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Arlene Duane Hemingway is a celebrated author and musician who has helped thousands make positive changes in their lives through both pen and music for decades. After graduating from the Julliard School of Music, with a Master of Science Degree in music, Hemingway wowed audiences as a music director, teacher, and recitalist, performing with the likes of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and helped launch a composer’s new work at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. Now, guided by her gentle but driven spirit, she is bringing a new kind of healing through her love for writing drabbles. Heminway's debut book celebrates the little-known form of microfiction named the drabble, which is a story of precisely 100 words—no more, no less. She manages suspense, humor, deception, irony, intrigue, tragedy, tenderness, and even bitter, unforeseen endings, hence the title. It’s as if Hemingway’s assortment of compelling, life-like characters are willing her to tell their unique story; whether to educate us, entertain us, or rouse us to action, these ever-so-human archetypes run a gamut of experiences rarely seen in one collection, causing readers to reflect on much in their life but also on the human condition as well. Says Hemingway, “In a matter of minutes—and a mere 100 words—we undoubtedly learn something about our self or another that moves us to consider our own humanity—something that we are all called to face at this time.”
Reviewed by Heather Osborne for Readers' Favorite
A Twist of Lemon: 100 Curious Stories in Exactly 100 Words by Arlene Duane Hemingway is a cleverly written collection of complete tales. Too many to list here, each story has its own merit, ranging from comedic to tragic. This happened to be my first foray into micro fiction, and I was amazed at how quickly I fell into the flow of the stories, realizing that while some left me wondering, they were satisfying in their own short way. I did have a few particular favorites, including Conversation, which took place as two parents were honoring the memory of their son, and A Life on the Edge: Omega, where a man leaves his wife and she does something unexpected. I also found Sharing the Pain immensely satisfying as a man comes to an untimely end, aptly appropriate for his actions in life. Finally, I really loved Problem Solved as a little boy who has lost a tooth asks for help from the tooth fairy for a problem involving his grandfather.
With each short story, I was held breathless, often not expecting the ending. I laughed and I winced at times. This was certainly a unique collection. I immensely admire how the author was able to sustain 100-word stories, 100 times. This seems like it would be an insurmountable task, yet Hemingway manages it with creativity, expertly executing each story. A Twist of Lemon: 100 Curious Stories in Exactly 100 Words by Arlene Duane Hemingway isn’t your run of the mill collection, and it shouldn’t be taken as that when a reader picks it up. However, I can certainly promise, you will not be disappointed if you open your mind to something different. Absolutely brilliant.
