Boy in the Platinum Palace and Other Stories

by Maria L.M. Fres-Felix

This collection of short stories, the author’s second with UP Press, covers a range of settings, from domiciles, to corporate offices, to care giving institutions. It does not limit itself to the present period buts makes a foray into the country’s colonial past. In my opinion, as editor of this book, Dada’s greatest strength as a writer remains her ability to bring original, intriguing characters to life. And she does so without employing verbal acrobatics or wordplay, but simply by maintaining a uniquely empathic and engaging narrative voice.

Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Red · Rating 3 out of 5]

Might have hated it in the beginning. The character in Collateral Damage has me ready to throw arms with how she viewed the world. As well as her distinct acidy to everything. Further introspection has me wondering if it was written that way for us to feel how the character felt. That's something I'll never be able to confirm though.

Either way, this anthology's a good read. Things start picking up around the half-way mark. And if you can get invested enough with characters you'll never see or hear of again beyond 10 pages, this one might be for you.