Blog Tour: War Stories by Elisabeth Doyle

War Stories
written by Elisabeth Doyle
published by Two Harbors Press

find it here: (affiliate links) Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Goodreads

Why did I pick this book: I participated in the blog tour hosted by Tribute Books. (I received a copy of the book for review purposes.)

Did I enjoy this book: I had a hard time after finishing this book collecting my thoughts. I finished this book in a few hours…although the stories are short, they make you think. This collection of short stories is very emotional. The stories were sad but, as the book synopsis says, they leave you wanting more.

Each of the nine stories are about 10 pages long – give or take some. They all were tragic yet some you could find a positive outcome. My favorite story that you could imagine and see the change to a positive was “One of These Days It Will All Be Over.” This story touched me and showed that Diego was a true hero despite his struggles. The ending was great and I hope that the children see a new side to their dad. I imagine that they do…but that is part of the “leave you wanting more” that the book blurb promises.

“Median” and “Love Spell” were two other stories that left me with a good feeling despite the tragedy and sadness within them.

Would I recommend it: I would recommend this book to those people who enjoy short stories that really make you think and that stay with you after you have finished reading them.

Will I read it again: I will not read this book again.

About the book – from the publisher: We all carry our own battle scars. 

This is the premise of War Stories, a rich collection of short fiction that draws upon both the literal and figurative meaning of its title.  Through a diverse array of characters, settings, and circumstances, War Stories delivers a series of powerful tales from the home front of war: the stories of parents, siblings, and spouses of those who have fought, as well as those who have returned from battle.

Set against the backdrop of contemporary conflicts, War Stories’ compelling nine narratives tell of a wounded veteran who seeks renewal through an imagined relationship with a neighborhood girl, a grieving father who finds peace and reconciliation at the site of a disastrous bus crash, a young woman who searches for identity and meaning in the wake of her husband’s injury, and an urban teenager engaged in a fateful standoff with local recruiters. Interspersed with these tales are powerful, non-traditional “war stories” – of youth, unexpected loss, and heartbreaking love. War Stories’ thoughtful and beautifully crafted tales, which range in style from deceptively simple to rich and complex, tell of people young and old, male and female, who share two things: humanity and resilience. These diverse and deftly written stories are joined through Elisabeth Doyle’s remarkable style and ease in creating a universe full of despair, hope, and dreams. At turns tender and harsh, tragic and yearning, these stories will leave you wanting more.

About the author: Elisabeth Doyle is a writer and attorney living in Washington, D.C. She studied fiction writing at Sarah Lawrence College and the University at Albany, and is completing a Masters of Laws Degree at Georgetown University Law Center.  Ms. Doyle’s short fiction was published in the literary journal Nadir and was awarded the University at Albany’s Lovenheim Prize for best short fiction. Her first short film, Hard Hearted One, was admitted into the Philadelphia Festival of World Cinema and the Street Films Film Festival, and was shown on Public Television and Manhattan Cable. War Stories is her first collection of short fiction.

Find Ms. Doyle here: web, Goodreads