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158th out of 269 books
—
207 voters
Pearl
by
Kelly Rand (Goodreads Author)
Edith sleepwalks through a life so normal as to be boring. She lives with her mother, works a mundane job to support them, and makes no waves among the ladies of her sleepy 1920's Canadian town. Secretly, though, she watches the flappers and so-called "loose women" with envy, dreaming of what glamorous lives they must have. And that's before Clark walks into her life.
Clark...more
Clark...more
ebook, 24 pages
Published
April 27th 2012
by Storm Moon Press
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So very very gorgeous. And far, far too short.
It's hard to figure out WHAT to say, especially since I really don't want to be all spoilery, about the story itself, but it was deeply touching. The prose was beautiful, sparkling and flowing like a stream when Edith and Clark were interacting, and still flowing yet still conveying the more drab realities of Edith's life outside of Clark. There was a distinct moment of opening possibilities as Edith discovered and accepted who she was, and who Clark...more
It's hard to figure out WHAT to say, especially since I really don't want to be all spoilery, about the story itself, but it was deeply touching. The prose was beautiful, sparkling and flowing like a stream when Edith and Clark were interacting, and still flowing yet still conveying the more drab realities of Edith's life outside of Clark. There was a distinct moment of opening possibilities as Edith discovered and accepted who she was, and who Clark...more
This is a quick read, because it's a short story, but it's a rich story. It's set during the Prohibition period but it takes place in Canada. Edith is a repressed young woman, living with her overbearing mother, but she's not a quenched spirit. She watches and dreams the way of life of the young women who seem to experiment and live more freely. Her aspiration and desire are something that she can't quite name. One day a young man, Clark, visits her neighbors and she's attracted to him and he gi...more
Overall
This short story is a charming look at Edith, a sexually repressed woman, and Clark, a transman, and Edith's eyes being opened not just to her own sexuality but to the world at large. Everything was tastefully handled and the language is reminiscent of a much older time period (as if it were written in that time, not just taking place then).
It is an almost simple story dealing with complex issues, and while some may challenge the somewhat insta-love qualities, I felt it was fitting for t...more
This short story is a charming look at Edith, a sexually repressed woman, and Clark, a transman, and Edith's eyes being opened not just to her own sexuality but to the world at large. Everything was tastefully handled and the language is reminiscent of a much older time period (as if it were written in that time, not just taking place then).
It is an almost simple story dealing with complex issues, and while some may challenge the somewhat insta-love qualities, I felt it was fitting for t...more
I loved the setting and the dynamic between the two characters. I'm not usually a huge fan of short stories because I like lots of detail and becoming immersed in the world of the characters, but I thought this was really well done. It certainly could be longer with more history of both characters and it could also follow the path Edith chooses to take once the story ends. However, it works really well as a short. There are bursts of heat with the sex scenes and you definitely feel the connectio...more
As the first Trans* title to be offered by Storm Moon Press, Kelly Rand's Pearl is a story that I was really excited to read. What Kelly has offered up is a thoughtful, romantic, deliciously (and deliberately) dated tale of love between an innocent small-town Canadian woman and the handsome young man who wanders into town.
This is not just a tale that's conveniently set in the 1920s for the purposes of atmosphere, but one that makes careful use of small-town sexual repression to explore the conse...more
This is not just a tale that's conveniently set in the 1920s for the purposes of atmosphere, but one that makes careful use of small-town sexual repression to explore the conse...more
This short is hot and sweet, holding a bit of something different. Kelly Rand sets her well-crafted story, Pearl, in the Roaring Twenties, in a small town where the biggest roar is boredom. Then she throws the doors of possibility open.
Edith, she of the ordinary name, ordinary job, and ordinary life, finds her biggest excitement in her friend’s engagement and her secretarial job. She lives with her widowed mother, stifled by routine and custom: excitement is for other people, and comes with a sh...more
Edith, she of the ordinary name, ordinary job, and ordinary life, finds her biggest excitement in her friend’s engagement and her secretarial job. She lives with her widowed mother, stifled by routine and custom: excitement is for other people, and comes with a sh...more
Pearl is a fast-paced, interesting and sexy read from the first page to the last word. I was intrigued by the main characters in this book and loved the sizzling chemistry between them. Pearl is set in the 1920’s. During this time many women were repressed and the heroine, Edith, is a prime example of this. Edith longs for more excitement in her life. She’s a young woman who has followed the strict rules that society, and the expectations from her family have given her. But lately, Edith has bec...more
This won’t be a long review because Pearl isn’t a very long story, and I wish with all of me that it was longer. There is a beautiful story to be told about Pearl, because I want to know the girl she was, and how he became the man called Clark.
Edith is watching life go by; she would like to be a participant of it but lacks the courage to do so. It’s a life of chores, church going, and the constant bickering of women gossiping. Edith wishes to be like the flappers, with their short hair, short sk...more
Edith is watching life go by; she would like to be a participant of it but lacks the courage to do so. It’s a life of chores, church going, and the constant bickering of women gossiping. Edith wishes to be like the flappers, with their short hair, short sk...more
This story gives exactly what it promises. And in this case, that's not a failure of vision or ambition—it's a testament to a tightly constructed, wonderful little short story. The atmosphere is gorgeous, and it drew out the beauty of a setting I never would have imagined as beautiful.
And the cover. Wow! So perfectly matched to the story. It makes me think how great this would be as a photorealistic graphic novel...
I'm definitely looking forward to more by this author.
And the cover. Wow! So perfectly matched to the story. It makes me think how great this would be as a photorealistic graphic novel...
I'm definitely looking forward to more by this author.
This was a really beautiful story. Gorgeous, descriptive prose, some Jazz Age glitz, and an unexpected love story. I loved everything about it, especially Edith and the way she reacts when she figures out Clark's secret. I wish there'd been more, but in the best way—I would happily read the continuing adventures of Edith and Clark. Very highly recommended.
This story was like a still life painting of a bowl of fruit. Beautifully constructed with great period details, but I didn't feel anything.
A sweet, short read, rife with period details and the tender beginnings of a love story. Those looking for good trans* romance, look no further!
This was an excellent story.
Well-fleshed out characters and an interesting viewpoint on human relationships.
Well-fleshed out characters and an interesting viewpoint on human relationships.
I was surprised how much story the author was able to fit into just a few pages, without ever feeling crowded.
It actually reminded me a lot of The Blue Castle by LM Montgomery, with the cold mother, the stifled daughter worrying about spinsterhood, and the unsuitable man with a ramshackle car.
It actually reminded me a lot of The Blue Castle by LM Montgomery, with the cold mother, the stifled daughter worrying about spinsterhood, and the unsuitable man with a ramshackle car.
This short story is beautifully written, and I loved the premise. Unfortunately, the main character got on my nerves. I found her naïveté rather irritating. The story is still definitely worth reading, though.
Longer review to come, but holy CRAP I loved this! I could not resist that gorgeous cover, and the writing was fantastic. This is the best novella I've read this year, and I think it's going on my DIK list.
This was an incredibly beautiful and moving story that left me with a big smile on my face. I only wish it was longer.
May 19, 2013
deirdre
marked it as to-read
May 11, 2013
Tess
marked it as to-read
May 05, 2013
Notinfrontoftheklingons
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May 01, 2013
Ashley Wesner
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Apr 15, 2013
Metaspinster
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Jan 08, 2013
Riley Murray
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Jan 01, 2013
Helle
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Dec 27, 2012
Isaiah
marked it as to-read
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Storm_Moon_Press: S.L. Armstrong - "Gender Pronouns in Fiction" at Top 2 Bottom | 1 | 5 | Jun 08, 2012 05:54pm | |
| Storm_Moon_Press: April 27th Release: Pearl | 1 | 5 | Apr 30, 2012 08:29am |
I'm a writer, editor and journalist with high hopes, low expectations and too much curiosity for my own damn good. I write stories about vulnerable people who are figuring themselves out because I suppose I am perpetually figuring myself out too. So far, I know that I am pure rock 'n' roll.
I have a particular love of fiction that explores gender binaries, and will read just about any trans story p...more
More about Kelly Rand...
I have a particular love of fiction that explores gender binaries, and will read just about any trans story p...more
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Aug 25, 2012 10:00am