I had no idea what to expect from an anthology entitled ‘Paisley Shirt’. I drifted along with the words and became hooked. Enigma, shock and a wry smile accompanied me as I read these stories. Each evening, I sipped another story and savoured the unanswered questions. I searched beyond the words and entered the territory of the unsaid. As I travelled in the gaps between the words, I admired the meaning squeezed into the story. Even the child’s perspective temps the reader with the innocent gaps in the narration.
Some stories are presented as vivid a flash of emotion whispered in black and white tones while other stories are sounded in blast of colour. Aldwin explores: love, domestic violence, families, political asylum, memories, loneliness, divorce, other cultures and more. She is not afraid to challenge her reader and is skilled at presenting economical use of dialogue. This compressed narrative form showcases Aldwin’s poetic style. To unravel each story would spoil the surprise for future readers.
Tension spins in the narratives like a storm waiting for the finale, but the reader often must imagine the conclusion. Aldwin writes,
‘And there was something tuneful about Australia. Sitting on the veranda at night, listening to the rhythm of the cicadas or hearing the wind ripple through the gumtree that build to a crescendo when the storm came.’
Here in ‘Blue Skies’, Aldwin captures the way I felt when reading the flash fiction. Even the titles of the story add to the compressed meaning of the narrative form. Indeed, one must have blue sky thinking to appreciate flash fiction and look into the characters’ world.
As a tribute to Gail’s writing, I have presented words that left images on my mind. Images presented throughout the post are a snapshot of emotions that flashed in my mind long after reading. The poetic quality of this writing conjures powerful images, and I hope they will tempt you to read on.
The stories have also inspired me to experiment with this genre and have enjoyed reading the language into shape. Indeed, Gail explained:
‘I write every day and love to see my stories change direction and become more textured through redrafting and editing.’
About the Anthology
‘Paisley Shirt‘ is a fascinating collection of 27 stories that reveal the extraordinary nature of people and places. Through a variety of characters and voices, these stories lay bare the human experience and what it is like to live in our world.
About the Author:
Gail Aldwin is a prize-winning writer of flash fiction, short stories, and poetry. Her work can be found online at Ink, Sweat & Tears and Slamchop and in print anthologies including What I Remember (EVB Press, 2015) Dorset Voices (Roving Press, 2012) and The Last Word (Unbound Press, 2012). Gail works collaboratively with other women writers to develop comedy for the screen and stage. With the Dorset Writers’ Network, Gail supports isolated writers in rural communities. She is an experienced teacher who delivers workshops to young people and adults in community settings.
You can find Gail @gailaldwin and http://gailaldwin.wordpress.com
Please see all my book reviews at Books In Handbag and my website and blog at JessieCahalin.com.