Death and the Dream by J.J. Brown is a collection of 14 short stories. In each dread seeps through the lines and the tension is being build up for the possibility of an explosive ending. Each story could easily end in death but then again, in each story death could also be prevented.
The story “the Underground” has forever changed the way I’ll walk down the stairs to the train platforms. “Brooklyn Song” made me appreciate my life and steady income even more. I cannot imagine going through those administrative nightmares.
“Mother’s Love” is downright creepy. It reminded me of Edgar Allen Poe’s “the Tell Tale Heart.” Greta’s attempt at getting the family back together might just have separated them forever. “Before the funeral” reminded me of the empty small talk that occurs in so many places in society and it captures the loneliness perfectly. “Mouse Chimera” starts with a note from a daughter to her mother. You sense it is a good-bye note. But then you read what happened to the daughter in her research lab!
The best story is “Way to heaven.” Let me give you a glimpse: a three year old, an ax, and a tree trunk for cutting logs … can you feel it?
I received a free ebook copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The book is cleverly written and recommended reading.
Follow author J.J. Brown on Twitter!