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A Step Outside of Normal
A Step Outside of Normal is the first in the Read on the Run series. It is an anthology of seven short stories, by five different authors, presenting situations which are almost, but not quite, normal. Not really supernatural, not really fantasy, not really general fiction. But what they all share is that each is a little bit “off”. And short, to suit your busy lifestyle.
Hell of a Day, by Laurie Axinn Gienapp, is about a young man who has to deal with divorced parents who don’t like each other… but with an unusual setting.
Sunnybrook Acres, by Catherine Valenti, is a story of a retirement home, with an unusual cadre of residents.
Pirates, by Kathleen Terrell, looks at the world out of the eyes of a young child.
Always, by Theresa Thompson, is a tender story about loss, except that maybe it’s not so tender.
Xyxyx, by R. S. Leergard, examines the beginning of the world, but perhaps not our world.
The Double, by Laurie Axinn Gienapp, presents a young woman who appears to have a doppelganger.
And Rage, by Catherine Valenti – well, you’ll just have to read that one.
Hell of a Day, by Laurie Axinn Gienapp, is about a young man who has to deal with divorced parents who don’t like each other… but with an unusual setting.
Sunnybrook Acres, by Catherine Valenti, is a story of a retirement home, with an unusual cadre of residents.
Pirates, by Kathleen Terrell, looks at the world out of the eyes of a young child.
Always, by Theresa Thompson, is a tender story about loss, except that maybe it’s not so tender.
Xyxyx, by R. S. Leergard, examines the beginning of the world, but perhaps not our world.
The Double, by Laurie Axinn Gienapp, presents a young woman who appears to have a doppelganger.
And Rage, by Catherine Valenti – well, you’ll just have to read that one.
- GenresShort Stories
78 pages, Paperback
Published July 1, 2016
About the author
Laurie Axinn Gienapp
9 books37 followersLaurie lives in northeastern Massachusetts with her husband and their two cats. She and her husband spend as much time as they can either ocean fishing or ballroom dancing; the cats spend as much time as they can, sleeping.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 8, 2016
This is a great book of 7 short stories that will entertain you whenever you have a spare 10 minutes or so. Each story is as different from the others as can be but every one of them has the ability to hold the reader captive. The quality of writing in every story is excellent and all seem to be normal situations - normal until that unexpected corner is turned and the sting is revealed
A definite recommended read for everyone who likes things just that little bit different
I received a free copy of this anthology
A definite recommended read for everyone who likes things just that little bit different
I received a free copy of this anthology
February 17, 2017
I received the book from the author with no expectation of a review. I voluntarily decided to review it.
This is another anthology of short stories by this author and a few others. I didn't like it as much as the other anthology I have read with her work in it. Her story "Hell of a Day" was one of my favorites as well as the one called "Rage" by Catherine Valenti. It's a fast read only 78 pages, but the two stories definitely make it worth it.
This is another anthology of short stories by this author and a few others. I didn't like it as much as the other anthology I have read with her work in it. Her story "Hell of a Day" was one of my favorites as well as the one called "Rage" by Catherine Valenti. It's a fast read only 78 pages, but the two stories definitely make it worth it.
August 19, 2016
I would like to thanks Laurie Gienapp for the oppurtunity to reads this collection of short stories. I would also like to thank her for sending me a PDF instead of an ebook!! Most of them I rather enjoyed. I am not sure how I would classify this book... not really fantasy, not really supernatural, maybe a bit of bothAs for a review of this title; it is hard to rate an anthology as a whole, so I will review each story and I give the whole a 4 star rating.
***Spoiler Alert***
Hell Of A Day--- 5 star
This story was short sweet and to the point, and just as I was starting to waonder what the point was it was over and had me and my twisted sense of humour laughing out loud. The last line was perfect!! really enjoyed it!
Sunnybrook Acres---3 star
The story was kind of annoying for me as I have had extensive experience with comic books and the blatant comparison/spoof with DC comics I found rather annoying (would have been the same with Marvel, Image, Valiant, etc.). I would have rather seen the characters completely made up. That being said the story was kind of interesting and I have never read anything quite like it. I did like the whole Alzheimer's ending
Pirates---4 star
I am totally at a loss of even what to say about this story, but I really like it! Totally different from anything I would usually read. The fact that is was told from the child's point of view was excellent!!
Always---5 stars
I foud this story fascinating, and could see some people having issues with this story depending on your religious and moral viewpoints. Very thought provoking and well done!!
Book of Xyxyx---2 stars
I could have skipped this story and not really missed anything. For me it was mildly humorous at best and just kind of annoying. I gained nothing from reading it and lost the 15 minutes it took me to get through it; so kind of a loss for me. However, I can see some people finding this story quite funny, such as my son... he would probably think it hilarious.
The Double---5 stars
Again really enjoyed this story... the whole doppleganger theme, and then the schizonphrenia punch at the end.. Well done!!
Rage---4 stars
Really thought the story was excellent, but would have preferred a different ending. I would have rather seen Cassie either alive at the end as opposed to the ghost at the end when the cops showed up. For me it would have had more punch! All in all an excellent story though!
***Spoiler Alert***
Hell Of A Day--- 5 star
This story was short sweet and to the point, and just as I was starting to waonder what the point was it was over and had me and my twisted sense of humour laughing out loud. The last line was perfect!! really enjoyed it!
Sunnybrook Acres---3 star
The story was kind of annoying for me as I have had extensive experience with comic books and the blatant comparison/spoof with DC comics I found rather annoying (would have been the same with Marvel, Image, Valiant, etc.). I would have rather seen the characters completely made up. That being said the story was kind of interesting and I have never read anything quite like it. I did like the whole Alzheimer's ending
Pirates---4 star
I am totally at a loss of even what to say about this story, but I really like it! Totally different from anything I would usually read. The fact that is was told from the child's point of view was excellent!!
Always---5 stars
I foud this story fascinating, and could see some people having issues with this story depending on your religious and moral viewpoints. Very thought provoking and well done!!
Book of Xyxyx---2 stars
I could have skipped this story and not really missed anything. For me it was mildly humorous at best and just kind of annoying. I gained nothing from reading it and lost the 15 minutes it took me to get through it; so kind of a loss for me. However, I can see some people finding this story quite funny, such as my son... he would probably think it hilarious.
The Double---5 stars
Again really enjoyed this story... the whole doppleganger theme, and then the schizonphrenia punch at the end.. Well done!!
Rage---4 stars
Really thought the story was excellent, but would have preferred a different ending. I would have rather seen Cassie either alive at the end as opposed to the ghost at the end when the cops showed up. For me it would have had more punch! All in all an excellent story though!
December 22, 2016
A Step Outside of Normal
A collection of seven short stories by five different authors, A Step Outside of Normal can easily be read during any cross country or other extended flight. I'm not going to write extended reviews of each story since, in some cases, such a review would challenge the story itself in length. Below are short blurbs about each story (except my own) that hopefully will make them sound interesting enough to check them out.
Hell of a Day by Laurie Axinn Gienapp: A very short tale – about four pages – that shows it's sometimes a very bad idea to take your work home with you. Especially when your job is in Hell.
Sunnybrook Acres by Catherine Valenti: A ten page and rather fun tale about the antics of various aging and eccentric super heroes at a certain retirement home.
Pirates by Kathleen Terrell: This one is a cute little tale about a young girl who spends a lot of time daydreaming about all of the men (pirates) who try to date her mother and wishing the father who left when she was five would return.
Always by Theresa Thompson: A heartbroken woman contemplates the end while attending her cheating husband's funeral. About ten pages.
The Book of Xyxyx by R.S. Leergaard: This one is mine so I'm not going to try to describe or review it. I'll only say this is a weird idea that came to me during a midnight to eight am shift as a security guard. About nine pages.
The Double by Laurie Axinn Gienapp: A flower shop owner comes to believe she's being stalked by her doppelganger double, who thinks she's being stalked by her doppelganger double. Eight pages
Rage by Catherine Valenti: At seventeen pages, this is by far the longest story in the book. It's a violent tale of anger, murder and betrayal. It only goes to show that sometimes a little vengeance is good for the soul.
All-in-all this is an interesting and unusual set of stories that should capture and hold the readers attention during an otherwise boring trip. Best of all, you should be able to finish it in that one sitting.
RSL
A collection of seven short stories by five different authors, A Step Outside of Normal can easily be read during any cross country or other extended flight. I'm not going to write extended reviews of each story since, in some cases, such a review would challenge the story itself in length. Below are short blurbs about each story (except my own) that hopefully will make them sound interesting enough to check them out.
Hell of a Day by Laurie Axinn Gienapp: A very short tale – about four pages – that shows it's sometimes a very bad idea to take your work home with you. Especially when your job is in Hell.
Sunnybrook Acres by Catherine Valenti: A ten page and rather fun tale about the antics of various aging and eccentric super heroes at a certain retirement home.
Pirates by Kathleen Terrell: This one is a cute little tale about a young girl who spends a lot of time daydreaming about all of the men (pirates) who try to date her mother and wishing the father who left when she was five would return.
Always by Theresa Thompson: A heartbroken woman contemplates the end while attending her cheating husband's funeral. About ten pages.
The Book of Xyxyx by R.S. Leergaard: This one is mine so I'm not going to try to describe or review it. I'll only say this is a weird idea that came to me during a midnight to eight am shift as a security guard. About nine pages.
The Double by Laurie Axinn Gienapp: A flower shop owner comes to believe she's being stalked by her doppelganger double, who thinks she's being stalked by her doppelganger double. Eight pages
Rage by Catherine Valenti: At seventeen pages, this is by far the longest story in the book. It's a violent tale of anger, murder and betrayal. It only goes to show that sometimes a little vengeance is good for the soul.
All-in-all this is an interesting and unusual set of stories that should capture and hold the readers attention during an otherwise boring trip. Best of all, you should be able to finish it in that one sitting.
RSL
July 26, 2016
Terrific selection of short stories.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews