There is perhaps no greater compliment which can be paid to an author than for a reader to say that they felt “part of” their story. That is when a writer knows that they have woven their craft in such a way that full engagement has been attained. When the reader closes the book, they still feel part of that world. This is something which Duane Simolke absolutely achieves in his book, The Acorn Stories. For those who are searching for a book which is written so well that you are able to enjoy a respite from reality and enter into a fictional world…this is the book for you!
The Acorn Stories is actually a collection of short tales which are woven together as one book. There are 16 short stories in total and they describe the lives of various people who live within the small rural town of Acorn, Texas. Each tale is distinct in its own right, but by the end of the book we are able to see connections and correlations between the characters. Never one to reveal too much about the plot in my reviews, I can assure readers that each short story is captivating and intriguing. From a young pair of control driven lovers who cannot seem to get things right, to a widow unexpectedly looking for love, only to have the quest upset by a pet cat! We are able to meet a vile young man looking to find a woman who can act as his meal ticket, to a despicable gay mayor who maliciously targets the owner of an art gallery. We are able to meet a young boy who seeks to protect the rest of his family from an abusive father. That is followed up by a deaf and gay school teacher who clashes with the high school football coach. Without a doubt, all of these story ideas could carry an entire novel on their own.
While each of these tales is unique, they all have one thing in common… the ability to ignite our emotions! Whether it be sadness, anger, happiness or contempt, each story will stir some sort of emotion within the reader depending upon their own personal circumstances and life experiences. For instance, I could entirely relate to “Keeping A Secret”, which brought forth seething anger. I was then quickly calmed down and consumed by sadness as I read “knock.” This ability to capture the raw emotions of his readers is an ingenious tool used by Duane Simolke. He is able to achieve it through beautiful writing and compelling character development.
When analyzing a collection of short stories, it can be difficult to establish what the overall theme might be. However, in this case I believe the theme is clearly about the various characteristics and situations which comprise the human condition. We are able to see this through the events and clever dialogue of characters who are all unique in their own way. We are introduced to heroic, pathetic, confused and very determined characters in these stories. The ability to present this theme through intriguing interaction and dialogue showcases the author’s impressive writing skills.
While the plot, characters and theme of this book are entirely engrossing, the setting is a key element which allows for such effectiveness to occur. If the stories had taken place in a large, urban environment, they would not have garnered the same impact. The small, rural town atmosphere makes the tales entirely believable. A common trait of small towns is that everyone knows each other. This was absolutely a required condition to make all the stories clearly work and come together as one. This author thought of everything!
In regards to a reading audience, this collection of stories would be appropriate for Young Adult and up. There really is something for everyone in The Acorn Stories. The writing is excellent and has a poetic quality to it. Having now discovered this author, I will certainly be reading and engaging with more of his work.
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Customers say
Customers enjoy these short stories about small town life, finding them engaging and easy to read. The writing style is exceptional, with one customer noting its poetic quality, and customers appreciate the interesting characters and humorous tone. They find the content captures the imagination, with one review highlighting its healthy understanding of human nature.
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23 customers mention story, 23 positive, 0 negative
...Acorn Stories (Acorn, Texas Book 1) by Duane Simolke is a great collection of stories that capture the imagination....Read more
...being that he truly, truly is a talented writer, comedian, artist, storyteller, etc....Read more
...gender variations – and the joy is not only in reading each well-crafted story but also in sitting back at book’s end and seeing how they...Read more
...There are beautiful, funny and romantic stories in here that make you think long after you keep the book down (well, keep the tab aside in my case)....Read more
22 customers mention content, 22 positive, 0 negative
The Acorn Stories is a great little book that follows some of the most amazing characters that I've seen in a book....Read more
...by Duane Simolke is a great collection of stories that capture the imagination....Read more
...Wonderful and captivating writing style. The title indicates this is only book 1 - I hope that is the case, as I would love to read more.Read more
...I loved this book and the memories it brought back. So, if you remember the 'Party Lines' you can't help but enjoy this book....Read more
15 customers mention character development, 14 positive, 1 negative
...story Acorn, to Oak, these stories are unique with well drawn, interesting characters....Read more
...The writer has a unique style and the characters are true to their small-town Texan renown....Read more
...in setting your stories in small towns and among good, positive characters....Read more
...The characters were so real to life that I could have easily seen them walking around town and interacting with each other in my own hometown....Read more
14 customers mention writing style, 14 positive, 0 negative
...For those who are searching for a book which is written so well that you are able to enjoy a respite from reality and enter into a fictional world…...Read more
...I particularly enjoyed the style of writing....Read more
...by Duane Simolke and be introduced to something exceptionally well written....Read more
...Simolke certainly has a gift for writing, especially dialogue, which I found to be one of the most relatable parts of this book....Read more
12 customers mention engaging, 12 positive, 0 negative
I found this wonderful collection of related short stories to be fully engaging!...Read more
One thing I love about short stories is they are never dull, so much has to be packed into a fraction of the pages of your typical novel....Read more
...It is well crafted and engaging. I have no complaints.Read more
...I did have a great time while reading it, I also enjoyed the book’s structure and the way all those characters were developed, some of those stories...Read more
8 customers mention readability, 7 positive, 1 negative
...The book is easy to read, has a steady pace and make me feel like I knew this characters for a long time, I guess each town has a representative of...Read more
...Well written and a fun easy read when you have a short amount of time. Check this one out. Tgere is something for everyone.Read more
...This is a very quick read. It has less than two hundred pages and the writing style is so nice that I found myself reading non-stop for hours....Read more
...The Acorn Stories is an easy read but that doesn’t make it easy to put down....Read more
6 customers mention humor, 6 positive, 0 negative
...There are beautiful, funny and romantic stories in here that make you think long after you keep the book down (well, keep the tab aside in my case)....Read more
...There are no secrets. This is a beautifully told story, with humor, with compassion, with stark realism, sometimes violent, but uncannily...Read more
...Some are pathetic, some humorous, some irritating, some are easier to equate with than others, and all are somewhat unusual as their often self-...Read more
...being that he truly, truly is a talented writer, comedian, artist, storyteller, etc....Read more
