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50 States: A collection of short short stories
"A cleverly conceived, character-driven, if overstuffed, anthology sure to delight and enchant." — Kirkus Reviews
"A stellar debut with 50 States! I stayed for Richard's imaginative writing that made me feel as though I was really beside these characters and experiencing their pain and joy. I fell in love with how each short story packs a punch and is memorable on its own." — Readers' Favorite
"The author’s writing flows from story to story effectively keeping readers wanting more." — Entrada Reviews
An Idaho farmer who aches for absolution after a tragedy is given one more chance at redemption. Two runaways cross paths in a Tennessee bus station with only one ticket between them. A family sees looters racing toward their home as they escape an Oregon wildfire. A young couple takes a reckless turn off a state highway in Utah and find themselves in a nightmarish government biohazard area.
These and 46 more shorts make up an anthology that will surprise readers with each new thought-provoking story as they skip across different genres, moods, and states of mind. Together, they provide a character-driven sampling of the American experience over the last 60 years — the kind and the cruel, the heroic and criminal — in unpredictable and suspenseful ways.
50 States is an award-winning debut collection of short stories that captures the human condition. It spans several literary genres with each short story set in a different state across America. The collection broke the top 100 bestsellers for literary fiction short stories for three consecutive months on Amazon in 2022 and won first place for short stories in the Spring 2022 BestFest Awards.
"A stellar debut with 50 States! I stayed for Richard's imaginative writing that made me feel as though I was really beside these characters and experiencing their pain and joy. I fell in love with how each short story packs a punch and is memorable on its own." — Readers' Favorite
"The author’s writing flows from story to story effectively keeping readers wanting more." — Entrada Reviews
An Idaho farmer who aches for absolution after a tragedy is given one more chance at redemption. Two runaways cross paths in a Tennessee bus station with only one ticket between them. A family sees looters racing toward their home as they escape an Oregon wildfire. A young couple takes a reckless turn off a state highway in Utah and find themselves in a nightmarish government biohazard area.
These and 46 more shorts make up an anthology that will surprise readers with each new thought-provoking story as they skip across different genres, moods, and states of mind. Together, they provide a character-driven sampling of the American experience over the last 60 years — the kind and the cruel, the heroic and criminal — in unpredictable and suspenseful ways.
50 States is an award-winning debut collection of short stories that captures the human condition. It spans several literary genres with each short story set in a different state across America. The collection broke the top 100 bestsellers for literary fiction short stories for three consecutive months on Amazon in 2022 and won first place for short stories in the Spring 2022 BestFest Awards.
358 pages, Paperback
Published June 21, 2021
53 people are currently reading
2407 people want to read
About the author
Richard R. Becker
4 books66 followersRichard R. Becker is an award-winning American author whose gripping stories blend resilience and moral complexity. His upcoming novel, Born on Monday (2025), promises a thrilling tale of small-town sins that will leave readers breathless.
His debut novel, Third Wheel (August 2023), soared into Amazon’s top 100 thriller and suspense literary fiction novels, earned a Kirkus Reviews feature, and won seven awards, including Literary Thriller of the Year by the Artisan International Book Excellence Awards. His debut collection, 50 States (2021), born from a challenge to write one story a week for 50 weeks, topped Amazon’s literary short story charts for three months and secured multiple honors, including first place in the Spring 2022 BookFest Awards.
Raised in Milwaukee by his grandparents after his father’s tragic death, Richard overcame poverty, club feet, and his grandmother’s cancer. These challenges infuse his work with emotional depth. After relocating to Las Vegas, he worked diverse jobs (fast food, retail paint, muralist, stage foreman, and convenience store clerk among them) to fund his education at Whittier College and the University of Nevada, Reno, where he shifted from psychology to journalism, with an emphasis in advertising.
A seasoned writer, Richard founded Copywrite, Ink., a 35-year-old communications firm, and invested 20 years of teaching at UNLV. An active community volunteer, he serves on the Las Vegas Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission. Richard enjoys acting, hiking, photography, and time with his wife and two adult children.
His debut novel, Third Wheel (August 2023), soared into Amazon’s top 100 thriller and suspense literary fiction novels, earned a Kirkus Reviews feature, and won seven awards, including Literary Thriller of the Year by the Artisan International Book Excellence Awards. His debut collection, 50 States (2021), born from a challenge to write one story a week for 50 weeks, topped Amazon’s literary short story charts for three months and secured multiple honors, including first place in the Spring 2022 BookFest Awards.
Raised in Milwaukee by his grandparents after his father’s tragic death, Richard overcame poverty, club feet, and his grandmother’s cancer. These challenges infuse his work with emotional depth. After relocating to Las Vegas, he worked diverse jobs (fast food, retail paint, muralist, stage foreman, and convenience store clerk among them) to fund his education at Whittier College and the University of Nevada, Reno, where he shifted from psychology to journalism, with an emphasis in advertising.
A seasoned writer, Richard founded Copywrite, Ink., a 35-year-old communications firm, and invested 20 years of teaching at UNLV. An active community volunteer, he serves on the Las Vegas Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission. Richard enjoys acting, hiking, photography, and time with his wife and two adult children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
May 13, 2022
I'm slowly beginning to love reading short stories that are outside the horror genre. They are perfect for early morning reading with my daily cup of coffee.
50 States is a collection of short stories, one for each state in the USA, taking place in a different period in time, and ranging from emotional, deep-thinking stories to downright terrifying and heart-wrenching. I wasn't sure what to expect when I started but as each story progressed I quickly became a fan of this author's writing.
Honestly, I think it's harder to write shorter stories that have great flow and characters that are well-rounded. This author does a great job from one story to the next and I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it transitioned from one story to the next.
Will definitely be reading more of this author's work. I sincerely appreciate Black Coffee Book Tours for providing me with a review copy. All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone.
50 States is a collection of short stories, one for each state in the USA, taking place in a different period in time, and ranging from emotional, deep-thinking stories to downright terrifying and heart-wrenching. I wasn't sure what to expect when I started but as each story progressed I quickly became a fan of this author's writing.
Honestly, I think it's harder to write shorter stories that have great flow and characters that are well-rounded. This author does a great job from one story to the next and I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it transitioned from one story to the next.
Will definitely be reading more of this author's work. I sincerely appreciate Black Coffee Book Tours for providing me with a review copy. All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone.
May 12, 2022
Richard R. Becker took a very ambitious project writing fifty stories set in each state and revealing that state's individual character but making the stories a part of a whole anthology, just like each state is a part of the whole country. He accomplished this project rather well.
His stories reflect various characters going through various conflicts like divorce, death, unemployment, bad marriages, love, family struggles, poverty, violence, illness and many others. Each story is a fascinating character study of these diverse individuals. Becker also crosses genres playing with different conventions like romance, humor, drama, thriller, mystery, horror, and even a few contemporary fantasies to tell these distinct voices.
The best stories are:
"Broken People Idaho 2003"
This opening story sets the tone and an ongoing theme for the entire anthology: characters in an emotional crossroads or facing certain struggles and how they deal with those struggles.
Jonathan Cole has been grieving for the death of his son, whom he accidentally ran over with a carbine harvester. His marriage has also ended. A woman coming to his farm to inform him of a traffic accident near his property is the last thing that he needs.
The woman's comment that there are broken people everywhere, injured by the accident, resonates throughout this story (and in many ways throughout the entire book).
Everyone is broken in some ways. Sometimes their injuries are more apparent, with bruises and injuries. Sometimes you can't always see the breaks because of emotional trauma, but you know that they are there. With that many broken people around, the best that anyone can do is to face them and see if you can help even in the smallest capacity.
"The Best Life Arkansas 2019"
This story reflects how modern technology allows us to communicate with people that we used to, restore old friendships, rekindle old love affairs, network opportunities, and catch up on old times. However, in our drive to communicate sometimes we miss the emotions that are connected within.
That is what happens with Mason. He used Facebook to look up old flames. Now he is interested in pursuing an affair with Carol, someone with whom he had a casual acquaintance with outside the Internet but on social media is engaging in a very passionate sexual affair.
Just as heated as the romance begins, it ends just as quickly. Carol cites reasons that Mason knows are wrong based on research. While ruminating on the difference between Carol's words and the information that he learned about her, he thinks that Carol is a different person.
What this story shows is how we never really know the people with whom we make contact, especially on social media. On social media, the user has complete control over their own image: how they look, what they say, and what they can post (provided that they follow the outlet's TOS of course). They can say a terrible vacation was wonderful with just a few photographs. They can show a photograph retouched with glamor and insist that they always look like that. They can also share stories about a deceased and missed friend or relative in the present tense keeping them alive, long after they are gone.
In this decision to keep the online fantasy alive, they lose the real person. That's the emotional connection that they really need.
"Shine On You Crazy Diamonds Michigan 1975"
This story has a definite eerie horror sensibility throughout the pages.
The Narrator and his friends, David and Yuri, visit the haunted house that was once inhabited by the Diamond Family, a family that came to a tragic violent end. The friends decide to perform an exorcism. Let's just say that things don't turn out well.
The creepy atmosphere is retained throughout the story. The Diamond Family house story is reminiscent of many real life haunted houses, the places where urban legends get bigger with each telling and kids dared their friends to go inside.
Later years, those houses became the subjects of unexplained phenomena documentaries, ghost walking tours, or haunted themed attractions. Every city and town has at least one. (St. Louis has the Lemp Brewery and House. Even closer to my home are the Morse Mill Hotel and various sites in nearby Blackwell, Missouri.)
However, this may not necessarily be a story of supernatural horror. This may actually be a story about a kid losing his grip on sanity and all his friends can do is hopelessly watch. As Yuri gets more involved with the exorcism, his personality becomes more unhinged and erratic. It's clear that this kid has bigger problems than an interest in ghosts.
One of the clues that shows Yuri is suffering from mental illness is the constant allusions to the rock group Pink Floyd, specifically their songs, "Shine On You, Crazy Diamond" and "Wish You Were Here." Those songs were composed as tributes to Floyd founding member, Syd Barrett, who had various psychological problems, possibly schizophrenia, and was eventually removed from the band.
Like Barrett, Yuri may be in danger of withdrawing more and more from his friends into his own private and frightening world.
"Private Conversations Colorado 2020"
Similar to "Shine on You, Crazy Diamonds", this story also is very open about the subject of mental illness. However unlike its predecessor, "Private Conversations" does not carry any sense of supernatural horror or dark fantasy. It is a very real and very frightening short story of a man going through his day listening to the voices in his head.
The reality is what makes this story terrifying. The voices constantly taunt the Narrator feeding off his fears, insecurities, and darker urges. It's a constant fight as he struggles to silence them but ultimately gives in.
As with most stories that use the point of view of a mentally ill person, the trick is making them seem to be the normal one and everyone else is crazy. To him the voices are telling him to do something that is perfectly natural or reveal what to him is the truth. Sometimes, he steps back and disagrees, but the more they talk the more he wearily surrenders. He can no longer fight because they make sense to him.
"A Beautiful Day Pennsylvania 1990"
Sometimes the short stories reflect that state by referring to settings or events. Other times, they refer to important people that came from that state. "A Beautiful Day" does this by shouting out to Pennsylvania's native son, Mr. Fred Rogers.
In fact Mr. Roger's Neighborhood isn't the only children's show to get referenced in this story. There are also allusions to Sesame Street and The Electric Company. The references to children's shows, particularly Neighborhood, give a dramatic irony as the protagonist, Ellen, is patiently awaiting and accepting her impending death.
Ellen is a woman who is ready to go. She already divided her possessions and made her arrangements. When she starts feeling the symptoms of a heart attack, she has to reassure the paramedic that she'll be fine.
Her positive and hopeful outlook gives her a unique perspective. To everyone else, it's a loss or a race to save her life. To her, it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood when she can recognize the kindness from others before she leaves this world.
"The Qallupilluk Alaska 1982"
Sometimes the state's setting is a virtue for the story. The Alaskan setting brings "The Qallupilluk" to life. The Reader gives an audible shiver at the description of frozen lakes and the creaking boats. It's no wonder fishers have to be hearty to eke out a living this way.
The setting also helps shape the characters. Timothy ran away to Alaska to become a salmon trawler. His companion, Kallik, suspects that he's running away from other things. He tells him a legend that is mostly a metaphor for Timothy's problems.
Timothy's character shows someone who is drawn to a so-called "simple life" that doesn't really exist. They want to run to this life that they think is different from theirs when all they are doing is running away.
"The Chain Iowa 2016"
"The Chain" is a fascinating character study of a housewife spending her whole life being accommodating until one day she decides not to be.
In some ways, it reminds me of Susan Glaspell's one act play "Trifles" in which two women investigate the house of a former friend and realized that her docility and passive nature hid an abusive marriage and a murderous desire to get out of it.
In "The Chain" a detective interviews Addie, a housewife, over the death of a young man who assaulted her daughter. Addie tells him of her childhood in which she never argued, always gave things to her younger siblings, and never lost her temper. This passive nature got her through an abusive childhood and a sometimes troubled marriage.
Addie is the type who lived a life of emotional avoidance, never expressing any outward negative emotions. She realizes the folly of living such a life when her daughter inherited those traits. The young woman gets raped and puts all the blame on herself. Addie decides to put the matter into her own hands.
"The Chain" shows how the emotions that Addie kept bottled up ended up being a detriment. She avoided her own emotions until they could no longer hide. In finally acting on her anger, Addie breaks that chain of passivity that accepted and never spoke out against. She finally broke the chains that trapped her and her daughter. They have been released.
"Leftovers Wyoming 2020"
This story shows a similar situation in "The Chain" of a woman facing an abusive past and how she deals with it in the present. Unlike Addie, Rachel isn't passive. She has worked at her family's ranch since the death of her parents during 9/11. Now that her grandfather has died, she has come to terms with her conflicted feelings for him.
Rachel can't find it in her to mourn for him. When she was 13, her grandfather molested her. Even when she told her Grandmother, the older woman dismissed it saying that it happened only one time. However, Rachel cattily explains "Maybe, I remember the one day so I don't remember all the days like that day." The molestation occurred not once but several times and Grandma kept making excuses like "the wars affected him."
Rachel, finding no support from her grandmother and buried anger towards her grandfather, withdraws further into herself. Now she can't find anything resembling grief or even relief that he's gone.
This story presents a sad reality. While the common wisdom is to never speak ill of the dead, sometimes you have to. Hiding behind the veneer of respectability only lets them get away with what they shouldn't. The living who suffered by their actions are left traumatized and may recover by revealing the truth and trying to live their lives without them.
"Vertigo New Mexico 1955"
Some of these stories aren't very long. They are flash fiction, only a few sentences. Those sentences are meant to capture a mood very quickly. Of those flash fiction stories, "Vertigo" is the best one.
A man is standing on a ledge ready to jump. That's it. We don't know who he is, what caused his despondency, or who he is leaving behind if anyone. We only get a moment in this poor man's life.
In a way, this story reflects the mindset of one who is suicidal. Sometimes that thought only takes a moment. They are standing on that ledge no longer thinking of the reasons not to. Those reasons are not as important as the pain that they hope will end. The ledge almost welcomes them as they take that final plunge.
"The Domino Missouri 1962"
Of course I have to choose my home state's story. Not that it portrays it in a good light. But it is an important light that should be discussed and acknowledged so that it can never happen again.
After a protest, store owner Nehemiah Benayoun warns the family of his employee, Duane Booker, that the sheriff is coming to evict the entire shanty town, using the protest as an excuse to do so.
When a group of horsemen ride up and violently attack the Bookers and the people around them, it's clear that they have more than "keeping the peace" in mind. They are using the protest as a means to justify their racist hatred of an African American family and their Jewish friend.
One of the sons Elijah observes, "(The riders) are not even hiding their faces." The riders see no reason to disguise their hatred behind hoods. It's right out in the open. The Bookers and Nehemiah see the prejudice that fuels these riders to attack an African American family just for living is the same prejudice that put a number tattoo on Nehemiah's arm and forced him to leave his own country.
"The Interview New York 2017"
Job interviews can be stressful. It's a lot of work to research the business, learn how to speak properly and ask the right questions, and make sure their movements don't betray their nervousness. It's also stressful for the one giving the interview to ask the same questions and read each potential's face and body language, then check references to see if they are a good fit. Sometimes a potential employee could make it by that much and just miss it without ever really knowing the reason why.
Sometimes interviewers have clever, more unique ways of gauging an interviewee's real personality. That is what happens when William is being interviewed by Cynthia Rothman of the law firm, Martin & Morgan. The interview is set during lunch at a West Village gastropub. Relax, Cynthia says, it doesn't matter what he orders or says to the servers. All that matters is how he answers questions.
What doesn't occur to William is that he is being monitored and his very behavior in social situations is what is being observed.
William's behavior shows that when being interviewed, a person is on from the moment that they arrive. William is able to be himself and he realizes what himself is: a temperamental jerk. For those who are in the service industry, it's no doubt a cathartic experience to read about such an entitled fool getting dressed down by the representative from his first choice law firm.
"The Engagement New Jersey 1981"
Like I said some of these stories contain a bit of contemporary fantasy. This is one of them.
The Narrator is ready to propose to his girlfriend, Katie. He is as nervous and excited as he could be. He made reservations at a nice restaurant and he has the ring. He is ready.
Two days before the upcoming proposal, The Narrator goes to visit a fortune teller. Using a deck of Tarot cards, the fortune teller reveals some very bad news. This bad news is confirmed by Katie and causes them to doubt their future.
While subtle, the images on the cards reflect the Narrator's outlook especially after Katie tells him her news. He realizes that their future is preordained and nothing can change that. He knows that whatever their future holds, he is ready to hold onto whatever happiness there is no matter how brief that it might be.
"Papa Ghede Louisiana 2014"
This is another contemporary fantasy and where else would it be set but in Scare Central, the place where vampires, ghosts, and voodoo are about as present as tourists during Mardi Gras. Where else but Louisiana.
A woman seeks to rid herself of her abusive husband by any means necessary. Those means include voodoo. As she continues to cast the spell, her husband taunts her saying it doesn't work. He fails to account that she has one final trick to play.
The supernatural themes that are so prominent in Louisiana are in full display in this story. While voodoo is often portrayed in movies as something sinister and scary, in Louisiana there's a strong community involvement in the practice.
Many voodoo practitioners help people get through difficult times in their lives, like giving them the ability to stand up to domestic abuse.
That's what's in play here. The woman is getting assistance from her voodoo community to end her problem.
"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2021
4.5/5
50 States: A Collection Of Short Short Stories by Richard R. Becker is an impressive short story collection that will take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions.
In this short story collection, author Becker has written about stories set in 50 different states in the US. But that is not the best part, the best part is that he has totally broken all the stereotypes related to every state and has written about rich and meaningful experiences of a variety of diverse characters and that is what makes this book so special.
I would like to congratulate the author for writing such good characters that were relatable and felt very real. All the stories are great and I would definitely recommend this collection to all short story readers as well as lovers of the slice-of-life genre.
You can also read this review on www.thereadingbud.com
You can watch the video review for this book here: https://youtu.be/wrZ6jh0zx7Q
50 States: A Collection Of Short Short Stories by Richard R. Becker is an impressive short story collection that will take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions.
In this short story collection, author Becker has written about stories set in 50 different states in the US. But that is not the best part, the best part is that he has totally broken all the stereotypes related to every state and has written about rich and meaningful experiences of a variety of diverse characters and that is what makes this book so special.
I would like to congratulate the author for writing such good characters that were relatable and felt very real. All the stories are great and I would definitely recommend this collection to all short story readers as well as lovers of the slice-of-life genre.
You can also read this review on www.thereadingbud.com
You can watch the video review for this book here: https://youtu.be/wrZ6jh0zx7Q
March 2, 2022
These short stories encompass every state in different years, and all bring a unique story line. Everyone will feel an immediate relationship with his or her home state, as well as taking note of some other state stories as favorites. Some of the stories are poignant, some are tragic and some are memorable in their portrayal of everyday people leading often unique lives. I would like a few to be developed into novel length because this an author who has a gift for character development. I don't often read short stories, but these are a notable exception.
Want to read
October 10, 2021This was such a good interesting book. I liked do well
I bought one for my daughter. I recommend this book. I will
Buy book 2 when it’s out.
I bought one for my daughter. I recommend this book. I will
Buy book 2 when it’s out.
May 17, 2022
I listened to the audiobook, over a week or so, while walking many many miles delivering leaflets . Each day kept disappearing into the stories, and each time I got to the end of the book, I just kept going back to the start. Some of the stories certainly washed over me the first time, so the second time they seemed new. Some of them meant more the third time than the first, some seemed to mean something different at each hearing, some came to feel like old friends.
I don't know America at all. It didn't seem to matter that I barely knew the names of the states: all of the people felt real to me.
The third time through, I thought, "well, I'm going to have to review this and I can't review fifty stories separately, I'd better find a theme". It was hard, but then I thought of the story "The Best Life", and then "Forget me nots", which speaks about "the best day", and then "The Engagement". And it came to me. These are stories about coming to terms with, coming to celebrate, the fact that the life we have is the best life we're going to have, so we need to be ready to grasp hold of it, whatever it is, whatever its constraints and disappointments, long or short, and make the best we can of it. I was pleased with this, it seemed, curiously, a good message for me just then.
But then the fourth time through, that didn't seem right at all - this was a book about something altogether different... There is so much in this book. It will be about something different again when you read it. Enjoy.
I don't know America at all. It didn't seem to matter that I barely knew the names of the states: all of the people felt real to me.
The third time through, I thought, "well, I'm going to have to review this and I can't review fifty stories separately, I'd better find a theme". It was hard, but then I thought of the story "The Best Life", and then "Forget me nots", which speaks about "the best day", and then "The Engagement". And it came to me. These are stories about coming to terms with, coming to celebrate, the fact that the life we have is the best life we're going to have, so we need to be ready to grasp hold of it, whatever it is, whatever its constraints and disappointments, long or short, and make the best we can of it. I was pleased with this, it seemed, curiously, a good message for me just then.
But then the fourth time through, that didn't seem right at all - this was a book about something altogether different... There is so much in this book. It will be about something different again when you read it. Enjoy.
May 13, 2022
An entertaining collection
What a grand collection of stories in 50 States by Richard R. Becker. This book is the first title of this author's that I've read, but I did read all 50 of his short stories. I do like the premise, each story takes part in a different state, and the stories vary. The genres of the stories vary as well, and each one is a complete story, leaving the reader feeling satisfied. Short stories are not easy to write, and Becker does a great job of writing these stories and is very talented. A multi-genre writer, that can write short stories. I just became a fan of Becker. The stories also had different points of view, so one may be first person, and another third person. This book deserves a second read! (and maybe more). So many adventures, losses, triumphs, tragedies and even horrors. This book takes you on a wild journey. Of course, I had to jump ahead to read the story on New York (since I live in upstate NY), and then I went back and read all the stories until the very last one. This author brings the stories to life. Very impressive story telling. I hope to read more books by this author. 50 States is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review.
What a grand collection of stories in 50 States by Richard R. Becker. This book is the first title of this author's that I've read, but I did read all 50 of his short stories. I do like the premise, each story takes part in a different state, and the stories vary. The genres of the stories vary as well, and each one is a complete story, leaving the reader feeling satisfied. Short stories are not easy to write, and Becker does a great job of writing these stories and is very talented. A multi-genre writer, that can write short stories. I just became a fan of Becker. The stories also had different points of view, so one may be first person, and another third person. This book deserves a second read! (and maybe more). So many adventures, losses, triumphs, tragedies and even horrors. This book takes you on a wild journey. Of course, I had to jump ahead to read the story on New York (since I live in upstate NY), and then I went back and read all the stories until the very last one. This author brings the stories to life. Very impressive story telling. I hope to read more books by this author. 50 States is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review.
December 26, 2021
50 States
I liked this book. I thought it was good and funny, most of the stories. The strength of these stories may also be its weakness. These are stories about average people. Average Americans. Average voices. Average Places. Average Characters. Average places to be. With an average point of view. I felt nothing unique or strange in the stories, which can make literature very interesting, but can alienate certain readers. These stories don’t alienate or challenge the reader but are entertaining nonetheless. The author writes with a sense of humor certainly.
My favorite story was the one where a high school classmate finds another on Facebook. And wonders what happened to that person. Which is reflective of the times, indeed.
I liked this book. I thought it was good and funny, most of the stories. The strength of these stories may also be its weakness. These are stories about average people. Average Americans. Average voices. Average Places. Average Characters. Average places to be. With an average point of view. I felt nothing unique or strange in the stories, which can make literature very interesting, but can alienate certain readers. These stories don’t alienate or challenge the reader but are entertaining nonetheless. The author writes with a sense of humor certainly.
My favorite story was the one where a high school classmate finds another on Facebook. And wonders what happened to that person. Which is reflective of the times, indeed.
May 13, 2022
I’ve been having an incredible string of bad luck, technology-wise, so my reviews are going to be on the concise side. Force majeure, as screen-freezes are more common than fleas on a dog.
Not sure I already mentioned it, but writing short stories is a hard and often thankless job. Each story needs to be small, concise, and to the point, with interesting characters and clever plots; in a way, it takes more skill to produce them than a single book.
Becker does a pretty good job with his 50 States. He has a good grasp of the technical aspects, a detail I always appreciate, and he’s been able to craft a few powerful ones; his MCs have beautiful backgrounds and interesting voices, too. I’m also thankful for the sparseness of the secondary characters–less is more, especially when it comes to short stories.
The only issue 50 States has got? Well, the very format of the book. Some stories pack a punch, while some others are less poignant.
4 stars on GR.
Not sure I already mentioned it, but writing short stories is a hard and often thankless job. Each story needs to be small, concise, and to the point, with interesting characters and clever plots; in a way, it takes more skill to produce them than a single book.
Becker does a pretty good job with his 50 States. He has a good grasp of the technical aspects, a detail I always appreciate, and he’s been able to craft a few powerful ones; his MCs have beautiful backgrounds and interesting voices, too. I’m also thankful for the sparseness of the secondary characters–less is more, especially when it comes to short stories.
The only issue 50 States has got? Well, the very format of the book. Some stories pack a punch, while some others are less poignant.
4 stars on GR.
January 24, 2022
The book is an easy, swift, and light read. It’s an excellent feat to put down 50 short stories together with such variety. Congratulations to the author.
I loved the way he implicitly stresses on myriads of conflicts, the value of time to heal or that perfect moments in his stories. The stories are precise, short and yet are like diorama of human emotions which you can visualise, feel, or even see at times. I got attached to stories like Broken People, Dead Ends, Private Conversations, The Domino and more.
It’s a good read for short story lovers.
I received an advance review copy.
I loved the way he implicitly stresses on myriads of conflicts, the value of time to heal or that perfect moments in his stories. The stories are precise, short and yet are like diorama of human emotions which you can visualise, feel, or even see at times. I got attached to stories like Broken People, Dead Ends, Private Conversations, The Domino and more.
It’s a good read for short story lovers.
I received an advance review copy.
April 8, 2022
Rating: 4.5/5.0
Mr. Becker’s collection of short stories found in “50 States” are all moving and explore the things that make life worth living.
Read full review in the 2022 April issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Mr. Becker’s collection of short stories found in “50 States” are all moving and explore the things that make life worth living.
Read full review in the 2022 April issue of InD'tale Magazine.
December 15, 2021
I loved the idea of dedicating one short story to each of the 50 states. But more importantly, I enjoyed the smooth clear exposition in each story. The author had a way of settling the reader into place easily, without fuss, establishing place, time, character and conflict calmly and coolly. I am from Cleveland, Ohio, and maybe that’s part of why I liked “The Thin Blue Line” so much, but primarily it was because it was so excellent an example of what I am talking about. A character, a setting, another character, a conflict, an external event affecting both characters and bringing about a reversal. Lovely, done seamlessly, a story taking shape organically in a way that was not predictable. Many, though not all, of the stories took this shape without, however, calling undue attention to any repetitive pattern.
A few stories were not as strong as the others, and there were a few of them I just flat out did not understand (“Into the Bardo” was one), but maybe that was just my shortcoming. Overall I enjoyed this collection immensely.
A few stories were not as strong as the others, and there were a few of them I just flat out did not understand (“Into the Bardo” was one), but maybe that was just my shortcoming. Overall I enjoyed this collection immensely.
May 21, 2022
This book was a pleasant surprise for me, given that it has been promoted in some parts of the internet as “dark fiction,” and this genre does not usually appeal to me. The book is a collection of fifty short tales, each set in a different state of the American Union at different points in the history of that nation since around 1950, and it is not always for the faint-hearted. However, despite the “dark fiction” label, these stories have the considerable merit of exploring several different aspects of the human condition – and while some of the characters do reach the proverbial “sticky end”, there is no need to keep a body count …
Although I have one important caveat regarding this book, which I will reveal at the end of this review, I was impressed by the width of the modern American history that it covers and the importance of the issues that it raises. 'Fifty States' is intelligently written, with thoughtful description and intriguing dialogue. Perhaps some of the scenarios are a little far-fetched, but it is worth noting that several of the stronger stories are found in the later pages of the volume, so stick with it!
At one level, Mr Becker really needs to send some of his characters on an anger management course, but many of them are genuinely three-dimensional. The title of the first story, ‘Broken People’, gives us a clue that family grief and romantic disappointment will play their fair share in what follows, while some of the others, such as ‘Papa Glede’, make a nod in the direction of magic realism. One disadvantage of the short story format is that the characters cannot really be developed, but there are some individuals, such as the kind and gentle Rose and Sophia from ‘Forget Me Nots’, who will definitely stay in my memory.
'Fifty States' has clearly been written for an American audience, and as a British reader, I was sometimes flummoxed for context. For example, I am not an aficionado of American TV sitcoms. But then again, isn’t that what reference works (also known as Wikipedia?) are written for? Becker’s stories can also be used to as a gateway to a well-established tradition of American short fiction; names such as Melville, Henry, Steinbeck, Jackson ('Life Among the Savages') and King spring to mind.
Each story is self-contained, and is narrated in either the first, or the third, person. There are no recurring characters – a point I will return to later. Your reviewer also detected a certain authorial bias in favour of male narrators and protagonists, but the female narrators and leading characters (for example, Andrea “Andy” Canton in ‘All the Wild Horses’) are quite sympathetically drawn as well. Generational conflict is frequently depicted in this volume, but at the same time, no particular age-group seems to have a monopoly on virtue. As we might expect, a number of the stories are set in archetypal American locations such as bars, diners, shopping malls and general stores, as well as in automobiles - which are frequently used to convey the protagonists into the local countryside; sometimes to go fishing! And if Richard Becker is one day hired to write a script for a road movie, it would not surprise me.
The final story in the collection, ‘Wheels Go Round’, is set in a bus station in Tennessee in the year 1977, and goes against the grain in that a good deed gives one of the characters a fresh start - and provides a happy and optimistic conclusion to the book as a whole. But more commonly there is a sense of genuine threat and danger – and some of the tales are even placed in the time of the current pandemic.
Questions of location can be metaphorical, as well as literal. Hence, while the majority of Becker’s protagonists face material hardships of one kind or another, he occasionally ventures into the “upper crust” of society. A case in point is the story called ‘The Interview’, which not only provides a sympathetic portrait of Cynthia, the “female boss” of a New York law firm, but also suggests that the writer could easily produce a convincing modern comedy of manners. ‘A Hole in the Wall’ is another relatively light confection which might well be expanded into a Young Adult romance, while ‘The Sweeper’ and ‘Mockingbirds’ are more heavyweight pieces which look at the politics of the 1970s and the 2000s.
There are no direct references to the gun control debate in this book, but the availability of firearms in emotionally volatile situations is a “gift” for the author of “dark fiction”, even if it is not so wonderful for real human beings in real situations. Which brings me to the question of Becker’s own political affiliations. In the early chapters I found it difficult to identify these, but as the volume proceeded I concluded that he is on the liberal part of the political spectrum, although he has some sympathy with some conservative complaints about the direction of modern America. The reader will draw their own conclusions, but there are several references to Native American grievances (e.g. ‘The Qallupilluk’ set in Alaska in 1982) and ‘Forget Me Nots’ is a kind and gentle story that embraces the Civil Rights struggles of the 1960s and beyond. As I noted earlier, there is a lot to be said for the deft handling of both sides of recent political debates and culture wars in both ‘Mockingbirds’ and ‘The Sweeper’ – for example, Becker is aware of the genuine grievances of American military veterans – and a story like ‘Sidelines’, in which an older white man and a coloured teenager bond while playing basketball, has its own message.
Hopefully, the author under review will be publishing a novel in the not too distant future, given that some of the most important themes of “dark fiction”, such as remorse and revenge, are “slow burns”, which are not really compatible with the short story format – although Becker always does his best. For example, I would be particularly pleased to see the characters of Michelle and Dennis from ‘Wet’ – a high school story set in Washington in 1971 – being reunited in a long-form story.
I must now change gear a little and offer a few criticisms. While some of the tales do include references to the internet, many of those that are set in the current century seemed a bit light on technological information. Perhaps this is because the “Steinbeckian” folk who inhabit many of the chapters are more often found to be on the highway, than on the superhighway, or is there another reason?
More generally, I could not discern any particular rationale for the ordering of the stories, and I wonder if Becker might have been better advised to link the stories geographically, so that they came to constitute a kind of “road trip” around the American Union? Another, more radical, suggestion might be a “super-narrator” who speaks every few chapters in a series of “literary intermezzos” – just as John Steinbeck appeared as the onscreen narrator in the 1952 film, 'O Henry’s Full House'. And as I indicated earlier, I most definitely regretted the complete absence of any recurring characters.
But more importantly, and finally, I must protest that ‘The Blue Door’ (three paragraphs) and ‘Vertigo’ (three sentences) are not short stories! I appreciate that Becker does use the subtitle ‘A collection of short short stories’, but even so, for more than a few moments I felt short-changed. And if they had to be there, I would have hidden them away near the end …
And yet, on balance, I do like this book, and if I have to quantify my critical opinion, I will rank it as 4/5 – 80 per cent – or, to put it another way, an “A” rather than a fully-fledged “A star”. (Think British academe!)
And so I will definitely be looking out for whatever Richard Becker publishes next. Good luck, Richard!
REVIEWED BY CLIVE MASON-HALL MAY 2022
Although I have one important caveat regarding this book, which I will reveal at the end of this review, I was impressed by the width of the modern American history that it covers and the importance of the issues that it raises. 'Fifty States' is intelligently written, with thoughtful description and intriguing dialogue. Perhaps some of the scenarios are a little far-fetched, but it is worth noting that several of the stronger stories are found in the later pages of the volume, so stick with it!
At one level, Mr Becker really needs to send some of his characters on an anger management course, but many of them are genuinely three-dimensional. The title of the first story, ‘Broken People’, gives us a clue that family grief and romantic disappointment will play their fair share in what follows, while some of the others, such as ‘Papa Glede’, make a nod in the direction of magic realism. One disadvantage of the short story format is that the characters cannot really be developed, but there are some individuals, such as the kind and gentle Rose and Sophia from ‘Forget Me Nots’, who will definitely stay in my memory.
'Fifty States' has clearly been written for an American audience, and as a British reader, I was sometimes flummoxed for context. For example, I am not an aficionado of American TV sitcoms. But then again, isn’t that what reference works (also known as Wikipedia?) are written for? Becker’s stories can also be used to as a gateway to a well-established tradition of American short fiction; names such as Melville, Henry, Steinbeck, Jackson ('Life Among the Savages') and King spring to mind.
Each story is self-contained, and is narrated in either the first, or the third, person. There are no recurring characters – a point I will return to later. Your reviewer also detected a certain authorial bias in favour of male narrators and protagonists, but the female narrators and leading characters (for example, Andrea “Andy” Canton in ‘All the Wild Horses’) are quite sympathetically drawn as well. Generational conflict is frequently depicted in this volume, but at the same time, no particular age-group seems to have a monopoly on virtue. As we might expect, a number of the stories are set in archetypal American locations such as bars, diners, shopping malls and general stores, as well as in automobiles - which are frequently used to convey the protagonists into the local countryside; sometimes to go fishing! And if Richard Becker is one day hired to write a script for a road movie, it would not surprise me.
The final story in the collection, ‘Wheels Go Round’, is set in a bus station in Tennessee in the year 1977, and goes against the grain in that a good deed gives one of the characters a fresh start - and provides a happy and optimistic conclusion to the book as a whole. But more commonly there is a sense of genuine threat and danger – and some of the tales are even placed in the time of the current pandemic.
Questions of location can be metaphorical, as well as literal. Hence, while the majority of Becker’s protagonists face material hardships of one kind or another, he occasionally ventures into the “upper crust” of society. A case in point is the story called ‘The Interview’, which not only provides a sympathetic portrait of Cynthia, the “female boss” of a New York law firm, but also suggests that the writer could easily produce a convincing modern comedy of manners. ‘A Hole in the Wall’ is another relatively light confection which might well be expanded into a Young Adult romance, while ‘The Sweeper’ and ‘Mockingbirds’ are more heavyweight pieces which look at the politics of the 1970s and the 2000s.
There are no direct references to the gun control debate in this book, but the availability of firearms in emotionally volatile situations is a “gift” for the author of “dark fiction”, even if it is not so wonderful for real human beings in real situations. Which brings me to the question of Becker’s own political affiliations. In the early chapters I found it difficult to identify these, but as the volume proceeded I concluded that he is on the liberal part of the political spectrum, although he has some sympathy with some conservative complaints about the direction of modern America. The reader will draw their own conclusions, but there are several references to Native American grievances (e.g. ‘The Qallupilluk’ set in Alaska in 1982) and ‘Forget Me Nots’ is a kind and gentle story that embraces the Civil Rights struggles of the 1960s and beyond. As I noted earlier, there is a lot to be said for the deft handling of both sides of recent political debates and culture wars in both ‘Mockingbirds’ and ‘The Sweeper’ – for example, Becker is aware of the genuine grievances of American military veterans – and a story like ‘Sidelines’, in which an older white man and a coloured teenager bond while playing basketball, has its own message.
Hopefully, the author under review will be publishing a novel in the not too distant future, given that some of the most important themes of “dark fiction”, such as remorse and revenge, are “slow burns”, which are not really compatible with the short story format – although Becker always does his best. For example, I would be particularly pleased to see the characters of Michelle and Dennis from ‘Wet’ – a high school story set in Washington in 1971 – being reunited in a long-form story.
I must now change gear a little and offer a few criticisms. While some of the tales do include references to the internet, many of those that are set in the current century seemed a bit light on technological information. Perhaps this is because the “Steinbeckian” folk who inhabit many of the chapters are more often found to be on the highway, than on the superhighway, or is there another reason?
More generally, I could not discern any particular rationale for the ordering of the stories, and I wonder if Becker might have been better advised to link the stories geographically, so that they came to constitute a kind of “road trip” around the American Union? Another, more radical, suggestion might be a “super-narrator” who speaks every few chapters in a series of “literary intermezzos” – just as John Steinbeck appeared as the onscreen narrator in the 1952 film, 'O Henry’s Full House'. And as I indicated earlier, I most definitely regretted the complete absence of any recurring characters.
But more importantly, and finally, I must protest that ‘The Blue Door’ (three paragraphs) and ‘Vertigo’ (three sentences) are not short stories! I appreciate that Becker does use the subtitle ‘A collection of short short stories’, but even so, for more than a few moments I felt short-changed. And if they had to be there, I would have hidden them away near the end …
And yet, on balance, I do like this book, and if I have to quantify my critical opinion, I will rank it as 4/5 – 80 per cent – or, to put it another way, an “A” rather than a fully-fledged “A star”. (Think British academe!)
And so I will definitely be looking out for whatever Richard Becker publishes next. Good luck, Richard!
REVIEWED BY CLIVE MASON-HALL MAY 2022
January 21, 2022
Although Richard is a superb writer, with an eloquent tongue and a tremendous turn of phrase, and these gems are each a standalone high-brow work of art, I don’t recommend that you read “50 States” as I did, from cover to cover. Like the pleasant burn of a liquor, these are to be savoured and enjoyed from time to time, as the mood takes you – and that mood really needs to be a pensive and reflective one, perhaps at times even melancholy. Although all cerebral in nature, there is pretty much a tale for all tastes and attention levels; Richard’s slice-of-life moments range from haiku-length flash fiction to almost novella-length. It is difficult to choose a favourite, nor is that really the point; the mood and tone of all of these stories is firmly in Richard’s abstract mind, and you’re just along for the ride, entering and leaving the narrative at moments of his choosing. But there is something particularly satisfying about the mugger who turns hero to rescue his victim, the black bus-boy, who turns out to own the business he is supposedly being “saved” from, or the girl who regrets saving the life of a boy who grows up to become a mass-murderer. Some are metaphorical, some anecdotal and others downright morose, but what they all share is good writing quality, as the author simply shows you a segment of each of the fifty main characters’ lives.
The “states” refer to the United States, of course, though this is largely irrelevant; these tales could generally be set anywhere – although, Richard’s knowledge of the different lifestyles and cultures throughout his home country is clearly innate. More admirable is his ease at setting the period, making the reader feel present; the stories all take place over the last 60-70 years, against a fascinating glimpse of a relevant backdrop of each: the Vietnam War; race and civil rights movements, the Gulf War, right up to the COVID pandemic. In this respect alone, they are more appropriately fifty snippets of America’s recent history.
I won’t lie, this was a tough read, from start to finish – long and involved; after a while, the stories all seemed to meld together – but it is certainly a worthwhile addition to your short story library. To be enjoyed responsibly, rather than indulged.
The “states” refer to the United States, of course, though this is largely irrelevant; these tales could generally be set anywhere – although, Richard’s knowledge of the different lifestyles and cultures throughout his home country is clearly innate. More admirable is his ease at setting the period, making the reader feel present; the stories all take place over the last 60-70 years, against a fascinating glimpse of a relevant backdrop of each: the Vietnam War; race and civil rights movements, the Gulf War, right up to the COVID pandemic. In this respect alone, they are more appropriately fifty snippets of America’s recent history.
I won’t lie, this was a tough read, from start to finish – long and involved; after a while, the stories all seemed to meld together – but it is certainly a worthwhile addition to your short story library. To be enjoyed responsibly, rather than indulged.
February 4, 2022
50 States is a beautiful audiobook comprised of a 50 award-winning and best-selling collection of no less, no more than 50 fiction short stories written with talent by respected journalist and writer Richard R. Becker.
What began as a project to write one story a week for 50 weeks was later released as a collection and now audiobooks listeners across the world can be thrilled and entertained by them.
Although each story is quite short, I was immediately intrigued by the characters that feel alive and by how the author shares with us each individual tale. The writing is gripping, the characters are regular people from all walks of life forced to survive with the hand that destiny dealt them, the action is fast and entertaining, and the atmosphere is immersive.
Once I started listening, it was almost impossible for me to stop because these short adventures are very addictive. I found myself wanting to see what new situations, scenarios, and characters this excellent author throws at me.
Emmy-winning TV host, producer, and narrator Brian Callanan is the perfect choice for the 50 States audiobook. Brian has a clear talent for storytelling and it was a blast to listen to him switching with ease end seamlessly between characters.
He is very good with voices and I don’t know how, but he managed to make each of these stories sound different. Brian is like a chameleon – but with his voice instead of the colors. Now he is a scared woman, now a little girl, or a boy, or some teenager. It’s absolutely incredible how many different characters he can bring to life and make them feel unique.
The Audio production for 50 States is split into different chapters, one for each story, complete with the name, so it is very easy to move from one to another.
The simple fact that this collection is already best-selling and award-winning should be enough for you to give it a try, but thanks to the superb performance delivered by Brian, the listening experience is enriched and elevated to an entirely new level of immersion.
I hope to see more such collections or even a full novel from Richard R. Becker because I really like his writing style and these morsels of good literature.
What began as a project to write one story a week for 50 weeks was later released as a collection and now audiobooks listeners across the world can be thrilled and entertained by them.
Although each story is quite short, I was immediately intrigued by the characters that feel alive and by how the author shares with us each individual tale. The writing is gripping, the characters are regular people from all walks of life forced to survive with the hand that destiny dealt them, the action is fast and entertaining, and the atmosphere is immersive.
Once I started listening, it was almost impossible for me to stop because these short adventures are very addictive. I found myself wanting to see what new situations, scenarios, and characters this excellent author throws at me.
Emmy-winning TV host, producer, and narrator Brian Callanan is the perfect choice for the 50 States audiobook. Brian has a clear talent for storytelling and it was a blast to listen to him switching with ease end seamlessly between characters.
He is very good with voices and I don’t know how, but he managed to make each of these stories sound different. Brian is like a chameleon – but with his voice instead of the colors. Now he is a scared woman, now a little girl, or a boy, or some teenager. It’s absolutely incredible how many different characters he can bring to life and make them feel unique.
The Audio production for 50 States is split into different chapters, one for each story, complete with the name, so it is very easy to move from one to another.
The simple fact that this collection is already best-selling and award-winning should be enough for you to give it a try, but thanks to the superb performance delivered by Brian, the listening experience is enriched and elevated to an entirely new level of immersion.
I hope to see more such collections or even a full novel from Richard R. Becker because I really like his writing style and these morsels of good literature.
March 30, 2022
What A Collection
4.25 out of 5 stars
Going into this I wasn’t sure how a collection of short stories was going to feel like a cohesive book. I can honestly say after finishing it – I have no idea how Becker pulled it off. In the beginning, I was like “oh it’s going to just be like this” but I was quickly shocked into understanding the “madness” (It’s the good kind of mad) that Becker used to make this story fly.
I like books on the human condition and ones that show off regions I’m not from or that familiar with. I’ve been diving into more books that are in the bayou area lately because it’s just a place that I’ve never been to and something I want to know more about. This book was a collection of a bunch of stories just like that. Each one was interesting and some of them made me go “wtf!?”.
I LOVE bite-sized stories. Novellas are some of my favorite kinds of stories because to be able to put an entire story into such a short form is a real talent. I couldn’t believe the amount of feeling that Becker was able to get out of me as I was reading through this collection of stories. They were so interesting or intriguing that I would end up reading whole swaths of the book at a time instead of digesting each story bit by bit.
Add in the narration by Brian Callanan, who voices a post-apocalyptic book I really enjoyed (Rebel Blaze) and you’ve got a collection of stories that jump right off of the page. This book had to have been a challenge because there were so many different characters – each one of them unique and had to be voiced a little differently. I was impressed at how it didn’t feel repetitive or boring with Callanan performing it.
4.25 out of 5 stars
Going into this I wasn’t sure how a collection of short stories was going to feel like a cohesive book. I can honestly say after finishing it – I have no idea how Becker pulled it off. In the beginning, I was like “oh it’s going to just be like this” but I was quickly shocked into understanding the “madness” (It’s the good kind of mad) that Becker used to make this story fly.
I like books on the human condition and ones that show off regions I’m not from or that familiar with. I’ve been diving into more books that are in the bayou area lately because it’s just a place that I’ve never been to and something I want to know more about. This book was a collection of a bunch of stories just like that. Each one was interesting and some of them made me go “wtf!?”.
I LOVE bite-sized stories. Novellas are some of my favorite kinds of stories because to be able to put an entire story into such a short form is a real talent. I couldn’t believe the amount of feeling that Becker was able to get out of me as I was reading through this collection of stories. They were so interesting or intriguing that I would end up reading whole swaths of the book at a time instead of digesting each story bit by bit.
Add in the narration by Brian Callanan, who voices a post-apocalyptic book I really enjoyed (Rebel Blaze) and you’ve got a collection of stories that jump right off of the page. This book had to have been a challenge because there were so many different characters – each one of them unique and had to be voiced a little differently. I was impressed at how it didn’t feel repetitive or boring with Callanan performing it.
February 17, 2022
Richard R Becker is a journalist and the president of Copywrite, Ink that also writes experimental and speculative fiction stories. 50 Sates is his newest book and it is a collection of short stories that describe the different situations, in different years across all the 50 states of the United States of America. A great way to learn several qualities and customs about each state.
I enjoyed this book; the stories were short but very rich in context. All the characters Becker described, evolved in their way and I enjoyed that. All the stories are unique and I was able to find brand new things in each of them. It was a solid reading and may I say, very good product knowledge for foreigners to understand the differences between states! A good book!
I enjoyed this book; the stories were short but very rich in context. All the characters Becker described, evolved in their way and I enjoyed that. All the stories are unique and I was able to find brand new things in each of them. It was a solid reading and may I say, very good product knowledge for foreigners to understand the differences between states! A good book!
February 15, 2022
variety of stories across time and the U.S.
50 States by Richard R Becker is a collection of short stories, each taking place in a different U.S. state between 1955 and 2020. I think short stories can be a blessing or a curse, as they allow a bit of fantasy and intrigue without having to dedicate too much time, but they can easily end up shallow or end abruptly. Becker’s collection is good though. I started reading because I was interested in how the different cultures and mannerisms of people from each state would be portrayed. Honestly, some of them could have taken place anywhere, but even those were good to read. Of course, I skipped ahead to my state, Ohio, first, but honestly my favorite was either Vertigo, the one set in 1955 New Mexico, Spinning Wheel, or The Domino.
50 States by Richard R Becker is a collection of short stories, each taking place in a different U.S. state between 1955 and 2020. I think short stories can be a blessing or a curse, as they allow a bit of fantasy and intrigue without having to dedicate too much time, but they can easily end up shallow or end abruptly. Becker’s collection is good though. I started reading because I was interested in how the different cultures and mannerisms of people from each state would be portrayed. Honestly, some of them could have taken place anywhere, but even those were good to read. Of course, I skipped ahead to my state, Ohio, first, but honestly my favorite was either Vertigo, the one set in 1955 New Mexico, Spinning Wheel, or The Domino.
October 27, 2021
This is a great book with 50 short stories that were all interesting. Some were sad, some inspirational, some confusing, some made me smile but they all made me stop and think. And many of them made me want to know more. Really enjoyed this book.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
October 21, 2021
I loved these short stories, they were really well written and I enjoyed going through the states.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 15, 2022
This was a fun listen (audiobook)! I recommend it for busy readers. It is a compilation of very short stories that zero in on the lives/hopes/struggles of everyday Americans. The author takes us through a wild journey…road tripping through all the states at different points in time. This book brings forth an image of a patchy quilt. Hodgepodge of (different genres) pictures that are woven together by our shared humanity.
Best place to enjoy: at the airport or on a road trip or commute to work
Best place to enjoy: at the airport or on a road trip or commute to work
May 16, 2022
I received a free book from Black Coffee Book Tours. Thank you for this opportunity!
I was captivated by the idea that each of these stories took place in a different state. It’s was drew me to pick this up, to begin with. Though, if I’m being honest, I was a bit disappointed in the execution of some of the stories. There was a handful of shorts that I felt really encompassed the state it was set in, like the story set in Alaska I loved the atmosphere for this state’s story. But there were several others that I felt really had nothing to do with the state they were supposedly set in, like California and New Mexico, these two were very short short stories that I didn’t feel connected with either state that were set in. I just expected more of a connection to each of the states with each of these stories, and while some did just that, the majority didn’t which I felt missed the mark for this collection as a whole.
That being said, I did enjoy more than half of the stories we see. There was a good handful that I loved reading. The ones I loved captured my attention right away and left me going woah.
Though this brings me to another thing, I felt there was no overall theme to these stories. Being the reader I am, who enjoys all sorts of books, this didn’t bother me. But I could see other readers who might not want to read everything that’s in this one. There is a wide range of horror to contemporary stories here. We see stories of traumatic loss, life and death, suicide, murder, love and affairs… So there is a little bit of everything, but depending on what kind of reader you are, you might not enjoy all the stories.
Overall, I found this to be an enjoyable collection of short stories. But as for a collection of short stories over the 50 states? It missed the mark.
If you’re a reader who’s open to reading just about anything, you might enjoy this one too!
I was captivated by the idea that each of these stories took place in a different state. It’s was drew me to pick this up, to begin with. Though, if I’m being honest, I was a bit disappointed in the execution of some of the stories. There was a handful of shorts that I felt really encompassed the state it was set in, like the story set in Alaska I loved the atmosphere for this state’s story. But there were several others that I felt really had nothing to do with the state they were supposedly set in, like California and New Mexico, these two were very short short stories that I didn’t feel connected with either state that were set in. I just expected more of a connection to each of the states with each of these stories, and while some did just that, the majority didn’t which I felt missed the mark for this collection as a whole.
That being said, I did enjoy more than half of the stories we see. There was a good handful that I loved reading. The ones I loved captured my attention right away and left me going woah.
Though this brings me to another thing, I felt there was no overall theme to these stories. Being the reader I am, who enjoys all sorts of books, this didn’t bother me. But I could see other readers who might not want to read everything that’s in this one. There is a wide range of horror to contemporary stories here. We see stories of traumatic loss, life and death, suicide, murder, love and affairs… So there is a little bit of everything, but depending on what kind of reader you are, you might not enjoy all the stories.
Overall, I found this to be an enjoyable collection of short stories. But as for a collection of short stories over the 50 states? It missed the mark.
If you’re a reader who’s open to reading just about anything, you might enjoy this one too!
March 11, 2022
I received an ARC free from BookSirens and this is my voluntary honest review.
Clever imaginative writting!
Impressive! Funny! Easy, light read!
Thought provoking collection!
Clever imaginative writting!
Impressive! Funny! Easy, light read!
Thought provoking collection!
February 18, 2022
Incredible stories!
I can say that the book "50 States" written by Richard Becker is a real roller coaster of emotions. The book is a collection of many short stories, which are of different genres, in different times and different states of the USA. Each story is independent, so each one has its own characters and plot.
It is one of the first books of short stories that I read. I used to prefer long novels and tales, and even sagas, but from a time until now I have been interested in this type of books. I recently found something engaging in short stories. Becker is a great writer in my opinion, because was able to make me feel a lot of emotions. Of all the stories, the one I liked the most was All Your Joys.
I can say that the book "50 States" written by Richard Becker is a real roller coaster of emotions. The book is a collection of many short stories, which are of different genres, in different times and different states of the USA. Each story is independent, so each one has its own characters and plot.
It is one of the first books of short stories that I read. I used to prefer long novels and tales, and even sagas, but from a time until now I have been interested in this type of books. I recently found something engaging in short stories. Becker is a great writer in my opinion, because was able to make me feel a lot of emotions. Of all the stories, the one I liked the most was All Your Joys.
February 19, 2022
Well, I must confess that what first caught my attention here was the book's cover. It was totally inviting as I did not know exactly what I would find inside its pages. 50 States is a debut collection of short and thought-provoking stories that occur in different states from the United States of America that would mesmerize any type of reader, for sure.
Each story is loaded with mystery and suspense and these themes get to be shown and transmitted by characters who resemble people out there, normal people and their rather mundane daily activities and actions. The storylines unfold smoothly and the read is easy to follow, though the
main actions are never predictable. It is definitely one of the best books I have ever purchased!
Each story is loaded with mystery and suspense and these themes get to be shown and transmitted by characters who resemble people out there, normal people and their rather mundane daily activities and actions. The storylines unfold smoothly and the read is easy to follow, though the
main actions are never predictable. It is definitely one of the best books I have ever purchased!
December 3, 2022
A riveting mixture of tales
I truly loved books that relate people's stories from all walks of life. In “50 states” by Richard R. Becker, there is a bit of everything.
Along these pages, you can learn about different customs, ways of living and about a variety of cultures, particularly related to America's continent. I love the setting of many tales.
The bit that I liked the most was the way the author comments on these people and how he depicts the places. I felt as if I were in America, wandering along the country. Some stories are riveting, others a bit sad but they leave a message to readers. This is definitely a book for different tastes which I highly recommend.
I truly loved books that relate people's stories from all walks of life. In “50 states” by Richard R. Becker, there is a bit of everything.
Along these pages, you can learn about different customs, ways of living and about a variety of cultures, particularly related to America's continent. I love the setting of many tales.
The bit that I liked the most was the way the author comments on these people and how he depicts the places. I felt as if I were in America, wandering along the country. Some stories are riveting, others a bit sad but they leave a message to readers. This is definitely a book for different tastes which I highly recommend.
December 4, 2022
This is a great read to enjoy in one sitting, there are short tales about the 50 states. Each one in a different context and different years.
The stories are very charming, some of them make you laugh and others aim for a different experience. Either way, author Richard R Becker managed to mix a lot of American culture into these stories making it very interesting to read. And I think the way they are written allows readers from different backgrounds and ages to dig into "50 States".
These fifty stories are set in the 50 states and each one portrays the human condition in a different way, which makes the book very colorful.
The stories are very charming, some of them make you laugh and others aim for a different experience. Either way, author Richard R Becker managed to mix a lot of American culture into these stories making it very interesting to read. And I think the way they are written allows readers from different backgrounds and ages to dig into "50 States".
These fifty stories are set in the 50 states and each one portrays the human condition in a different way, which makes the book very colorful.
December 17, 2022
This book contains a collection of American short stories, one from each state. These beautiful little stories were very well written and I connected with many of the characters. Very enjoyable, would recommend.
February 11, 2026
I was very excited when I first learned of this book. I love short stories, and a collection with each story set in a different state sounded like something I would enjoy. Unfortunately, the collection of stories fell way short of my expectations.
Each story is short, mostly six to eight pages, which is understandable or else a collection of 50 stories would be 800 pages or more. But their brevity made for stories that lacked any character development and were more like vignettes than a short story with a satisfying ending. A couple of the stories were decent, but most were mediocre at best. The dialogue was stilted, unoriginal, and boring. And, as previously mentioned there was little to no character development. In hindsight, I think it would have been better for the author to have fleshed out the stories, making them 15 to 20 pages in length, even though that would have made for a 800 to 1,000 page book. Had he done so, the stories would have been more enjoyable.
Even though each story is "set" in a different state, most of the stories lacked any reference to the local environment, and could have been set in almost any state. A few stories mentioned a city or the state in the story in passing, but other than that, the story could have been set anywhere. I would like to have seen the setting be more of a character since the title of the book indicates the stories are specific to a state.
Overall, I just cannot recommend this book as it was not a pleasure to read.
Each story is short, mostly six to eight pages, which is understandable or else a collection of 50 stories would be 800 pages or more. But their brevity made for stories that lacked any character development and were more like vignettes than a short story with a satisfying ending. A couple of the stories were decent, but most were mediocre at best. The dialogue was stilted, unoriginal, and boring. And, as previously mentioned there was little to no character development. In hindsight, I think it would have been better for the author to have fleshed out the stories, making them 15 to 20 pages in length, even though that would have made for a 800 to 1,000 page book. Had he done so, the stories would have been more enjoyable.
Even though each story is "set" in a different state, most of the stories lacked any reference to the local environment, and could have been set in almost any state. A few stories mentioned a city or the state in the story in passing, but other than that, the story could have been set anywhere. I would like to have seen the setting be more of a character since the title of the book indicates the stories are specific to a state.
Overall, I just cannot recommend this book as it was not a pleasure to read.
February 21, 2023
Short stories with so much impact.
As an avid reader and writer of short stories, I found 50 States by Richard Becker interesting and exciting on different levels. Collecting and putting together different stories with diverse themes into one book can be challenging. Becker did an excellent job!
The stories talk about different stories from different years and settings. The author took the time to introduce the different timelines with popular niches from the time, so that readers could relate to the stories better. In this novel, Becker shows us a mastery of rapid tone development coupled with vivid descriptions.
Besides good character and plot development, Becker maintains consistency throughout all the stories. The stories come from fifty states and present us with interesting facts to chew on. There is much more in this book to learn from than merely assuming it is the same as the rest. The author uses ordinary people to convey a powerful message to the people.
50 Stares are worth the time and the money you put into purchasing, and I strongly recommend this book to anybody who wants to read something fresh.
As an avid reader and writer of short stories, I found 50 States by Richard Becker interesting and exciting on different levels. Collecting and putting together different stories with diverse themes into one book can be challenging. Becker did an excellent job!
The stories talk about different stories from different years and settings. The author took the time to introduce the different timelines with popular niches from the time, so that readers could relate to the stories better. In this novel, Becker shows us a mastery of rapid tone development coupled with vivid descriptions.
Besides good character and plot development, Becker maintains consistency throughout all the stories. The stories come from fifty states and present us with interesting facts to chew on. There is much more in this book to learn from than merely assuming it is the same as the rest. The author uses ordinary people to convey a powerful message to the people.
50 Stares are worth the time and the money you put into purchasing, and I strongly recommend this book to anybody who wants to read something fresh.
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