Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Sandcastle and Other Stories

by Justin Bog (Goodreads Author)

4.55 of 5 stars 4.55 · rating details · 55 ratings · 33 reviews

Reviewed at The Huffington Post by John Malik.
Reviewed at In Classic Style by Dee Solberg.

Sandcastle and Other Stories details: Ten literary, psychological, and suspense tales collected in Sandcastle and Other Stories are nothing short of an adventure through a roiling sea of emotion. An old man twisted by fate and a lost love . . . a young girl playing on the ocean shore...more

Kindle Edition, 1 edition, 153 pages

Published May 8th 2012 by Convenient Integration (first published May 1st 2012)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Best Books of 2012

174th out of 2,644 books — 7,550 voters

Indie Authors Everybody Should Read

120th out of 1,967 books — 2,030 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 233)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Jul 11, 2012 Kriss Morton rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: cabin-goddess-review-intention, friends-suggested

"As he's walking away I know he's still thinking about trains, wondering what a really big train crash would look like, the first car striking something twisted on the tracks and dragging the following cars off the rails, tumbling over on their sides with a world-stopping screech." location 2227

Everybody loves a good train wreck, though personally I vote for the roller coaster because I can get my fill of other people's misfortunes, the Schadenfreude, bright bloody and visceral. But wait, is this what the collection is about? No but there are a few train wrecks in it, a few boundaries pushed. This is not a light festive read, the Sandcastle? Well I am betting there is a foot print smack dab in the middle of it.

I read a couple of the stories out loud to my fiance, one of which had him so excited we ended up getting into a two hour discussion on this particular form of story telling. After finishing Mother of Twins, he immediately said, "Read the next one, I am really enjoying this, it reminds me of Flannery O'Connor's writing!" This is the third story in the collection and starts off with a creepy Stepford Wives feel. As with all the other stories in this book, the door is opened a bit more as it progresses, the jaws of life prying apart the wrecked side of the last car and contents revealed. In the end the grotesqueness of the human spirit is revealed in a the form that is also a desperate beauty, a justifiable need. Her weakness exposed like a pile of intestines, we cannot turn away and yet we want too, we can't. Again, train wreck!

But train wrecks are not always ugly, bloody and a mess. Sometimes you are riding a train when it happens, the cars ahead start to brake before smashing into a wall and jostle you a bit. Instead of having your leg ripped of you fall into the lap of the man or woman in the bench in front of you. You know the one, the sunlight hitting their glasses, preventing you seeing their eyes? The beauty seems real and you are like, wow how lucky I am, then the blinds are dropped and as beautiful as they are ... there is something different and disturbing. Beauty you cannot look away from, as dangerous as it maybe, drawing you into its clutches. The story Poseidon Eyes is a little like this. Just look beyond the fins and see what I mean when you read it.

If I were to pick a favorite, I would be hard pressed. I can't. Each one is its own train wreck, in fact there are a few roller coaster accidents, which as I said are my favorite. When the Ship Sinks probably is the one that gave me the most pause and qualifies as a roller coaster accident. The parallels and hidden metaphors are so lovely, disturbing and addictive I just did not want it to end, but FEMA was able to clear the tracks and I had to move along.

Sandcastle and Other Stories pushes the boundaries making you think. It is not cotton candy, a BLT or even a steak. It is complex Seafood Paella with muscles, spicy chirizo, clams, chicken, shrimp, sofrito, short ribs and more. Blended perfectly and placed over rice you dig in, experiencing joy, sweat breaking out from the spice as you gulp water and shovel more into your mouth unable to stop because of an evocation of pleasure and pain you received knowing the next time you get a chance to eat it, you will with even more splendor and abandonment!

(NOTE - I gave this collection to one of the professors at the University and he recently wrote me saying this book will probably be used as part of his lecture series on the world of self publishing he is doing to help dispel the stigma attached.)(less)

5 likes · like · see review

Jan 15, 2013 Gae-Lynn Woods rated it 5 of 5 stars

Justin Bog's first collection of short stories, SANDCASTLE AND OTHER STORIES, works brilliantly on many levels. Bog's prose is stark and lean, and he excels at description. He is a keen observer of life and people, and through his characters, he skims painfully close to thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that could belong to any of us.

Bog writes from inside the head of a woman or a man, young or old person, with equal proficiency. He excels at delivering the mundane minutia of life in a style tha...more

1 like · like · see review

Jul 23, 2012 Eden Baylee rated it 5 of 5 stars

Terrific Debut Collection!

Justin Bog is a generous author who provides ten very distinct stories in his debut collection. His writing is raw and palpable, so hold on tight, you're going to need a breather in between each story.

The one that affected me most was "Under the Third Story Window." I reread it twice to appreciate the nuances of each character, their complexities, and how the story wove itself so seamlessly around them. It's a difficult story about people you wouldn't want in your neig...more

1 like · like · see review

Dec 23, 2012 Susie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiftyfiftyme

While I love a short story collection as much as the next gal, I'm surprised I didn't love these stories the way other Goodreads reviewers did. Usually goodreads finds are pretty spot on for me, but in my opinion, this collection suffered from a lack of "show, don't tell" in the writing. I had a difficult time visualizing the characters and environments, although the situations were well crafted and interesting. There was a running theme of random acts of violence, cruelty, and lack of empathy a...more

1 like · like · see review

Sep 05, 2012 Mohanalakshmi rated it 5 of 5 stars

I started reading this collection late at night, while I had jetlag. Halfway into the first story, I found myself sitting up straighter in bed, and leaning closer to the light as I flicked through the pages (on my Kindle app for the iPad). I fell in love with the strong narrative voice, the characters put in awkward situations, and a writer who is not afraid to make the tough decisions for bad things to happen to good people -- as is the case in real life.

The grimness of these stories may turn s...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jun 05, 2012 David rated it 4 of 5 stars

Sandcastle and Other Stories is a book of beautifully crafted character studies. Justin Bog’s writing style flows as he delves deep in the minds of his creations and shares their innermost thoughts and deeds. Most of the characters in this ten-story collection involve the type of person you’d pass you on the street and not give a second glance to. Yet, like everyone, they have complex thoughts, feelings, and dreams. Bog makes these everyday nobodies into people you have feelings for (some good,...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 02, 2013 Derek McPhee rated it 5 of 5 stars

There is something that is fundamentally distressing about the human psyche. Perhaps it is the way in which it tends to, like turbulent waters, lurk beneath a calm and sometimes placid surface. Bog has done a remarkable job in doing two things in particular in his debut novel, Sandcastle and Other Stories: First he has been able to drop us in to the middle of a person's life, his character's day-to-day affairs, and not immediately alienate us with a wall of "being unable to adjust". The second t...more

1 like · like · see review

Jul 16, 2012 Stauroylla rated it 5 of 5 stars

Justin Bog is one my Favorite few new writers.
I being reading his work for the last 6 month in his blog "A Writer's Life" and every new post, every new story ,was a unique experience.
His Amazing talent to write his characters so realistic regardless if that is a woman or a man... makes the reader goes through a journey of emotions and feelings.
One of the best thing about this book ..is that you never going to guess how the story ends,and not just in one story but all of them .You can try of cour...more

1 like · like · see review

May 30, 2012 Helle Gade rated it 5 of 5 stars

This collection of short storys takes you on a psychological journey through human nature in all it's diversity. I highly recommend it.

3 likes · like · see review

Jul 19, 2012 Robert rated it 5 of 5 stars

Sandcastle and Other Stories is a collection of ten unique short stories and while I'm not one who typically reads short-story collections, I have to say that I really enjoyed this one. While they were all very well-written, I think the second story "Sandcastle" is my favorite. The way the author penned the surprise twist ending left me with my mouth agape and had me hooked and eager to read the rest of the stories.

Justin Bog's writing style kept me swiping through the pages, and I finished this...more

1 like · like · see review

Jun 29, 2012 Mindy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: dream-reader-dreamer2229-blo

These stories are not for the casual reader. The stories are convoluted, confusing, and often upsetting. Initially I had thought that a collection of short stories would make for an easy before bed read, when you want to read something but not anything too long. However these stories are not relaxing or entertaining. They seem to be written in a laissez-faire style, but that is misleading. The stories are purposefully pushing the envelope of acceptable and seem designed to cause conflict mental...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jun 21, 2012 Rachel Thompson rated it 5 of 5 stars

If you think you're in for a happy-go-lucky group of stories about unicorns and rainbows people, leave right now. These are dark stories, amazingly detailed and well-thought out, to the point that I found myself holding my breath to discover where Mr. Bog would take us next.

Yes, he's that good.

My favorite is the title story, Sandcastle, a seemingly quiet tale of mothers and daughters on the beach. And then it's not. And it haunts me in the kind of way that I've read it repeatedly, thinking "How...more

5 likes · like · see review

Oct 28, 2012 Maria rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a wonderful collection of short stories. The stories don't have a common theme running through them, but one thing that is common throughout is the way the author is able to introduce many diverse characters and yet make the reader feel as though he or she is looking at the world through the eyes of the character; really getting inside that character's mind and getting a feeling for the emotions. The quality of the description and the obvious talent the author has to be able to observe a...more This is a wonderful collection of short stories. The stories don't have a common theme running through them, but one thing that is common throughout is the way the author is able to introduce many diverse characters and yet make the reader feel as though he or she is looking at the world through the eyes of the character; really getting inside that character's mind and getting a feeling for the emotions. The quality of the description and the obvious talent the author has to be able to observe and recount different aspects of human behaviour is exceptional. There are some common threads that find their way into a few of the stories, for example a couple of the stories feature twins, and a few of the stories deal with difficult relationships. The first story, The Virtue of Minding Your Own Business, reads like a classic and really caught my attention. I knew the book was going to be good. The second story, Sandcastle, has an ending which although not altogether unexpected given the subject matter and the way the main character was portrayed, still has an element of shock value. As I read on, I didn't know quite what to expect from each story as each is very different from the last. One thing I became sure of after reading the first few stories, though, was that I would be taken on a rollercoaster ride of emotions in each story. I think each story in this collection is a stand alone quality read, I was not disappointed by any of them. Most of the stories are realistic tales about everyday people and many people will relate to something in the stories; the only exception is Poseidon Eyes, which is an abstract tale. Even though this is a fantasy tale, it contains the author's hallmark observations of the complexities of human behaviour and relationships, so fits in well with the collection. The ending to that particular story is cleverly done and thought-provoking. The last three stories in the collection are my favourites, I think, even though I enjoyed the whole book. Under the Third Story Window is well observed and poignant. I found On the Back Staircase a thrilling read, and this story, in particular, is one that really takes the reader along for the ride. Train Crash is subtly brilliant in the way it points to the fact that most people are living life day to day only seeing things from one perspective, it really makes you stop and think. I congratulate the author on this first collection of insightful short stories. I enjoyed the excerpt at end of the book, which is the first chapter of his debut novel. It is a family drama. I am sure after reading this collection that it will be a fascinating book.(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Aug 12, 2012 M.E. Franco rated it 5 of 5 stars

Personally I love a good short story. I don't have a lot of time to read, so I like being able to sit down and read an entire story in one sitting. Writing a good short story is difficult given the size limitation. The author has to develop the characters, story line and ending all within the space of what would roughly count as one chapter in a novel. Each word has to be chosed with care.

Justin Bog not only wrote one amazing short story, but he wrote ten of them. This collection is an incredibl...more

5 likes · like · see review

Aug 15, 2012 Karina rated it 5 of 5 stars

"Is this one of those dreams where the dream is so real you wake up feeling like you've worn out the whole day already?"

Just as the child in On the Back Staircase existed on the edge of a night rampant with imagined terrors and foreboding realities, this powerful collection of riveting and suspenseful short stories leaves one with the indelible imprint of having been visited by any number of the expertly crafted characters. From the quiet madness subtly portrayed in the title story Sandcastles,...more

1 like · like · see review

May 20, 2012 Edenmary Black rated it 5 of 5 stars

Justin Bog’s Sandcastle and Other Stories is captivating and a recommended read for several reasons. Bog’s clear writing is the fluid, keeping each of the stories in this suspenseful collection together, as he creates a collage of human nature and something beyond. The settings are places you’ve probably been. The characters could be people you know, but when you think you’ve got an understanding of what will happen next, the author injects a twist. At the bend in the road, you’re suddenly pulle...more

2 likes · like · see review

Apr 10, 2013 Stacey Campbell rated it 5 of 5 stars

Eerie, provocative, and hard to put down. The stories stick with you for weeks.

1 like · like · see review

Feb 25, 2013 Lisa rated it 2 of 5 stars

This is the first collection of short stories I have read since the Canterbury Tales in high school. And I've concluded that the short story genre just isn't something I am drawn to ultimately.

The writing style is fantastic. The author clearly is talented (and I'm not just saying that because he personally thanked me for rating his book on Goodreads....which I was frankly very surprised about!) The writing was not the problem for me. I am just not a short story person. I like to really take the...more

3 likes · like · see review

Jul 11, 2012 Debdatta Dasgupta Sahay rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-copy

Amazing! It was simply amazing! This book was a collection of bizarrely amazing work of fiction. Each and every story had its own twists and turns with some very incredible characters. Right from ‘The Virtue of Minding Your Own Business’, Justin Bog manages to catch you unawares with a story about murder and regrets and only manages to tighten his grip on his readers through the other stories till the very end of ‘On the Back Staircase’. Each story has something distinct to tell you about human...more

1 like · like · see review

Aug 06, 2012 Amber rated it 5 of 5 stars

Justin Bog's first short story collection, Sandcastle and other stories, is absolutely exquisite and rich. Bog's ability to paint a scene via poetic words is gorgeous, and I wish there were more to read. "On the Back Staircase" absolutely terrified me and gave me a few night's rough sleep, proving Bog's incredible ability to grab reader's attention and hold it long after they've put the book down (or closed down their kindle, as it were in my own case). Anxiously awaiting Justin Bog's 2nd public...more

2 likes · like · see review

Aug 07, 2012 Stephen rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is a breath of fresh air: literary tales. You don't see many books of literary short stories and this one is a gem.
I found the stories packed with both suspense and psychological turmoil.

These characters will surprise and shock, at times offend and leave you filled with horror. Through it all, the stories are told by a master weaver of words and I look forward to his next book with great anticipation.

To those that normally read other genres I say, take a chance. Spend an afternoon in...more

2 likes · like · see review

Aug 06, 2012 Dionne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Sandcastle and Other Stories contains memorable short stories that are wonderful studies into human nature. The author's ability to write any character, from a man, to a woman, to a child, is impressive. I was swept along in the stories, not only because of the well drawn characters, but also the original themes. I loved the fantasy elements in some of these stories and my favourite, Sandcastle, had a twist at the end that made me gasp and almost cry. These bittersweet stories and their haunted...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jul 04, 2012 Nina Pelletier-Powers rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a great summer read. You can read the official "The Good, The Bad and The Personal Context" review of this amazing short story collection here: http://thegoodthebadandthepersonalcon...

1 like · like · see review

Aug 10, 2012 Marietta rated it 5 of 5 stars

Sandcastle is a story showing the very dark side of humanity. Cats in Trees is about the humanity we all share when our families are far from perfect. A lot of really good short stories, some are scary, some are just bizarre & some make you go hmmm...

1 like · like · see review

Jun 28, 2012 Toni Sinns rated it 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyable read. 10 short but powering stories. You don't have to read them all in one sitting as each story is its own but you'll want to. The characters emotions and thought patterns are so well incorporated into the stories that you can picture the stories as movies in your mind. Unexpected twist and turns of the characters actions turn each story into your favorite. Justin Bog is a wonderful writer that really knows how to draw you in with some of the most common human traits and yet powering...more

1 like · like · see review

Jan 31, 2013 Justin Bog rated it 5 of 5 stars · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

The characters still haunt me long after I created them. I hope future readers enjoy this first collection of off-center tales.

like · see review

Jun 29, 2012 Cathy Dreyer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wonderful. Absorbing and rewarding.

1 like · like · see review

Mar 09, 2013 Kim rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: done-reading

This book is ten short stories, hold on to your seats because your going for a dark ride. Each story is intriguing in its own. The author is very descriptive and detailed in his stories. I loved them all but some of my favorites that stood out were...The Virtues Of Minding Your Own Business( about twins) Mother Of Twins, typecast, Train Wreck. Form your own opinion and download and read and review at Amazon.com Thank you Justin for sharing your skill with us.

1 like · like · see review

Dec 24, 2012 Pete Denton rated it 4 of 5 stars

Sandcastle and Other Stories is a terrific mixture of short stories. Each is well crafted and very well written. The characters are brought to life and Justin has done a great job of creating different voices for each of them, not always easy for a collection of short stories.

I found Sandcastle, in particular, delicious with a great ending. Twisted mind. I like it!

A great collection to dip in and out of in between other reading.

1 like · like · see review

Aug 08, 2012 Jane Isaac rated it 5 of 5 stars

This enchanting short story collection deftly examines the psychology of life.
With elegant prose, each story leads the reader through a character's journey, requiring reflection on influential events in their lives, and finishes up with an unexpected twist at the end.
This anthology can be read as individual stories, or in its entirety, and I very much look forward to more work from this author.

3 likes · like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Who is your favorite character?	1	1	Oct 24, 2012 01:59pm
What is your favorite tale in Sandcastle and Other Stories?	2	3	Aug 15, 2012 01:57pm

combine
Other Editions (1)

Popular Shelves

to-read

169 shelves

ebook

3 shelves

fiction

2 shelves

kindle

2 shelves

my-books

1 shelf

daddy-dark-s-baby...

1 shelf

march-new-books

1 shelf

done-reading

1 shelf

quality-dark-fiction

1 shelf

About Justin Bog

Writer, reader, book/music/film/travel reviewer for In Classic Style, editor, cook, lawn mower, treat master to Zippy, Kipling, Ajax The Gray, & Eartha Kitt'n.

If you feel like reading a short sharp tale, please find the paperback for Sandcastle and Other Stories at your local bookstores, please request a copy there and share the book with your friends. The eBook is available at Amazon (coming...more

More about Justin Bog...

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Sandcastle and Ot...

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

title link	preview: Sandcastle and Other Stories
avg rating	preview: Sandcastle and Other Stories Goodreads rating: 4.55 (55 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13640184-sandcastle-and-other-stories?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1336613029l/13640184.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13640184-sandcastle-and-other-stories?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Sandcastle and Other Stories by Justin Bog[/url]

Sandcastle and Other Stories

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topicDiscuss This Book

combineOther Editions (1)

Popular Shelves

About Justin Bog

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Sandcastle and Ot...

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (1)