What do you think?
How To Train A Rock
A collection of 'short insights and fiction flights' culled from over 20 years of the author's newspaper columns. Each one a highly polished gem. These short pieces are often funny, occasionally profound, generally insightful and always creative. Stone knows how to surprise the reader with twist endings, unexpected points of view and more narrative styles than a roomful of writers. You will be delighted.
200 pages, Paperback
First published April 22, 2009
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 19, 2009
This book was sent to me for review as part of Library Things Member Giveaway Early Reviewers program. Thanks are due to both the author and LT for their consideration.
I'll have to be honest here. I was a little skeptical about this book before reading it. The author describes it as "Short Insights and Fiction Flights". I had no idea I what I was entering into; and expected some kind of off the wall humor, such as that you find in bathroom readers. The first story did not do much to alleviate my concern, as its subject is dog droppings on the front yard. Imagine my surprise, no, perhaps shock is a better term when the fifth story rolled around. Now, we had been leaving humor behind already for some beautiful, lyrical poetry in Listen to the Wind and an emotionally powerful essay on a child abused at the hands of a church leader. But nothing had prepared me for Pretty White Gloves, which is an insight on the descent into hell for a Vietnam War veteran. I was floored. This story kicks you in the guts. I know I have been imprinted with it for life.
From there it was a wild swing of elegantly written articles covering just about everything under the sun. Yes, there was certainly humor. And beautiful emotional articles; most centering around the author's personal life and experiences.
This book is a collection of some of the author's best articles from a long running column of his called "A Stone's Throw". I loved it! The writing is exceedingly good. I recommend it to everyone. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to review this book, or I am sure I would never have discovered it; and I would really have been missing out. This is truly a gem of a book.
I'll have to be honest here. I was a little skeptical about this book before reading it. The author describes it as "Short Insights and Fiction Flights". I had no idea I what I was entering into; and expected some kind of off the wall humor, such as that you find in bathroom readers. The first story did not do much to alleviate my concern, as its subject is dog droppings on the front yard. Imagine my surprise, no, perhaps shock is a better term when the fifth story rolled around. Now, we had been leaving humor behind already for some beautiful, lyrical poetry in Listen to the Wind and an emotionally powerful essay on a child abused at the hands of a church leader. But nothing had prepared me for Pretty White Gloves, which is an insight on the descent into hell for a Vietnam War veteran. I was floored. This story kicks you in the guts. I know I have been imprinted with it for life.
From there it was a wild swing of elegantly written articles covering just about everything under the sun. Yes, there was certainly humor. And beautiful emotional articles; most centering around the author's personal life and experiences.
This book is a collection of some of the author's best articles from a long running column of his called "A Stone's Throw". I loved it! The writing is exceedingly good. I recommend it to everyone. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to review this book, or I am sure I would never have discovered it; and I would really have been missing out. This is truly a gem of a book.
October 26, 2011
"How to Train a Rock" is a potpourri of thoughts on life. Paul Steven Stone shares 51 two-to-three page snippets sparked by his newspaper column called "A Stones Throw".
My favorite was "Listen to the Wind" which compares the wind and childhood in poem and prose.
"Backstage at the Universe" is a tale of man and moth. Man learns that "There's a place in the universe. . . where all things share equally in the substace of creation. A place where courage and the will to survive can break down the barriers and divisions we foolishly believe are immutable. A place, in fact, where a moth and a man can meet on equal terms." (p. 100) Have you ever felt foolish saving the life of a fly or a spider? Don't!
"The Roomate Who Came to Stay" is a treasure. Those of us who have raised our children need to share this with our offspring who are now starting families of their own. Stone doesn't offer advice. He shares emotion and wisdom.
In "We Are All One People" Stone suggests, "We are all casualties of war. There has never been a single bullet fired that hasn't killed a part of ourselves as it takes a life. Or a death that hasn't left a void in the spirit of humankind." (p. 124)
"What was I saying" is an embarassing but true commentary on the aging sticky-note generation. What is that bobblehead on the counter reminding me to do? Do you have sticky-notes hanging from your sticky-notes? Are there notes stacked on top of your notepad in order of importance?
If you have ever wanted to write a response journal? "How to Train a Rock" would be a great stepping stone into writing. If not, just read and enjoy.
My favorite was "Listen to the Wind" which compares the wind and childhood in poem and prose.
"Backstage at the Universe" is a tale of man and moth. Man learns that "There's a place in the universe. . . where all things share equally in the substace of creation. A place where courage and the will to survive can break down the barriers and divisions we foolishly believe are immutable. A place, in fact, where a moth and a man can meet on equal terms." (p. 100) Have you ever felt foolish saving the life of a fly or a spider? Don't!
"The Roomate Who Came to Stay" is a treasure. Those of us who have raised our children need to share this with our offspring who are now starting families of their own. Stone doesn't offer advice. He shares emotion and wisdom.
In "We Are All One People" Stone suggests, "We are all casualties of war. There has never been a single bullet fired that hasn't killed a part of ourselves as it takes a life. Or a death that hasn't left a void in the spirit of humankind." (p. 124)
"What was I saying" is an embarassing but true commentary on the aging sticky-note generation. What is that bobblehead on the counter reminding me to do? Do you have sticky-notes hanging from your sticky-notes? Are there notes stacked on top of your notepad in order of importance?
If you have ever wanted to write a response journal? "How to Train a Rock" would be a great stepping stone into writing. If not, just read and enjoy.
July 3, 2009
How to train a Rock is a collection of the author’s writings from his newspaper column, “A Stone’s Throw”. With titles such as: Listen to The Wind, Perhaps Love, If You’ve Been Wrongfully Murdered, What Happens to Snow That Never Falls, Dear Lord, Can I have a Raise, and many more - you will read stories that make you laugh, wonder, scratch your head and say “Huh?”, and maybe even shed a tear. It is an enjoyable collection of stories that are well written, insightful, and sometimes philosophical.
My favorite quote from the book was when I first opened it and read:
“BUY THIS BOOK AND SAVE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS!
I lied.”
You may not save hundreds of dollars but you will have an enjoyable book to read.
My favorite quote from the book was when I first opened it and read:
“BUY THIS BOOK AND SAVE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS!
I lied.”
You may not save hundreds of dollars but you will have an enjoyable book to read.
June 16, 2009
Paul Steven Stone has take a collection of his work from his columns, "A Stones Throw" and put them in a book that will make you laugh and cry. His view on life and what is thrown at us gives us something to think about. He starts off letting you know how he feels about his neighborhood's dogs leaving gifts in his yard. I laughed all the way through it. Then you have the story of the homeless guy called "White Gloves". I cried. I would recommend this book to my friends, even enemies. Maybe if they looked at life the way Mr. Stone does they wouldn't be enemies. I gave this book a rating of 5 out of 5.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews