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Worm Fiddling Nocturne in the Key of a Broken Heart: Stories
In this wildly imaginative debut collection, whimsical tales of princesses and farm girls turn dark, and dark tales of mistreated sideshow freaks turn whimsical. An itinerant marionette falls prey to a lusty mesmerist. An alcoholic camp counselor is haunted by her dead best friend. A juvenile delinquent languishes in a boot camp run by authoritarian grandmas. Be they human monsters or reluctant moth-girls, the outcasts that populate these stories all long for escape, community, acceptance and self-discovery.
200 pages, Paperback
First published September 18, 2018
7 people are currently reading
265 people want to read
About the author
Kimberly Lojewski
2 books20 followersKimberly is a native Floridian. She has an MA in English from Florida Gulf Coast University and an MFA from University of Massachusetts Amherst's Poet's and Writer's Program. Her stories have been nominated for three Pushcart Prizes, and have appeared in PANK, Drunken Boat, Gargoyle, and elsewhere. Her story "Baba Yaga's House of Forgotten Things" won a 2013 Best of the Net Award. "One For the Crow' was included in Ellen Datlow's Recommended Horror List of 2019.
Her debut story collection, Worm Fiddling Nocturne in the Key of a Broken Heart, published by Burrow Press, is a winner of the Florida Book Award Gold Medal for Fiction and a Rumpus Book Club Selection.
Her debut story collection, Worm Fiddling Nocturne in the Key of a Broken Heart, published by Burrow Press, is a winner of the Florida Book Award Gold Medal for Fiction and a Rumpus Book Club Selection.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
October 20, 2019
I have to admit that while reading the beginnings of the first few of these stories, I felt they weren’t for me. But by the end of each, or even after the end of each, I realized I’d read something special. With the first few stories behind me, I anxiously awaited each successive night to see what the author had in store for me.
Lojewski’s Floridian roots are evident in the first story especially, taking what’s weird and wacky about the place, and exploding it further. I suppose that could be said about all the stories: In each there’s a metaphorical explosion of some kind, even in the story of a young man who needs to literally capture a memory of his former life; and one of a camp counselor haunted by her best friend’s ghost.
I gained some knowledge of true things within all the zaniness too, my favorite a Brazilian bird called the Great Potoo. Though the hybrid girl-bird of the story is living in a Louisiana swamp and her description had me thinking even the bird part of the character had to be completely made up, I googled the Great Potoo anyway, and, whoa, wow, what a freaky, amazing, real-life bird.
Not surprisingly, my favorite stories were the retellings of fairy tales. It was like reuniting with childhood friends, discovering what might’ve happened to them since you saw them last. “One for the Crow” is a retelling of a story not as well known as other ‘princess’ tales, likely because the young woman’s hands are chopped off during the course of it. In another retelling, Lojewski gathers a bunch of ‘princesses’ from different fairy tales, gives them names, and has them living together in “The Church of the Living God and Rescue Home for Divine Orphans”; add one prince with a specific mission, some mercenary nuns; and the result is quite entertaining, and meaningful.
Because of the amount of characters living together, the latter story reminded me of a childhood favorite, “The Twelve Dancing Princesses,” but it’s not that tale. Maybe Lojewski will retell it for me one day.
Lojewski’s Floridian roots are evident in the first story especially, taking what’s weird and wacky about the place, and exploding it further. I suppose that could be said about all the stories: In each there’s a metaphorical explosion of some kind, even in the story of a young man who needs to literally capture a memory of his former life; and one of a camp counselor haunted by her best friend’s ghost.
I gained some knowledge of true things within all the zaniness too, my favorite a Brazilian bird called the Great Potoo. Though the hybrid girl-bird of the story is living in a Louisiana swamp and her description had me thinking even the bird part of the character had to be completely made up, I googled the Great Potoo anyway, and, whoa, wow, what a freaky, amazing, real-life bird.
Not surprisingly, my favorite stories were the retellings of fairy tales. It was like reuniting with childhood friends, discovering what might’ve happened to them since you saw them last. “One for the Crow” is a retelling of a story not as well known as other ‘princess’ tales, likely because the young woman’s hands are chopped off during the course of it. In another retelling, Lojewski gathers a bunch of ‘princesses’ from different fairy tales, gives them names, and has them living together in “The Church of the Living God and Rescue Home for Divine Orphans”; add one prince with a specific mission, some mercenary nuns; and the result is quite entertaining, and meaningful.
Because of the amount of characters living together, the latter story reminded me of a childhood favorite, “The Twelve Dancing Princesses,” but it’s not that tale. Maybe Lojewski will retell it for me one day.
May 2, 2019
Winner of a Florida Book Award, this collection of incredibly original and well-crafted stories is now on my favorites shelf. The stories hit every note for me: Lyrical, smart, inventive, with solid characters and evocative, natural place settings and exciting use of language. All the product of a brilliant imagination. As I read, I kept saying there is no way I'm going to like the next story as much as this one. Yet each time, I was drawn in and decided THIS was my new favorite story.
Lojewski assembles a motley crew of misfits, freaks, and people who are imprisoned in some way. Yet gives each one the empathy they deserve. Ghosts haunt, girls grow moth wings, puppets come to life, and white alligators swim in the swamps. Many are set in her native Florida. I was thrilled to see one set in a country that is likely Nepal.
Many of the characters are looking to be saved, either from their situation or from themselves. "The Ballad of Sparrow Foot" I think for me just inches ahead of all the others. About a Harpie found and caged and put in a circuslike sideshow. "Thinking Like a Hog Deer in the Himalayas" could be a fantastical novel.
And I marvel at her titles. It ain't easy to title a short story. These are some of the best titles I've ever read. Just check out that book title!
I can't wait to see what more is ahead for this talented new writer. Like one of the magical women who cries jewels in "The Church of the Living God & Rescue Home for Divine Orphans," Lojewski has cried her heart and soul into these stories and crafted an abundance of literary jewels.
Burrow Press did a great job as well producing the book. Highly recommend.
Lojewski assembles a motley crew of misfits, freaks, and people who are imprisoned in some way. Yet gives each one the empathy they deserve. Ghosts haunt, girls grow moth wings, puppets come to life, and white alligators swim in the swamps. Many are set in her native Florida. I was thrilled to see one set in a country that is likely Nepal.
Many of the characters are looking to be saved, either from their situation or from themselves. "The Ballad of Sparrow Foot" I think for me just inches ahead of all the others. About a Harpie found and caged and put in a circuslike sideshow. "Thinking Like a Hog Deer in the Himalayas" could be a fantastical novel.
And I marvel at her titles. It ain't easy to title a short story. These are some of the best titles I've ever read. Just check out that book title!
I can't wait to see what more is ahead for this talented new writer. Like one of the magical women who cries jewels in "The Church of the Living God & Rescue Home for Divine Orphans," Lojewski has cried her heart and soul into these stories and crafted an abundance of literary jewels.
Burrow Press did a great job as well producing the book. Highly recommend.
May 18, 2019
I LOVED these stories. I haven’t loved a short collection this much in a very, very long time. I’m looking forward to her next book!
May 2, 2019
This is an outstanding collection of stories. It's no wonder it won the Florida Book Award Gold Medal!
April 18, 2019
Worm Fiddling is a fantastic collection of coming-of-age short stories that are escapist, relatable and surreal. I loved the stories based on Florida tradition, folklore and reality. Kimberly Lojewski's voice is highly imaginative, descriptive, dramatic and whimsical. Regarding the stories based in Florida, the imagery she describes takes me back to my childhood in South Florida. Watching the storms roll in, the hot, sticky weather and alligators. Some of the stories are haunting and they stuck with me for days, such as the ones about the Marionettes, the Moth Girls, the camp counselor and the cornfield. All of the stories are truly a work of art. This book is worthy of more awards and I am anticipating her future works.
July 28, 2024
I requested this book from Edelweiss purely because of the name. How could I pass up something with the title of Worm Fiddling Nocturne in the Key of a Broken Heart? I am thoroughly delighted to report that Kimberly Lojewski’s collection of fantastical stories are even better than the title. I loved every story in this collection and strongly recommend it to people who like modern fairy tales/folk lore, stories that celebrate the wild, and strong female characters...
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss, for review consideration.
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss, for review consideration.
October 18, 2018
Real winners for me in this book: "Worm Fiddling Nocturne in the Key of a Broken Heart," "About the Hiding of Buried Treasure," "Baba Yaga's House of Forgotten Things," "The Church of the Living God and Rescue Home for Divine Orphans."
When these stories succeed, they are like Karen Russell but more satisfying. When they don't succeed, they are like Karen Russell.
When these stories succeed, they are like Karen Russell but more satisfying. When they don't succeed, they are like Karen Russell.
August 21, 2018
These are excellent stories. They carry tremendous imagination, and a wonderful amount of dark fable magic. The writing is solid and the plots captivate. Very nice.
April 17, 2019
This book is incredible! These stories are beautifully descriptive, haunting and unpredictable. Miss Lojewski has done something very special here weaving together the dark and the beautiful with some very relatable themes. It’s a must read for fans of fairy tales, fiction, short stories, or anyone bored with their fall back genre!
April 30, 2019
Kim's writing is imaginative, fanciful, well written and takes you to places you never knew existed. Each story drew me in more than it's previous. I even like how she linked two of her stories together. I have bought this book for one of my co-workers and told many people to buy it. The stories don't have a happy ending, but that's one of the things I like about Kim Lojewski's writing style- it's unique!
October 1, 2019
This collection of stories is so fun and unique and special. I wish the narrative form changed a bit - it can get kind of tiring reading in the first person all the time - otherwise I really loved these stories, the characters and the worlds they live in.
April 22, 2019
I loved this book. There is a wonderful mixture of whimsy, fantasy and folklore. The stories are dark, but still maintain a light, ethereal quality about them. Each story is a about a very unique outcast, like no one you’ve likely read about. However, their stories all speak to universal desires and feelings, capturing the human experience. I cannot wait to read future books from this author.
April 21, 2019
Usually when reading a book of short stories I would read one or two, and then come back to it in a few days and read a couple more. I could not put this down. Probably because so many of the endings were something I didn't see coming. In such wildly imaginative settings, the collection of stories are inspiring and heartbreaking. I love this book so much!
April 16, 2019
Love, love, love these short stories!!! Moth girls??? (Who knew???). Delightful, magical
and quirky, a great read!
and quirky, a great read!
March 23, 2019
These excellent stories tend to echo folk and fairytales, but with a Florida twist. That context made them a bit unpredictable, which I liked.
September 28, 2019
For anyone who has a vivid imagination than embraces the fantastic, mildly whimsical, or dark fantasy, this book is a must read collection of short stories. Some of the stories are perfectly attuned to the subtle magic that makes places like Florida such amazing settings. Others convey deeply personal yet all too familiar occurrences in extremely creative ways. Ms. Lojewski is a supremely talented writer, and you will enjoy this book immensely.
March 3, 2020
I just finished reading this book at 4 in the morning and even though I’m sitting in a New York apartment I feel as if I am looking up at the stars and moon of the Florida swamps that populate the pages of these short stories
March 7, 2020
I too would like to give more than 5 stars to this beautiful fascinating book. Moth girls, monsters, marionettes, and more. Voices you’ve never heard before. These very unusual stories inspire creativity and go deep. Highly recommend.
June 11, 2020
I enjoyed the writing and was wishing for a longer novel from this author. The short stories are imaginative, quirky, and sometimes even sad... and not everyone will like them... but I enjoyed reading them.
June 23, 2021
If you like magical realism, you'll love this collection. Lojewski has an immense imagination and, lucky for us readers, has the prowess to execute those fantastical ideas into truly engaging stories. Such a delight to read. Treat yourself--read this.
August 25, 2019
My head is awash with the brilliant characters from these stories. Told with such imagination and detail, I won't forget them soon.
March 11, 2020
Great stories! Very much reminded me of Karen Russell.
March 10, 2023
This was a really good book to read at night before bed. The short story’s were all really creative and interesting.
April 30, 2019
My daughters and I loved these stories so much we didn’t want them to end!
January 17, 2025
length: 200 pages.
read: paperback, owned.
rating: 2.5 (rounded for gr).
cool story concepts, but romantic plot lines felt repetitive. liked the title story the most by far.
read: paperback, owned.
rating: 2.5 (rounded for gr).
cool story concepts, but romantic plot lines felt repetitive. liked the title story the most by far.
April 19, 2019
This book is a fun read that enlightens your imagination! I couldn't wait to see what was coming in the next short story. A bit on the deep/dark side, but i prefer a book with depth and creativity. Cant wait to see what she has coming next!
May 7, 2019
Nice short stories.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews