Each of the fourteen stories in this book by Dan HIlliard is short, to the point, and well-written. They will astonish you and possibly keep you awake if you start thinking about them when trying to go to sleep.
The Stories:
“My Dark Box” – A chilling tale of a deceived worker at a haunted house.
“Human Mercy” – What do you do when your machine wants to kill you?
“Burlap Agave” – Dolls can be horrifying, but never more horrifying than when one that you are sewing speaks to you.
“Six Minutes” – At times, I’m sure many of us would like to start a new life in a new place with new friends and no memories of what our previous life had been like. But if given the chance, would you really do such a thing?
“The Sands” – This is one creepy tale, and it happens to be my favorite out of them all. A man’s wife is stung by something while she’s in the ocean but doesn’t believe it is anything serious. Before long, she experiences some strange side effects. By the time the husband realizes that she needs help, it’s too late.
“Live Action” – What do you do when nothing is real anymore?
“Shuggah” – Shuggah is one pet you don’t want to meet.
“Madeline Gray” – What would it be like to have a ghost as your best friend? To fall in love with a ghost?
“Rex” – No matter how much we love our animals, it is best that they stay gone once they die.
woman’s blonde hair, pixabay
“Salon Du Jour” – A woman losing her hair because of her chemo treatments has a unique and deadly way of acquiring new hairdos.
“Make the First Swing Count” – A horrifying tale of what a daughter will do for her father.
“Sister Seafood” – This story gives a whole new meaning to going through the change. I think I prefer the old meaning.
“Pepsis Formosa” – This is the story of an unlikely relationship.
“Grandfather Mountain” – Interesting, but I would like to know more about Grandfather Mountain, who he is, and why Lavinia’s father takes eggs to him every morning.
I was sent a copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review. If you would like to purchase your own copy, I’ve provided an Amazon link below.
Amazon Link: Bittersweet: 14 Macabre Tales of Love and Loss
girl reading a book, pixabay
Favorite Sentences:
The chalky fake fog in the usually stifling room turns ice cold.
She became my best friend, my confidant, and many nights were spent romancing her with the details of my life, reminding her of what it was like to taste homemade bread or smell the salty air.
I took a placebo to heal what only true medicine can fix.
reading
Never forsake a promise of something eternal for the guarantee of something present and temporary.
It’s possible she’s far, far older, being a spider goddess and all.
Don’t pity the male black widow – when his head gets torn off and his insides liquidated, I can guarantee you he feels like its worth it.
New Words Learned:
abuelita – grandma
chapbook – a small book or pamphlet, often of poetry
