Getting Lucky

The Lucky Beggar Trilogy #1

by Craig Anderson

One good deed deserves another. When a homeless man rescues a young boy from a savage beating he is rewarded with a life changing discovery. Unfortunately he was perfectly happy with his life the way it was. Now he is up against forces that are conspiring to make him be something that he's not, a decent human being.

Genres: Fiction

65 pages, ebook

First published March 7, 2013

About the author

Craig Anderson can't stand writing about himself in the third person. I’m a Brit that lives in Canada, and I moved here via Australia, so no matter where I go people hear my bizarre accent and ask me where I’m from. I have a beautiful wife, two rambunctious kids, a cat called Sydney, and a Sheepadoodle puppy.

I love to write humour (yes that is how they spell it where I am from!) with just a touch of depth. If I can make you laugh and then make you think, I’m on the right track. I have a soft spot for characters with hidden strength, the types that no-one thinks will amount to anything. Give me a nun-chuck wielding elf or a granny hacker any day of the week.

Reviews

[megHan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this short book. It was hard to put it down. I planned to only read a few pages and, before I knew it, I was on the last page. I could have used a lot more pages because I want to know what happens to them after the story has ended. That's how I know it's a 5 star book in my eyes - I want to know what happens after the story ends. (Craig, let me know if you plan on writing a 2nd or even 3rd book about this character. I would love to read it.)

You meet up with this man who is on the streets, who hustles to get money and who has to deal with a nasty "landlord" (I use quotes because he lives in a box and shouldn't be having to pay anyone anything, especially with force). He is alone and you know that there is a backstory, but one is not provided, which leaves you wanting to know more about him and what happened in his life. You know he is lonely and sad about where he's at, especially when he drowns his evenings in drink. I felt like the author really knew what he was talking about, like he really felt what the main character was feeling and articulated it very well.

Once he meets Lucky and the scientist ... the story just amazed me. Who would have thought that you could learn so much from such a short book?

I definitely recommend this book - and for those of you wondering, it's free on Amazon for Kindle.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was brought to my attention in a Canadian group here on good reads. I knew nothing about the book or author (As I believe that this is his first book).

I found the book to be quite engaging, the plot was interesting and I found that I was curious about the characters. The title really fit the story on many levels and I love that when an author can do that. Given that this book is about a homeless person, however, we don not know why he is homeless, I found his language to be rather pleasant which for my eyes was a relief but I am not sure if it fit the character. This was a very easy read. I did find that the book ended rather abruptly and it really felt like half a book but still worth a read.

SPOILER ALERT (I don't know how to hide spoilers so don't read past this)
The ending really felt like it was the middle of the book because I wanted to find out more about the ties between the "egghead" and the fat owner of Bennett because it sure seems like there is history there. Who in fact stole Bennett and why? How did he escape? What is our hero's pre-story etc. What is going to happen to Jimmy? Or did it already? The novel itself was so short that I think all of these questions could be answered in one book and still have room to create more questions.

So, well done and yes, I would read the next book.

[Lina · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is from what I believe is a debut author, so I shall try to keep my review professional this time. No, I won't. But whatever.
I liked it, even though it was a little short (but I wouldn't have read it on my computer if it had been any longer). I liked the main character, because we could see the good and the bad, but the plot, for me, was a little thin, not to mention used up. But overall, I liked it.

[Janet Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun story and I can’t wait to read the rest of this series. I also will be looking for more of this author’s work. This is a stand-alone work. The premise of the story is unique and fairly well fleshed out. All of characters seem to be well thought out and realistic. This is novella length and doesn’t waste space on unnecessary details – more like a short story. The story is fairly light-hearted and has lots of humor. I would rate this PG. There is no sex, some bad language and some violence. I highly recommend this book.

[Gerry Matlack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amusing

By the end of page two I wasn't sure I could finish the story. About the time I was a quarter of the way through I didn't know if I could put it down before finishing it. Luckily for me it wasn't longer, so I didn't starve while reading it.

[Wanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I guess I'm just a sucker for a happy ending :D

I liked that the protagonist was a good guy deep down and began to recover his humanity after his "karma" began to kick in

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It was too short and I wasn't ready for it to end. I guess that means I will just have to get the next book.

It was nice to read something that was different. A man living on the streets finds his luck is about to change. Coming to the aid of a youngster getting beaten up by the local "protector" leads him to participate in a study being conducted by an out of work pharmacist. After the initial treatment, things start to happen, but in a good way.... but why? And can it continue?

[Hope McCain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here is what I like about Getting Lucky: it's a unique spin on the concept of becoming a better person, and the ending is quite heartwarming. It is a quick read that didn't leave me bored at any point.

However, the story feels incomplete. The insinuation is that up until now, the narrator has not been a "good" person. As the events of the story unfold, a shift begins that allows him to start thinking less selfishly. But I would have liked more background on the narrator before being thrown into this situation that propels him toward a more virtuous life. I'd have rather known some of his experiences, rather than being told that he simply wasn't a good person.

Everything in the story occurs at a rapid pace, to the point where it doesn't feel "real" at times. Had Craig Anderson (author) taken the time to create the world in which the narrator was living--meaning, more description to make him seem like a real person in a real place, rather than simply stating what was going on in his head--the story would have felt more whole.

My last qualm has to do with the grammar. This book is full of grammatical errors that are a bit distracting at times. Hopefully this could be fixed with future versions.

For a start, I think Craig Anderson definitely has what it takes to create captivating, interesting stories--I just hope his future works have more "meat" to help the reader feel more a part of the world in which the story is taking place.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting Lucky is narrated in the first person by a homeless man, who is quite a card sharp. He makes a small income by setting up his card table on the side-walk and getting the passers-by to try their luck with the cards. He rarely loses, just making enough to pay his “rent” (his patch in the alley) to Jimmy, and buy his nightly bottle of vodka.

So when he caught Jimmy beating up a young boy, he rescued him, and in return the boy gave him details of a man who needed new people to experiment on. The money sounded good, so he decided “what the heck”.

I really enjoyed this novella. It was light and entertaining, easy to read, and was good for a laugh at times as well. I have no hesitation in recommending it at all.

[Joel Bresler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Craig Anderson's novella reminded me of something I might read in The New Yorker. Normally, this is not the sort of statement I make as a compliment; but I'm making an exception in this case.
"Getting Lucky" has a very publishable quality to it, and I could see the piece as featured fiction in any quality magazine. Anderson tells his story effectively, believably and, most important, entertainingly. "Getting Lucky" is easy to read all the way through, which is a real accomplishment for a longish short story.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was fortunate enough to get a copy to read for free, I wasn't prepared for just how entertaining and well written this would be. This is an amusing little fairytale about luck, When a homeless conman participates in a science experiment for money, he doesn't realise how much his life is going to change. This is a cleverly written original story, full of humour, with a a neat twist or two keep the reader entertained to the end.

[Robin Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Craig Anderson does a great job of making you interested in what his main character has to say for himself within the first few lines. It's an amusing short book/novelle but the humour doesn't get in the way of the story which develops very naturally. I'd certainly read anything else he puts out.
Robin Bennett http://www.monsterbooks.co.uk

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this short story. few small typos I noticed. but it was a quick read, in 2 sittings only because I had to.go.to.bed. I didn't want to put it down. I would have loved for this book to be longer and more in depth. the ending leaves me asking where's part 2? this feels like the first part of a long story. more more.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever thought about the concept of luck: what it means and why it happens? Craig Anderson in his story Getting Lucky weaves a tale that makes you take a look at luck in a different light.

[Ani Jizmejian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful first novella in what will be explored more in later instalments. The question, “How would you behave if you knew Karma was watching?” Was instantly sinister. Love it.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing story idea and great ending. I loved it. I hope to read more from this author. Wonder if he's ever considered writing a television sitcom?

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good debut from Craig Anderson. I liked the characters, I just felt that the story was incomplete and could be longer. All in all, well done on a brilliant book.

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

a short story well worth reading!! very good characters and story line.