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Reviewed by Courtnee Turner Hoyle for Readers' Favorite
In Under Brambles, a short story collection by Margaretta James, the author presents eighteen stories about broken people through poetry and prose. Some narratives include a beautiful letter from a daughter to her mother, how an individual in the prime of life can wink out of existence in a moment, the world from the point of view of a very young child, the lessons learned best from a lover, and the way an almost forgotten starlet humbly accepts the trajectory of her career. The author depicts lifelong relationships and momentary associations, producing stories that may be digested over a cup of tea or a short subway ride. James communicates meaning in every piece, giving readers thought-provoking selections.
Margaretta James crafts a complex story from a single thought. I cried as I read the story a woman had unearthed about her Irish mother. Many of the stories seem like they truly happened to the author as she describes them in such descriptive detail. The raw descriptions place you in the moment, running with a lost friend, playing the piano as a man undresses you, or feeling like you're an orphan mid-way through your life. Each story leaves a melancholy trace that makes you remember the narrator of each tale vividly and continues to resonate with you throughout the day. No connections flourish into marriages or cherished experiences that endure beyond memories, but you still chase the ending of the story and welcome the feelings expressed in each piece with open arms. Readers who enjoy realistic fiction will love Under the Brambles.
