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Got a RAVE review from an Amazon Top Reviewer for my book. Doesn't get any better than that!
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Hey, I'd be jumping outta my skin happy! Congratulations.
Congratulations Elizabeth! Your memoir sounds fascinating :)
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Collection of Inter-Connected Stories, May 27, 2014
By
Nathan Beauchamp "ConsumerAdvocate (nathan(at... (Oak Park, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE) (TOP 500 REVIEWER)
Verified Purchase
This review is from: Full Contact, Collected: The collected stories of Zach, Elroy, and Taro the Hunchback. (Kindle Edition)
FULL CONTACT, COLLECTED by Daniel Kucan amazed me. I get a lot of review requests from authors on Amazon. Most I turn down. Occasionally someone takes the time to write a nice note and explain why their book deserves my time. Daniel Kucan was one such author. Most of the time the books I get are pretty shoddy, poorly put together, and feature sub-part storytelling. Nothing could be further from the truth here—FULL CONTACT is one of those rare books that I felt honored to receive. A book I enjoyed reading on many, many levels.
If you’re considering buying the collected stories or just one story, BUY THE COLLECTION. The stories are connected in a way that makes them appreciably better taken together rather than piecemeal. Certain things won’t make sense if you read a story here or a story there. Buy the collection. Just do it.
Why you ask? I’ll tell you.
First, the prose itself is fantastic. Fast moving, gritty, and honest. A joy to read. It’s got that “it” factor that separates average writing from marketable, sellable writing. It’s lean, angular, and has the slant of the author all over it. It’s true and it’s told with slant, and it demands that you keep moving through the story. The word choice, specificity of language, humor, subtext, and literary sensibilities are self-evident. You can’t fake good writing, and this is good stuff.
Zach, the protagonist of this collection of interconnected short stories, has a compelling, unique voice. A bit of a misanthrope, good at fighting but not much else, he careens through life leaving a wake of destruction behind him. He struggles with human connection, with playing by the rules, with being a complete human being. Surrounded by a number of ancillary characters that include his mentor, his agent, his ring man, and the Girl (his love interest) each story centers on one of Zach’s fights. That might sound like a turn off to those of you not into the world of martial arts, but trust me when I say that the fights are both understandable to the layman, and don’t overpower the human side of the story. They’re handled in a factual, non-aggrandizing way. Not showy, not Hollywood. Gruesome yes, but not sensationalized.
Each story in the collection builds on the last. This might be called a “novel via short story collection” because while each story can stand on its own, they function together to tell a complete story arc. The stories are surprisingly diverse, with one paying tribute to “The Gift of the Magi” by O’Henry, several others referencing the lore of King Arthur and the Holy Grail, and still another with strong parallels to “Werewolves in Their Youth” by Michael Chabon.
What makes the collection really standout: that attention to story, to craft, to entertaining. These stories will make you feel. And that’s all you can ask for as a reader—material that has a little heart to it. A little soul. Sure, some of the notes played aren’t that deep, some of the pop culture references are laid on a little thick, but those are minor complaints in what is an otherwise excellent book.
The only substantive criticism that I have is of the ending. It wasn’t the knockout punch I expected. It wasn’t that it was bad, only that it left me a little disappointed. I wanted to see Zach experience more of a boon, to find some form of his Holy Grail, to retire from fighting with something substantive to look forward to. That’s where art becomes a little subjective. I wanted a happier ending than the one Kucan handed me. I wanted a little more closure. But tastes differ, and you might love the ending for all its subtlety and nuance.
You should buy and read this book. It’s fantastic. I have no problem giving it very enthusiastic 5-stars. In a sea of poorly done self-published books, this one is one of the true exceptions. I’ll be looking forward to anything Daniel Kucan decides to publish in the future.