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Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite
Disconnected is an absorbing collection of short stories and poems by Vivian Herkes. An emotionally drained man who can only connect to his feelings by writing letters on behalf of others finds himself in the midst of a deadly lovers' quarrel. A bright young man with the world at his feet suffers from a mysterious affliction that throws his life into a spiral of despair. A young boy is excited to meet the legendary old man who lives in a castle above the clouds, but his search for wisdom lands him in an unexpected place. In a dystopian future, an aspiring writer finally gives in to the temptation of joining the collective and uploads himself to the futuristic internet. A homeless person has a few words of wisdom for a generous young man.
Disconnected is an engrossing anthology that features stories with protagonists who are all lost in one way or another and searching for meaning and purpose in life. I feel that Vivian Herkes' poetry is much more abstract. Her stories, however, vary but are laced with social commentary. Of course, I mean that as a compliment. It was amazing to me that the author creates such immersive settings in these short, micro-fiction narratives. Overall, these narratives cover different aspects of the human condition, focusing on the psychology of people when they face challenging or insurmountable odds. Short story lovers will devour this book with relish. I found the social commentary poignant, but more than that, the tales are so entertaining. I enjoyed every single one of them and highly recommend this book.
