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Voices
The mind is a terrible thing to waste. It is also a terrible place to live. Thoughts, fears, and paranoid thoughts lurk in the shadows, waiting to pounce when you are most vulnerable. Those thoughts whisper words of no escape. But what happens when the mind settles on revenge instead?
235 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 13, 2018
2 people are currently reading
1 person want to read
About the author
A.J. Brown
89 books22 followersAJ Brown is a storyteller who pens emotionally charged/character driven stories that often include a touch of dark paranormal. His work has received such honors as a Pushcart nomination, and editor's choice for Issue #12 of Necrotic Tissue. Bards and Sages Quarterly, Liquid Imagination, and Midnight Echo are a few of the literary zines where his stories can be found.
Above all else, AJ is a husband and father of two beautiful children who not only support his creative endeavors, but also provide inspiration (sometimes in rather unexpected ways).
If you'd like to learn more about AJ Brown's life and work, visit his blog: Type AJ Negative. However, beware, AJ is a unique mixture of strawberry Kool-aid drinking redneck and traditional values Southern gentleman. The only things he takes seriously are serious things and he isn't one of them.
Above all else, AJ is a husband and father of two beautiful children who not only support his creative endeavors, but also provide inspiration (sometimes in rather unexpected ways).
If you'd like to learn more about AJ Brown's life and work, visit his blog: Type AJ Negative. However, beware, AJ is a unique mixture of strawberry Kool-aid drinking redneck and traditional values Southern gentleman. The only things he takes seriously are serious things and he isn't one of them.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 16, 2018
VOICES is a collection of stories by A.J. Brown. These are dark, disturbing, complex tales of the inner voice, the hidden mind, that which drives us from within. These stories darkly and boldly illustrate the harsh realities of life when there are no safe places, not even in your own head.
Brown pulls no punches with his presentation of the horrors that go on around us. His characters will pull on your heart and mind and may even draw forth a few tears. Some of these stories left me physically tense even after completion and one left me feeling physically ill with emotional response. This is my warning to you. This is not light reading. It is true horror: deep, dark, and disturbing. While not extremely graphic in description, Voices is daringly extreme to the extreme in content.
Let’s address a few of these, shall we?
“In the Shadows, They Hide” is a disturbing tale of deep fear, bullying, and the decisions made in angst.
“Chet and Kay’s Not So Marvelous Adventure” addresses morality vs inner voice, the conundrum of stereotype role reversal, and visceral insanity.
“The Scarring” should perhaps come with a warning label, so here you go. Like some of the other stories, it deals with child abuse, exploring the dark voices of the inner turmoil that arises from this all too real horror.
“Claire the Movie” should, perhaps, also have a warning label. The building dread as the story unfolds was so consuming that it evoked a physical response. My chest was tight in anticipation and I am certain I forgot to breathe once or twice as the foreshadowing began to take hold of my mind.
“Black Storms” is a very well written story of one man’s experience with what could be the end times.
“Number” … because “…anger isn’t a real emotion.”
“Apartment 306 and Poor Jenny Harris” is the one that I find the most impactful. It is a dark and disturbing tale of tragic things that go on in the world. It builds steadily to a horrifying climax and conclusion. This one evoked both an emotional and physical response (tears and nausea) because of the realism it reflected and the incredibly vivid characters. I will see this one in my nightmares for a very long time.
Other stories in this gripping volume include:
“Anymore”
“Crisp Sounds”
“To Bleed”
“Not Like You”
“The Sad Woes of the Trash Man”
“The White”
“A Memory Best Left Alone”
I also encourage you to read the Author’s Letter to Readers and Author’s Notes following the stories. Very enlightening. Like a little interview A.J. did with himself about the work. It’s a nice gift to one who has braved the disturbing horrors on the previous pages.
Get your intestinal fortitude in order and read Voices.
Brown pulls no punches with his presentation of the horrors that go on around us. His characters will pull on your heart and mind and may even draw forth a few tears. Some of these stories left me physically tense even after completion and one left me feeling physically ill with emotional response. This is my warning to you. This is not light reading. It is true horror: deep, dark, and disturbing. While not extremely graphic in description, Voices is daringly extreme to the extreme in content.
Let’s address a few of these, shall we?
“In the Shadows, They Hide” is a disturbing tale of deep fear, bullying, and the decisions made in angst.
“Chet and Kay’s Not So Marvelous Adventure” addresses morality vs inner voice, the conundrum of stereotype role reversal, and visceral insanity.
“The Scarring” should perhaps come with a warning label, so here you go. Like some of the other stories, it deals with child abuse, exploring the dark voices of the inner turmoil that arises from this all too real horror.
“Claire the Movie” should, perhaps, also have a warning label. The building dread as the story unfolds was so consuming that it evoked a physical response. My chest was tight in anticipation and I am certain I forgot to breathe once or twice as the foreshadowing began to take hold of my mind.
“Black Storms” is a very well written story of one man’s experience with what could be the end times.
“Number” … because “…anger isn’t a real emotion.”
“Apartment 306 and Poor Jenny Harris” is the one that I find the most impactful. It is a dark and disturbing tale of tragic things that go on in the world. It builds steadily to a horrifying climax and conclusion. This one evoked both an emotional and physical response (tears and nausea) because of the realism it reflected and the incredibly vivid characters. I will see this one in my nightmares for a very long time.
Other stories in this gripping volume include:
“Anymore”
“Crisp Sounds”
“To Bleed”
“Not Like You”
“The Sad Woes of the Trash Man”
“The White”
“A Memory Best Left Alone”
I also encourage you to read the Author’s Letter to Readers and Author’s Notes following the stories. Very enlightening. Like a little interview A.J. did with himself about the work. It’s a nice gift to one who has braved the disturbing horrors on the previous pages.
Get your intestinal fortitude in order and read Voices.
April 29, 2018
There is that old saying "The mind is a terrible thing to waste" and I'm sure some of these characters wished their minds would waste away to stop their thoughts and those horrifying voices. This is another emotionally charged, character driven book by the mighty pen of A J Brown.
This book is filled with excruciatingly painful yet compelling shorts that will send chills down your spine and make you break out in a cold sweat. I highly recommend this book and any other book by A J Brown as he sure has a way with words. If you love the horror genre this is a must read!
This book is filled with excruciatingly painful yet compelling shorts that will send chills down your spine and make you break out in a cold sweat. I highly recommend this book and any other book by A J Brown as he sure has a way with words. If you love the horror genre this is a must read!
September 20, 2019
I was drawn to this book because of the creepy cover. I was surprised to find out it was a compilation of short stories! The first story y'all was a monster; in a good way of course! It hooked me into wanting more. I thought each story got better as I read them. AJ Brown is a fantastic story teller who writes about some very intense and hard subjects. The real bonus to the book is the "Interviews" AJ Brown does with Lisa Lee Tone on her blog Bibliophilia Templum that accompany each story from the book. Voices is a must read in my opinion!
December 8, 2018
Love these shorts!
Another hit for AJ Brown. Thank you for giving a voice to each of these characters. You have once again brought to life not only the voices in your head, but the ones on these pages. I love the short stories, keep them coming!
Another hit for AJ Brown. Thank you for giving a voice to each of these characters. You have once again brought to life not only the voices in your head, but the ones on these pages. I love the short stories, keep them coming!
Read
March 21, 2020This book was well written and kept me entertained. I would recommend it to a friend who likes Horror
Read
August 8, 2018Great read, with a edge of your seat style that is hard to replicate.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews