My Side of the World and Other Tales of Death
Beka Wueste
Fox Island Press (2025)
ISBN: 978-1967077069
Reviewed by Dawn Colclasure for Reader Views (11/2025)
They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but you also shouldn’t judge a collection of stories by its theme. My Side of the World and Other Tales of Death: A Collection by Beka Wueste is a collection of stories that cover many aspects of death, from the figurative to the literal. While the stories in this book all focus on death in some way, it is not for the purpose of frightening the reader or to stir up a scary mood. These stories are not meant to scare away readers or create anxiety, but to explore the subject of death in its many forms and invite a conversation.
One might assume that stories about death are all frightening and best left avoided. This book, however, changes that idea. As the author writes in the Introduction,
You might expect my Tales of Death to be spooky or macabre, but that is not the intention here. I don’t believe death is inherently spooky. But I do think it’s worth acknowledging.
Worth acknowledging, worth exploring, and worth thinking about. As morbid as the subject of death may be, it is an important one to discuss, since it is something we all must prepare ourselves and our loved ones for. As well, it is also something to consider when getting our affairs in order, so that the burden is not left on our loved ones after we die.
The first story, “My Life with Death,” was so intriguing! What would life be like if one could talk with Death? To be able to see Death’s hounds? This story provided some insight into that. I loved the term “death doula,” and how this kind of role provided comfort and healing to those about to die. This story was such a good read!
The second story, “The Patron Saint of Pianos,” was also a really good read. I’ll admit that I was laughing with confusion over the many things that Eric had to say about religion, but I loved how that particular kind of thinking came into play later in the story. This story also showed how we often misunderstand what people are implying, and how small-town gossip can usually be based on a lot of nonsense. The author did well in portraying family dynamics as well as weaving quite a story that was plotted so well. It’s an excellent story, and it held my interest from beginning to end.
The other stories in this book featured a fresh take on death through stories of aliens colonizing Earth, a ghost attached to a special kind of window, and a man trying to cope with life having two dads after his mother passed away. I was moved, awed, and thrilled by these stories. They are written so well, with very realistic characters and interesting plots. These stories touched on how we grieve, life after loss, and how we must let a dead part of our past remain dead and buried.
I especially loved the last story, “Red Lights.” It was interesting how Clara’s mother decided to be selective in how she viewed her mother’s superstitions. But the issue about dreams, even fever dreams, really stood out in this story. Yes, some dreams could be a premonition, while others could be a warning. And this particular story shows that distinction so well.
All of these stories are excellent, well-written, and woven together so well. They are surprising, suspenseful, and chilling stories that are sure to keep readers engrossed from beginning to end. These stories all explore different aspects of death and our perceptions about it. Death need not be frightening or dreaded, these stories say, but understood and acknowledged when it draws nigh.
Given that there are a variety of stories in this book, from science fiction to the paranormal, readers who enjoy reading thought-provoking stories may enjoy reading My Side of the World and Other Tales of Death by Beka Wueste. It is sure to leave a strong impression and just may spark a conversation that was previously avoided.