About the Book:
Is love the most revolutionary of all acts?
In this wide-ranging collection of twelve short stories, a startling array of characters explore their perspectives on love. The stories sweep from sharp realism to heady allegory, haunting fables to sci-fi thrillers, starring teens and drifting husbands, futuristic automatons and talking dogs, gardeners and gatekeepers, a blind girl, a young father, and many more.
In “Calamity Jane,” see love through the eyes of teenage boys obsessed with the calamitous girl of the title; revisit the famous Greek love story in “Orpheus and Eurydice”; Dan’s mechanical automaton seems to be his truest friend in the harshly conformist world of “Automatonomatopoeia”; a Crimean revolutionary gets waylaid at a mysterious gate in “The Invitation”; on a construction site in Yugoslavia, a young man tries to come to grips with unconventional fatherhood in “Vikings”; and in “The Conversation”, a blind woman manages her relationship with a hectoring mother while finding other types of love.
These are just a few of the tales in Resistance, Revolution and Other Love Stories. Anyone interested in the struggle against stifling societal powers and the potency of love will see some of themselves in these pages. By turns exciting, meditative, and funny, these enjoyable, thought-provoking stories will linger long after the book is closed.
Buy the Book – Amazon.com, Bookshop.org
Reviews:
Resistance, Revolution and Other Love Stories by K. contains a series of short stories bound together by the theme of love during times of trouble. This anthology of stories is incredibly diverse and unique. K. soars above other authors with their sense of language, almost lyrically describing events in an abstractly beautiful way.
However, the prose is often so incredibly poetic that it was difficult for me to figure out what was actually happening. For instance, I had to read “Radius” multiple times in order to figure out what was going on with Mustapha’s brother, and I’m still not entirely sure I understood. There are so many abstract images painted to describe the story that are simultaneously poignant and senseless. During the portion describing Mustapha’s brother, I found myself squinting as if I were trying to decipher a Jackson Pollock painting. I knew it was beautiful, but I wasn’t sure exactly what it was.
Then it’s almost as if a different person picks up the pen to write “Calamity Jane,” wherein a teenage boy is exploring love and sexuality and the seemingly wanton need to tear down all women around him. It wasn’t a story that particularly resonated with me as a reader, mostly due to the amount of denigration focused on teenage girls throughout. The focus is on Jane, in particular, but also on any young girl who happens to wear yoga pants, who is thought of as an object in this young boy’s eyes. He constantly refers to them as “bitches,” and yet, he also constantly notes that they make his genitals “tingle.” If that made you cringe, perhaps skip this particular story. It strikes an ugly chord against the rest of the incredibly beautiful short stories.
In “Dog Whistle,” dogs are cruel in order to appease their masters, but with the touch of a gentle soul, realize the world around them is of their own making. Each story is so different in its own way and love truly ties them all together. I appreciate the different kinds of love woven throughout this story, not just pretty and romantic love. In “The Conversation,” familial love is explored, while in “Head Down,” a cheater falls in love. There were so many different voices within the book that it really felt fleshed out with untold ideas and unique stories. The stories were mostly very short and easy to read.
If you like philosophy, wistfulness, and the notion that love conquers all, this book will be a very enjoyable read for you.
~ Jenna Swartz, Seattle Book Review
More Comments:
“Fantastical, meditative, and witty… An outstanding collection.”
— The Prairies Book Review
“Undoubtedly eclectic, each selection takes on a life of its own with electrifying energy and the ability to incorporate themes that will keep ruminating in readers’ minds long after the story is finished.”
— RECOMMENDED by US Review of Books
“I ventured into every piece and without fail discovered K’s phenomenally joyous understanding of the heights and horrors of human existence. Writing does not come any better than this.”
— 5 Stars, Jon Michael Miller, Readers’ Favorite
“Each plot is a masterpiece in its own, with such compelling story lines that you are forced to follow them until the end, and to uncover the secret message hidden within.”
— Literary Titan
“This short story collection pairs desperate love with acts of violence in a diverse and moving debut.”
— BlueInk Review
“An entertaining, fast-paced and powerful collection of short stories,author K’s Resistance, Revolution & Other Love Stories is a must-read book.”
— Pacific Book Review
“Beautifully penned, thought-provoking, intense and authentically engaging…”
— BookViral Reviews
“A collection of twelve short stories about the many forms of love. A perfect summer read we highly recommend.”
— Chanticleer Reviews
About the Author:
K., an anti-war advocate, studied English, Religion and Philosophy at University of Toronto and has written fiction for years, publishing several stories in literary magazines. Resistance, Revolution and Other Short Stories is K.’s first book. K. lives in Malton, Ontario, Canada, with their spouse, five children, an American Wirehair cat and a Quaker parrot.