collection/Anthology?: There Are Little Kingdoms (Stinging Fly Press)
Date Read: 24 August 2010
Briefly: Middle-aged ‘minxes’ Teresa and Marie set off on a session of hillwalking with seasoned veteran Brian. There’s an overnight stay in a B&B planned, and with Brian being an object of desire for both women, [...]

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