A Message for Mr. Lazarus: A Novella and Seven Stories

by Barbara Lambert

This collection is made of stories that span the world and all the people in it. From a ferry ride with an unfaithful wife, to a failed hero’s final quest, to a man fleeing to the beaches of Costa Rica, Lambert takes readers on compelling journeys. The book goes to a place where senses can expand, and helps us find the truth that lies in dark, seductive places.

Genres: Fiction

207 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Sam - Spines in a Line · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe more like 3.5. Really well-written short stories (despite the VERY long sentences) but the title story was relentless with its fat-shaming and basically used a fat woman as a metaphor for the whole thing.

I always feel mixed about short stories cuz I never totally 'get' them and they're often too short for me to really get into. The title story was the longest so it went the most in-depth but again the fat-shaming just put off the whole thing for me.

My favourite was probably Where the Bodies are Kept - I really liked the main character and was invested in following her story, but I would've liked more to see how the present-day beginning fully connected to the flashbacks.

[Lana. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 / Amazing use of language that transports the reader into a slice of intense emotion in complex situations. Others have commented that "nothing happens", which in some cases nothing outwardly does... but readers are taken on an internal journey.