- What would you do for love?
- Follow a soul across time?
- Die for your country?
- Stay in a life that's slowly destroying you?
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HALL WAYS REVIEW: In HOPE VERDAD PRESENTS SHORT STORIES ABOUT LOVE, author Francesca Flood cements herself as a master storyteller who knows how to manipulate readers’ emotions, force us to think and consider, and leave us uplifted.
“Love is not always what it appears to be—not sentiment, not physical bond, but the quiet act of acknowledging someone and affirming that their presence in the world matters.” – author Francesca Flood
Don’t for a minute think these short stories are full of mushy sentiments and cheesy romance; as the title reveals: these are not so much love stories but stories about love and how it is found in unexpected ways and places. What’s impressive is that Flood does so much, so quickly within the confines of a short story. No two stories are alike, and the author’s writing is cerebral but relatable and truly evocative: expect tears to flow from both heartache and humor.
“The black velvet sky cradled the moon like a pearl.” – from “Two Lives—One Soul”
Whether it's a domestic abuse shelter, the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea, a futuristic (but eerily familiar) American society, or a hospice unit, richly detailed descriptions of time and place are provided by the author so that readers are fully immersed, observing the characters like flies on the wall.
“Everyone could understand that murder was a bad thing until it was okay, as sanctioned by the Supreme Authority, for spreading fake news, possessing forbidden materials, or failing to report suspicious behavior.” – from “For the Love of Country”
One aspect of Flood’s writing that is noteworthy is her ability to write fiction that seems like fact. Dystopian “For the Love of Country” is almost painful to read and see the parallels to contemporary USA and recognize how easy it would be to tip into the depicted scenario. Similarly, “Grocery Shopping” portrays a much-too-real snapshot of a woman, with her self-described “face mapped with lines of regret and poor choices.” Her normal day goes horribly and violently wrong; yet, she finds surprising redemption there—and so will readers.
“A sacred chasm lies between this side of the veil and the mystery beyond—this sliver of space between life and death, where the dying often speak of seeing loved ones or angels or hearing music no one else can perceive.” – from “Passages”
The award-winning endcap story, “Passages,” shifts into nonfiction zone with the author’s experiences volunteering in an end-of-life care facility. Flood’s insights, based on her interactions and observations with the dying, are poignant. She reframes what outwardly seems like a depressing venture into one that was life changing noting: “Living with the dying saved me.”
Carefully crafted and impactful, HOPE VERDAD PRESENTS SHORT STORIES ABOUT LOVE is also highly entertaining and leaves a lasting impression. This engaging collection is one to read and re-read.
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