Catch of the Day in Get Reviews!

May 15, 2018 Ron Miner rated it it was amazing

A shout out to indie writers. Get a hold of William Cook’s “Catch of the Day” and pay attention.

This collection of short stories is diverse, dealing with relationships, aging, crime, and sexuality to name a few. Well developed characters dig into archeology or gaze at an eclipse –– one scenario contrasts the beauty of birdsong with the cruelty of a stroke that has left the watcher speechless.

But that isn’t all I’m shouting about. Please observe the impeccable editing. Clean, accurate, unerring A shout out to indie writers. Get a hold of William Cook’s “Catch of the Day” and pay attention.

This collection of short stories is diverse, dealing with relationships, aging, crime, and sexuality to name a few. Well developed characters dig into archeology or gaze at an eclipse –– one scenario contrasts the beauty of birdsong with the cruelty of a stroke that has left the watcher speechless.

But that isn’t all I’m shouting about. Please observe the impeccable editing. Clean, accurate, unerring writing that never distracts from his storytelling. Fine-tooth comb stuff. Despite a complex writing style that can involve frequently shifting points of view, internalized thinking, and changes in chronology, Cook delivers a profoundly well expressed and researched narrative. His performance is so strong in this respect, I’m a bit nervous as I write this review.

There can be some darkness to the writing –– he does not avoid life’s difficulties and the characters are often people with problems. But there is a warmth of human experience on the pages shaping intricate relationships. I was particularly impressed with his attention to detail, writing with convincing authority about fishing or poisonous concoctions (not in the same story!) and crafting a completely believable path through his subject matter.

As we find in most short story collections, there are more episodes than I can review here. So let me highlight a couple of favorites, two distinctly different portrayals of parents and old age.

In “Homecoming,” a pair of brothers still struggle with guilt and forgiveness as they experience hospice with their aging father, a decorated WWII veteran. Superimposed to great effect is the father’s own story of war, his brother, and remorse involving a bombing mission gone wrong. This bittersweet exploration of the final days of a parent compares competing personalities and religious disposition. It is both heartbreaking yet tenderly nostalgic, and will resonate with those of us who have experienced this challenging circumstance. The story’s sanguine conclusion is pleasing.

Contrast this with “Layla’s Brownies,” a playful examination of a daughter’s efforts on her mother’s behalf in the new world of legalized marijuana. I loved this story!

“Catch of the Day” should have something in it for everyone, and we as indie writers will benefit from this concise, beautifully edited collection.
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Feb 16, 2018 David Rose rated it it was amazing

Shelves: indie, superlative-authors, literary, short-story, anthology

Another fine collection of excellent short stories from William Cook. Never hesitate to buy these - the man is a master of short fiction.

Enter the victim, hounded by relentless, imperfect memories. The stage is breathless - will the hidden killer find her? By the Affect Bridge we cross over to the past. Upon a wartime winter's landscape, snow and airmen float softly down. In Winter's Walk both will journey to the sea, both will melt, allowing their true nature to be discovered.
Off-stage, in a f ...more

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Jun 02, 2018 Michael Gardner rated it it was amazing

Tasty

I’d describe Catch of the Day as a literary counterpart to a chef’s degustation menu. Bill Cook serves us one short story course after another, each imbued with his style and spin. The flavours range from dark and delicious to light and cleansing. Each is crafted with the expertise of a writer who knows his way around the lit-kitchen.

As we’ve come to expect from Bill Cook, his stories focus heavily on the human condition. In Catch of the Day, there is strong theme of people forced to make d ...more

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Mar 29, 2018 Kathleen Garlock rated it really liked it

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