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Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite
Is life real? Or is it a fantasy? And what is it about life that makes a great story? Is it the art of storytelling itself? What about a loved one who passes away, someone very close, and the ghost visits shortly after death to solve the mystery of the missing wedding ring? And where will this treasure hunt lead? Life is full of stories, both real and imaginary. Simple events like a missing ring or a ‘feast’ that revolved around a unique way of eating a potato. And, if you believe in magic and the wonder of fairy tales, there are those great tales which evolve from reality, tales that must begin with something like, “There once was, as never before – because if there wasn’t, we wouldn’t tell stories about it.” And then the story begins.
Maria Grigorescu’s book, Feelings in Staccato: The Book of Stories, is a compilation of a life full of wonder and the ordinary, or perhaps one might describe them as extraordinary events. The title is interesting, as it refers to an element of music. Staccato in music refers to sharply detached notes. Perhaps this collection of stories is equally “sharply detached,” making the blend of real and imaginary an individual moment, a time capsule photo clip of life frozen for eternity. The stories are well constructed, engaging, and fascinating. They don’t need to be read in order as they stand completely independent and on their own. The collection includes fantasy stories, crime, Romanian history and traditions, and just fun, interesting family stories. Life is full of stories and this is just one example of how full life really is.
