What do you think?
The Road Less Taken #2
The Road Less Taken: A Collection of Unusual Short stories
Theodore Jerome Cohen’s first collection of unusual short stories met with such an unqualified success that he was persuaded to prepare a second set of equally enjoyable stories about the adventure we call “life.” This book continues his penchant for writing tales that mix truth and fiction in ways even the author’s friends and family find difficult to untangle . . . tales about people with whom he’s worked or simply known, people who, for one reason or another, struck him as having a story to tell and from whom he learned something that has stayed with him through the years. It’s their stories he wants to share with you in this book. Here you’ll find unusual stories about a violinist and his wife who escaped the death camp at Treblinka, about a man who, because of his impatience, interrupted a meeting involving President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill, and General de Gaulle, and about a friend with a passion for beautiful women and fast cars who dared to live on the edge—stories vividly brought to life in this, the second collection of unusual short stories.
162 pages, Paperback
Published January 20, 2017
About the author
Theodore Jerome Cohen
75 books40 followers
Flash Fiction Stories for the Musically Inclined
September 11, 2026
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HJJMN3NY
<
The Worst People In The Entire World
September 6, 2026
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HJ13Q4MT
More Illustrated Short Stories for Animal Lovers
April 16, 2026
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GXKXWM7P
Illustrated Short Stories for Animal Lovers
March 6, 2026
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GRN854XL
Flash Fiction for Animal Lovers
For Alzheimer's Patients and their Caregivers
January 23, 2026
https://alztivities.com/product/flash...
Pandamonium
November 29, 2025
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G4HT3FBQ
Hunting Dinosaurs
November 22, 2025
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G3CX1QD8
Larry the Laughing Hyena
November 17, 2025
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G2MMST48
Пепе будує гніздо
October 30, 2025
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FYJ5GDRN
佩佩築巢記
October 29, 2025
https://www.am
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 5, 2018
The author writes so convincingly that I believe he was in all of these situations -- across time periods, settings, events, and cultures. Cohen says his friends and family can't untangle his mixture of truth and fiction. He writes in a multigenre style of fiction/nonfiction and cleverly uses photos and even YouTube videos of historical events to create worlds within stories. I am so impressed, again, with his craft of writing.
The first story is so touching and is set after World War II about someone who survived a death camp to go on in America, never forgetting the past. Get the Kleenex ready.
Another story includes the DIA (so many people know about the CIA, how about the DIA?) and other Washington intelligence agencies, and the last man out of Saigon.
The next story could be a script for NCIS (change the names and personalities) and is part of a book by the author. I like the chapter previews as well as the books. House of Cards: Dead Men Tell No Tales
Then a sad story about a mystery solved with family photos and information --- I can't give it away. Again, pass the Kleenex!
A story of Chinese immigrants who eat cuys (like guinea pigs, have you heard of that) in Peru? This is so convincing although I know the author is not Chinese, I would believe he was when reading the story. The story is not about mealtime!
Sudden stillness wakes the main character in the next story, who was trained by his father who only had circumstantial evidence against him. But we know both people were criminals. This story is in another set of books by the author which I have read and recommend. Cold Blood: The Antarctic Murders Trilogy
He Carried a Tailor's Needle is nonfiction about the author's Grandpa Joe. One of his grandfathers carried a needle, the other a barber pole. Heart-tugging story! The full life of the author is in the book Full Circle: A Dream Denied, a Vision Fulfilled (also recommend this book).
Blues Radio is nonfiction and is based on Ham Radio, a subject that appears frequently in books by Theodore Jerome Cohen.
There are more stories and one just before the San Franciso Earthquake in 1906 --- so enjoyable until the last sentence.
A psychic reading, a patriotic Army story, and a captain outsmarted by a 14 year old boy. All puzzles but comprehensible and great reads!
The first story is so touching and is set after World War II about someone who survived a death camp to go on in America, never forgetting the past. Get the Kleenex ready.
Another story includes the DIA (so many people know about the CIA, how about the DIA?) and other Washington intelligence agencies, and the last man out of Saigon.
The next story could be a script for NCIS (change the names and personalities) and is part of a book by the author. I like the chapter previews as well as the books. House of Cards: Dead Men Tell No Tales
Then a sad story about a mystery solved with family photos and information --- I can't give it away. Again, pass the Kleenex!
A story of Chinese immigrants who eat cuys (like guinea pigs, have you heard of that) in Peru? This is so convincing although I know the author is not Chinese, I would believe he was when reading the story. The story is not about mealtime!
Sudden stillness wakes the main character in the next story, who was trained by his father who only had circumstantial evidence against him. But we know both people were criminals. This story is in another set of books by the author which I have read and recommend. Cold Blood: The Antarctic Murders Trilogy
He Carried a Tailor's Needle is nonfiction about the author's Grandpa Joe. One of his grandfathers carried a needle, the other a barber pole. Heart-tugging story! The full life of the author is in the book Full Circle: A Dream Denied, a Vision Fulfilled (also recommend this book).
Blues Radio is nonfiction and is based on Ham Radio, a subject that appears frequently in books by Theodore Jerome Cohen.
There are more stories and one just before the San Franciso Earthquake in 1906 --- so enjoyable until the last sentence.
A psychic reading, a patriotic Army story, and a captain outsmarted by a 14 year old boy. All puzzles but comprehensible and great reads!
August 1, 2017
It was the best of
short stories, and it was the
worst, of short stories.
That honestly is the whole review in Haiku via a plagiarized quote from "Tale of Two Cities" with some punctuation adulteration and a crippling forced structure. Some of the stories in this collection were very good, had an interesting premise and characters with substance. Then…well, there were stories that were random thoughts put down rag-tag and incomplete, with no context to secure it to. It was rather like reading a transcript of a church basement writers support group. If you are a big fan of experimental writing and want to read what may become a fully fleshed-out literary submission, then go ahead. I would give it a try.
short stories, and it was the
worst, of short stories.
That honestly is the whole review in Haiku via a plagiarized quote from "Tale of Two Cities" with some punctuation adulteration and a crippling forced structure. Some of the stories in this collection were very good, had an interesting premise and characters with substance. Then…well, there were stories that were random thoughts put down rag-tag and incomplete, with no context to secure it to. It was rather like reading a transcript of a church basement writers support group. If you are a big fan of experimental writing and want to read what may become a fully fleshed-out literary submission, then go ahead. I would give it a try.
February 7, 2017
There is no better way to spend an afternoon than sitting down and having a chat with a long lost friend. “The Road Less Taken: A Collection of Unusual Short Stories Book 2” is just like that, a conversation with a friend.
“The Road Less Taken: A Collection of Unusual Short Stories (Book 2)”, by Theodore Jerome Cohen is an amazing collection of short stories that will capture the imagination and hearts of the reader. Just like my friends, each story is unique and has a personality all it’s own.
My favourite story happens to also be the first story in the collection, “The Luthier of Ozone Park”. It’s the tale a violinist and his wife who escaped the death camp at Treblinka. The story is a story of a love that lasted a lifetime no matter what life threw at it and demonstrates how music can heal even the most broken of hearts.
While my life experience is vastly different, Mr. Cohen wrote a story that touched that special spot in my heart. A spot that is reserved for those childhood memories that seem unimportant at the time but I hold dear as I grow older. I was transported back to the day we went to a little violin shop to pick my sisters violin. I remember listening with awe as the old man showcased his work for us, his love for music showed in every note, just like Mr. Bereza in the story.
Within the pages of “The Road Less Taken: A Collection of Unusual Short Stories (Book 2)” you will find a story about a young woman’s descent into the darkness of schizophrenia. This story will have a great impact on many readers, especially now that mental health issues being talked about more and more. There are also excerpts from some of Mr. Cohens previous works where you get to meet many of your favourite characters like Detective Martelli from “Wheel of Fortune” and Madame Zu-Zu from “The Hypnotist”.
Each story has an image at the beginning that helps set the tone for the story. Many of the stories have foot note that I highly recommend that you read. They add a little “something extra” to each story. They’ll give you glimpses into the author’s life and insight into the story. In “The Girl With The Red Shoes” you’ll learn in the footnotes that Mr. Cohen has a cluster of islands named after him! In the footnotes of “The Monster Awakens” shares a link to a video where you can watch the actual cable car ride that he describes in the story.
“The Road Less Taken: A Collection of Unusual Short Stories (Book 2)” is a collection of stories that fit our fast-paced lives. All to often I hear from my friends that they don’t have time to read anymore. These are stories you can read over your morning coffee or just before bed. Mr. Cohen writes stories that are deep and complex that will touch a spot in your soul. Each story is stunning and offers an escape from reality for just a little bit.
*Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of “The Road Less Taken: A Collection of Unusual Short Stories Book 2” in exchange for my review. All opinions are 100% my own.
“The Road Less Taken: A Collection of Unusual Short Stories (Book 2)”, by Theodore Jerome Cohen is an amazing collection of short stories that will capture the imagination and hearts of the reader. Just like my friends, each story is unique and has a personality all it’s own.
My favourite story happens to also be the first story in the collection, “The Luthier of Ozone Park”. It’s the tale a violinist and his wife who escaped the death camp at Treblinka. The story is a story of a love that lasted a lifetime no matter what life threw at it and demonstrates how music can heal even the most broken of hearts.
While my life experience is vastly different, Mr. Cohen wrote a story that touched that special spot in my heart. A spot that is reserved for those childhood memories that seem unimportant at the time but I hold dear as I grow older. I was transported back to the day we went to a little violin shop to pick my sisters violin. I remember listening with awe as the old man showcased his work for us, his love for music showed in every note, just like Mr. Bereza in the story.
Within the pages of “The Road Less Taken: A Collection of Unusual Short Stories (Book 2)” you will find a story about a young woman’s descent into the darkness of schizophrenia. This story will have a great impact on many readers, especially now that mental health issues being talked about more and more. There are also excerpts from some of Mr. Cohens previous works where you get to meet many of your favourite characters like Detective Martelli from “Wheel of Fortune” and Madame Zu-Zu from “The Hypnotist”.
Each story has an image at the beginning that helps set the tone for the story. Many of the stories have foot note that I highly recommend that you read. They add a little “something extra” to each story. They’ll give you glimpses into the author’s life and insight into the story. In “The Girl With The Red Shoes” you’ll learn in the footnotes that Mr. Cohen has a cluster of islands named after him! In the footnotes of “The Monster Awakens” shares a link to a video where you can watch the actual cable car ride that he describes in the story.
“The Road Less Taken: A Collection of Unusual Short Stories (Book 2)” is a collection of stories that fit our fast-paced lives. All to often I hear from my friends that they don’t have time to read anymore. These are stories you can read over your morning coffee or just before bed. Mr. Cohen writes stories that are deep and complex that will touch a spot in your soul. Each story is stunning and offers an escape from reality for just a little bit.
*Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of “The Road Less Taken: A Collection of Unusual Short Stories Book 2” in exchange for my review. All opinions are 100% my own.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews