S J Matthews – Hannah Strong
Posted 5th May 2014
Category: Reviews Genres: 2010s, Angst, Domestic
2 Comments
Leave him.
Publisher: (self-published)
Pages: 11
Type: Fiction
Age: Adult
ISBN: 978-1-301-14107-4
First Published: 23rd July 2013
Date Reviewed: 9th April 2014
Rating: 3.5/5
In 1984, a woman whose husband is unfaithful and won’t attend marriage counselling considers finally taking advice to think through her choices. But first she must leave with her father for the Olympics.
Hannah Strong is a short piece that is a fair opening to what will be a full-length novel, but is a little too brief in itself.
There are a couple of abrupt changes in time but other than this the writing is fair. Hannah’s problems are written well enough, the character herself also, to make you interested in what will happen next. Matthews has packed many issues into a small number of pages but in a way that isn’t rushed – everything is here but she hasn’t tackled each for too long. Nor is there much unnecessary information.
The only major issue with the story is that it’s unfinished. It’s a case that the piece is more of an introduction to a full-length novel rather than your average short story.
By itself, Hannah Strong is difficult to recommend, but as part of a novel or as an add-on, it’s a fair work.
I received this book for review from the author.
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2 Comments
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May 5, 2014, 7:14 pm
Short stories/novellas are hit and miss with me. They often seem incomplete. I am much more a full-length novel person, I think. From what you said, It sounds like this will be a full-length novel at some point, which is good. I would have trouble assessing a piece of work that isn’t complete.