Four Stories: Bum Rush * The Little Fellow * Kazredlaw * Fools

J.A. Walderzak
iUniverse (2006)
ISBN 0595406858
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (5/07)

The author, J.A. Walderzak, has written a collection of short stories combining the formats of stage plays, screenplays and novels. Each story focuses on characters in various stages of their lives. “Fools,” is about five friends whose friendships are affected by actions that they choose to take in high school. The major issues that affected their friendships involved relationships with girls.

“Kazredlaw,” which is Walderzak spelled backwards is about a man’s letter to God in which he tells Him that he no longer desires to be a part of this world. The story involves him processing this decision. “The Little Fellow,” had some lighter elements in it. It is a story about a film student who is making a film about an egocentric filmmaker making a movie about a man trapped in a cellar. “Bum Rush,” is a story about a homeless man that is based upon actual events that occurred.

The characters in each story have interesting eccentricities that make the stories more enjoyable and add richness to the plot development. Not all of these characters are likeable, but their personalities resonate strongly through the pages. I found that Walderzak did a great job with both plot and character development. With his writings, you enter into the characters minds, so you really understand what they are feeling and what is happening.

While the format of using the stage-play and screenplay elements allows for a greater amount of details to be covered, I also found it somewhat distracting, because I would stop reading in the middle of a passage to read the footnote. This is not the best format for me to be able allow a story to flow. However, there were other positive aspects to using this format such as the previously mentioned comment about the additional flux of information that can be imparted in this manner.

“Four Stories,” creates a lot of introspection as you read each story. They make you contemplate the meanings behind the main characters experiences. I enjoyed that this book created that kind of environment for me. It was not about fluffy, vacuous stories. You will enjoy reading this!

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