BOOK REVIEW - Hidden Passages (Short Stories)
Michael Gleason
Vanilla Heart Publishing ISBN 978-0-97965445-6-5 262 pages $15.99 (U.S.)
The subtitle of this book, "Tales to Honor the Crones", gave me a false
impression. A collection of stories about crones should be about the end of
life, but these stories are full of life. They are vivid, arresting, and
entertaining.
Oh, there is death and loss, but there are also children scrambling up
trees. There is somber reflection but there is also joyful discovery and
anticipation. There is the certainty of lives running their allotted course
as well as the wonder of new life burgeoning forth.
Like life itself, you never know what to expect. Vila SpiderHawk is much
more than an entertaining author. In her stories there are lessons to be
learned (gently) and things to contemplate. There are moments to laugh, and
times to wonder.
The only problem I had with this book was that it was too easy to read. I
had promised myself that I would relax and enjoy this book over a week's
time. That didn't happen. I started reading and found that I couldn't put
it down. I finished it off in a mere two days, and found myself wanting
more.
Pick this book up, and you may find yourself wishing for more as I did.
Somehow, I suspect that we have not heard the last from Ms. SpiderHawk - in
fact, I know we haven't as I have her next book sitting at my bedside as I
write this. I sincerely hope that she has more to offer us. Her books are
educational on several levels, and entertaining on at least as many levels.