Colleen O'Brien

All Roads by Colleen O'Brien is that collection of short stories that, while you're reading it, you know two things: one, you'll want to reread them; and two, they are going to stay with you (haunt you?) for quite a while. If you like stories that do more than just wrap up the action and instead insist on making you think about them, you will love this collection.

When I say you'll love the collection, I don't mean you will love each story. In fact, you may not love any of them. At least not show more at first. You'll feel uncomfortable, maybe annoyed, perhaps even angry. If you have any empathy whatsoever you will feel for these characters, whether you like them or not. And while we won't readily admit it, we will see some small parts of ourselves in some of these character's actions. Well, maybe not actions, but definitely the things that motivate their actions (or inactions).

The book blurbs give a good idea of the types of people you'll meet, so I won't try to find a different way to repeat that. What I will say is that they are unlike any of us yet also like all of us. Even, perhaps especially, those who vehemently deny it.

I often use short story books (and collections of essays) for those moments when I have some time to read but don't want to get back into a longer work, whether fiction or nonfiction. This is one of the better books for that purpose because each story prompts some thinking, which for me is what I want when I go back to doing whatever I have to be doing. If you don't use such books like this, I'd suggest not reading this book too quickly. Give each story, even those that rub you the wrong way, some time to ferment. You may find you got more out of it than you thought and, as in my case, you may find yourself rereading them sooner rather than later.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley. show less