BOOK REVIEW: FIFTY/FIFTY AND OTHER STORIES by MATTHEW MCFARLAND

Fifty/Fifty and Other Stories 

by

Matthew W. McFarland

Publisher: Matthew W. McFarland; 2 edition (September 6, 2012)  

 

About the book . . . 

Fifty/Fifty and Other Stories is a collection of eleven outstanding short stories by Northern Irish author Matthew W. McFarland.

In 'Fifty/Fifty', a policeman is called out to an attempted suicide on the iconic Forth Rail Bridge. His previous experience with 'jumpers' has led to one death and one life saved - his current record is fifty/fifty, but all that is about to change.

In 'Defenestration', a man is thrown from the twelfth story of a building in mysterious circumstances. As he falls towards almost certain death, he contemplates his fate, killer whales, flying cats, and the untapped potential of the human mind.

In 'The Burning Bar', a man enters a burning building to rescue the love of his life, and becomes trapped, as the whole place collapses around him. Will he manage to escape before it is too late?

'What Have You Done?' deals with the legacy of the conflict in Northern Ireland, as a civil servant comes face to face with an ex-terrorist, leading him to discover how the previous generation coped with living through the worst of the Troubles.

These, and seven other stories, touching on sport, fatherhood, arachnophobia, faith, and cannibalism, make up an exciting collection of short fiction which will leave readers wanting more.

 About the author . . .          

Matthew W. McFarland was born in 1983 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. After graduating from the University of Dundee with a master's degree in psychology, he took several jobs including delivering mail, producing birth certificates, and working in the heart of the Northern Ireland Government. He currently lives with his young family just outside the city of Belfast.

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Reader Review . . . 

Fifty/Fifty and other Stories by Matthew W. McFarland is a compilation of 11 short stories, all set in the author's home of Ireland.  Each story is a stand-alone episode, each with  its own ironic twist or dark humor.  In the title story "Fifty/Fifty", a policeman is called to talk down a would-be jumper from the Forth Rail Bridge.  So far, the officer's record has been fifty/fifty, but no matter the outcome, his record will be changed.

My personal favorite in the collection is "Wee Tiny Spiders".  Not only did it appeal to my own dark, twisted sense of humor, but I once had a similar experience; with different results,  I must add.  Although the stories differ from one another, they are all enjoyable, and I highly recommend the book.

 5 stars

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”   

 

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2013 A-Z Reading Challenge

 

Do you love to read?  You know I do!  Escape with Dollycas Into a Good Book is hosting a reading challenge for 2013.This challenge will run from January 1st, 2012 until December 31st, 2013.

You can join anytime. It’s an alphabet challenge!!! The challenge is to read one book starting with every letter of the alphabet. 


So there are two different ways you can set up your own A-Z Reading Challenge.


A -  Make a list on your blog from A-Z. Throughout the year, as you go along, add the books you are reading to the list. Towards the end of the year, you can check and see which letters you are missing and find books to fit.

OR


B - Make a list now of 26 books, picking one for each letter of the alphabet. For example: A – The Azalea Assault B- Blue Monday C – Crops and Robbers D – A Deadly Grind etc.


Books can be read in any order and all formats – print – e-book – audio – are acceptable for this challenge!

Ready to join?? 

Sign up at Escape with Dollycas Into a Good Book and grab the button.  

Non-bloggers you can join too! Just keep track any way you wish and enter a link below if available or sign up in the comment section. You can even set up a special shelf on Goodreads to help you keep track!


Need some help finding titles to match the alphabet – Jandy’s Reading Room has a wonderful list to get you started.

Here is my list:  

A        AN ANGEL BY HER SIDE - RUTH REID - 4 stars
B       
C       
D       
E       
F        
G       
H       
I       
J       
K       
L       
M       
N       
O       
P        PERIL:  FROM JACKBOOTS TO JACK BENNY - PEARL GOODMAN
Q        QUEEN OF THE AIR:  A TRUE STORY OF LOVE AND TRAGEDY AT THE CIRCUS - DEAN JENSEN
R       
S       
T        THE POSTMISTRESS-SARAH BLAKE
U        UNCONQUERED:  THE SAGA OF COUSINS JERRY LEE LEWIS, JIMMY SWAGGART, AND MICKY GILLEY - J.D. DAVIS
V        VANISHED-IRENE HANNON
W       
X       
Y       
Z       

I will be updating my list and will keep it posted on here.  Check back to see what I've read, and comment and let me know when you join the challenge.  Here's to a year of good reading!

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