Racha Mourtada has created a sinister batch of 55 short stories that are each exactly 55 words. First of all, I love the concept in which she forces herself to craft words carefully while conveying a complete story. Each story is finely tuned like a sharp knife, offering witty, suprising or shocking endings. Think small installments of Alfred Hitchcock style tales.
It's a quick read, making it the perfect bathroom reader or accompaniment to appointments, allowing you to grab a quick snatch at one of the stories. Aspiring writers may want to read one a day and try to expand on the story or fill in the back story. Or use as a model to challenge oneself to create a short story of a specified number of words (maybe even in a specified number of minutes!).
All in all, it's an interesting concept and a quirky book. Mixed throughout are some black and white drawings that readers may choose to color. I would recommend this for teens due to some mature or macabre content.
Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of Slightly Sinister Stories from NetGalley for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received.
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