Scraps: Fictional Fragments

by David Luck

From slice-of-life vignettes to narratives with suspense, the short stories in author David Luck's fiction collection stem from his observations of life around him. After moving from an isolated mountain cabin to a home near Sloan's Lake in Denver, Colorado, Luck was intrigued by the activity surrounding the lake. Luck used these situations as fodder for this book. Scraps' first story, "Angelica and Carlos," introduces the young Angelica as she waits for her son to be returned from a weekend visit with his father, Carlos. When Carlos and Roberto are more than an hour late, Angelica wonders if she will ever see her son again. In "Balby, England," an American couple, married for forty-one years, travel to England for the first time and become the unwitting targets of a beautiful thief. "Going Postal" tells the tale of Maggie, a homeless woman; Jasper, a retired gentleman who has taken up in-line skating; and Merna, a cantankerous mail carrier; and how their lives intersect in an unusual way. Infused with sensory images woven with beautiful language, the stories in the collection give a glimpse into situations, people, and places with which we can all identify.

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[~Marty Qualls · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the scenery of the book set in Colorado and Wyoming. It was just like coming home for me! (born and raised in Cheyenne and a regular visitor to Colorado when growing up). Especially enjoyable was any reference to the cold, wind, weather, smells in and views of the mountains. Characters in the stories crossed my mind several days after reading about their life experiences, so my "intrigue factor" was on high alert as I thought about the well drawn out characters and puzzled over how complex they were (but yet in many cases, they were in simple settings, leading simple lives). Reading the stories was very entertaining and emotional. I would like to read more of David Luck's work and will be purchasing his "Men Are" to see what his unique perspective is on us men!

[Alanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short stories that many can relate to, based on the author's observations through his life experiences or through observing others. Everyone has a "life story" and these are a few interesting collections. Enjoyed the author's writing style and would enjoy a novel by him.