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The Price of Cookies
Two brothers face their mother’s impending death. A convenience store clerk balances compassion with duty. A grieving soldier receives a package of cookies meant for someone else.
In this series of connected flash fiction pieces, people navigate the trials of life with tears, arguments and, above all, love and compassion.
“Lives interwoven and cookies that arrive too late. This bravura collection of linked stories provides a profound lesson in empathy, of pouring yourself into someone else’s life, someone else’s pain, to see it from the inside, looking out.”
– Will Ferguson, Giller Prize-winning author of 419
“The brief stories contained here fire like prisms, shining a welcome light into our collective darkness. These linked passages will tear at you, while simultaneously applying empathy and healing. Here find an artfully detailed small town and its lives effortlessly crafted to represent our world entire. We are very lucky to have Burnett.”
– Michael Blouin, 2x winner of the ReLit Award for Best Novel, Skin House
In this series of connected flash fiction pieces, people navigate the trials of life with tears, arguments and, above all, love and compassion.
“Lives interwoven and cookies that arrive too late. This bravura collection of linked stories provides a profound lesson in empathy, of pouring yourself into someone else’s life, someone else’s pain, to see it from the inside, looking out.”
– Will Ferguson, Giller Prize-winning author of 419
“The brief stories contained here fire like prisms, shining a welcome light into our collective darkness. These linked passages will tear at you, while simultaneously applying empathy and healing. Here find an artfully detailed small town and its lives effortlessly crafted to represent our world entire. We are very lucky to have Burnett.”
– Michael Blouin, 2x winner of the ReLit Award for Best Novel, Skin House
- GenresShort Stories
Published May 21, 2024
About the author
Finnian Burnett
16 books34 followersFinnian Burnett is a writer whose work explores the intersections of the human body, mental health, and gender identity. They are a recipient of the Canada Council for the Arts grant, a finalist in the 2023 CBC nonfiction prize, and a 2024 Pushcart nominee.
Their work appears in Blank Spaces Magazine, Reflex Press, The Daily Sci-Fi, Wordworks, CBC Books, local contest anthologies such as Word on the Lake, The Wine Country Writer’s Festival anthology and more. Their two novellas-in-flash, The Clothes Make the Man and The Price of Cookies, are available through Ad Hoc Fiction and Off Topic Publishing respectively.
When not writing or teaching, Finnian enjoys cold weather walking, Star Trek, and cat memes.
They can be found at www.finnburnett.com
Their work appears in Blank Spaces Magazine, Reflex Press, The Daily Sci-Fi, Wordworks, CBC Books, local contest anthologies such as Word on the Lake, The Wine Country Writer’s Festival anthology and more. Their two novellas-in-flash, The Clothes Make the Man and The Price of Cookies, are available through Ad Hoc Fiction and Off Topic Publishing respectively.
When not writing or teaching, Finnian enjoys cold weather walking, Star Trek, and cat memes.
They can be found at www.finnburnett.com
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
April 30, 2024
I don’t know if I’d have read The Price of Cookies if the author hadn’t been so kind to me last summer at the GCLS conference. I don’t read many concise works, I didn’t know whether I’d enjoy flash fiction, 99.99% of the books I read have sapphic MCs, I rarely go for wider queer casts, etc. I would have missed out, though. Hugely. It’s impressive how such a short book can pack so much, in terms of characters, emotions, nuances.
There’s an entire world in these 36 pages, an entire universe. In a page or three, Burnett draws multiple slices of life, all interconnected, some more loosely than others.
In a few sentences, the reader is introduced to a whole array of characters and their feelings, as if they were entering a village and were suddenly privy to the lives being lived, in all their frailty and fallibility, the anger, the resentment, the frustration and pettiness, but also the hope, the compassion, the love. Human beings doing their best with whatever cards they were dealt.
Despite being nowhere near as long, The Price of Cookies is reminiscent of Georges Perec’s La Vie mode d’emploi (Life: A User’s Manual) and its more than six hundred pages. It also reminded me of a hand-clapping game/song in French called “Trois petits chats” or “Marabout, bout d’ficelle”. While Burnett’s novella in flash doesn’t follow the same stylistic device of having each part begin with the sound the one before ends on (dorica castra), the cookies have the same effect.
This masterful and poignant story of humanity, intolerance, and compassion came into my life at the perfect time. I haven’t been able to focus on reading recently (audiobooks seem okay), and the novella length felt less intimidating. I didn’t expect it to encompass so much, and even though it took me longer than I’d like to finish, it also made me want to read just one more page. And then just one more. And one more. Until suddenly the one more page was the last page and it had all come full circle, in the most satisfying way.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my website (and please get your books from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
March 2, 2024
A beautiful collection of related stories. It feels like a single tale woven from many connected lives. I loved reading this book. It's short, so it only takes an hour or so.
May 7, 2024
Finnian Burnett's "The Price of Cookies" may be compact, but it delivers a powerful punch. In this novella in flash, Burnett weaves together the disparate lives of individuals living in a small-town forming a poignant tapestry that explores the depths of human connections. The delicate crafting of each character's journey transforms the narrative into a captivating look at life's intricacies and the nuances of relationships. Burnett proves to be both a magician and an artist, in their ability too pack so much into so few pages. It’s a truly compelling work and an unforgettable reading experience.
* I received an ARC of the manuscript in exchange for an honest review.
* I received an ARC of the manuscript in exchange for an honest review.
March 8, 2024
I received an advanced copy of this book, but I’ve also purchased a print version and I’m so happy I did because this is a book I’d love to keep in my library, and read it again and again.
When you’re ready to read this book, make a cuppa tea and get comfortable because this is a book you’re going to read from start to finish in one sitting.
With each story, it’s like the characters step off the page and come into your house for a personal visit. You learn enough about each one of them to figure out where they fit in the overall picture of this story of connections, and even though it’s so sad in many parts - tears were literally rolling down my cheeks - There is still enough hope, because there’s a lot of love in these pages and a lot of acceptance and a lot of strong people. My favourite story was at Adam’s house (tears rolling section) I laughed out loud at “this girl” especially the “you win” line. I loved how you found out more of the others’ from little things mentioned in the next story. All the strings were so neatly tied together. Fabulous book. Read it!
When you’re ready to read this book, make a cuppa tea and get comfortable because this is a book you’re going to read from start to finish in one sitting.
With each story, it’s like the characters step off the page and come into your house for a personal visit. You learn enough about each one of them to figure out where they fit in the overall picture of this story of connections, and even though it’s so sad in many parts - tears were literally rolling down my cheeks - There is still enough hope, because there’s a lot of love in these pages and a lot of acceptance and a lot of strong people. My favourite story was at Adam’s house (tears rolling section) I laughed out loud at “this girl” especially the “you win” line. I loved how you found out more of the others’ from little things mentioned in the next story. All the strings were so neatly tied together. Fabulous book. Read it!
April 30, 2024
I have never written a review of a book for others to read. But the Price of Cookies by Finnian Burnett is a book I really want others to read and love.
A series of short short stories which overlap, complement and layer with each other creates an intimate relationship between the characters and the reader, and reminds us of the importance of “cookies” in our daily lives.
The language and vocabulary is simple, and pure somehow. There is not a word in any of the stories that I had to look up, nor a sentence that I had to read twice to understand. But I read many sentences more than once, and lingered over many turns of phrases because the choices were so intentional and
perfect.
Truly, The Price of Cookies is a precious gem which gives us a lesson on the practice of compassion. I will definitely read these stories many times over when I feel low or defeated by the world. This is a brave novella of hope.
A series of short short stories which overlap, complement and layer with each other creates an intimate relationship between the characters and the reader, and reminds us of the importance of “cookies” in our daily lives.
The language and vocabulary is simple, and pure somehow. There is not a word in any of the stories that I had to look up, nor a sentence that I had to read twice to understand. But I read many sentences more than once, and lingered over many turns of phrases because the choices were so intentional and
perfect.
Truly, The Price of Cookies is a precious gem which gives us a lesson on the practice of compassion. I will definitely read these stories many times over when I feel low or defeated by the world. This is a brave novella of hope.
April 7, 2024
The Price of Cookies is several stories, each a brilliantly written vignette of a richly imagined life. The Price of Cookies is also one story, the story of a community struggling with grief, or love, or just figuring out how to live without feeling like you’re doing it all wrong. This is the second novella-in-flash I’ve read by Finnian Burnett and the way they make literary fiction accessible through such densely packed, deeply moving flash fiction chapters remains nothing short of remarkable.
July 1, 2024
Finnian Burnett has done an incredible thing with The Price of Cookies. They have created a moving and emotional novella from a series of cleverly interconnected flash fiction pieces. This beautifully-written story follows the everyday lives of a number of people in a community, encompassing universal experiences such as grief, love, family, belonging, loss, and trauma. Heartbreaking yet hopeful, it was the perfect read for a rainy Sunday afternoon!
July 4, 2024
Un lugar es territorio. El espacio se construye a partir de las relaciones de quienes lo habitan. Este libro recrea un pueblo a partir de los nexos que establecen personajes de distintas generaciones que se entrecruzan a lo largo de los años y van generando una comunidad. El hilo que atraviesa este tejido es el aroma invitante y el sabor reconfortante de las galletas, muchas clases de ellas.
El precio de las galletas es invaluable por lo que simboliza: la ausencia, la presencia, el olvido, el amor, el gusto por compartir. Eso que convierte a un lugar en un espacio, a un pueblo en una comunidad.
El precio de las galletas es invaluable por lo que simboliza: la ausencia, la presencia, el olvido, el amor, el gusto por compartir. Eso que convierte a un lugar en un espacio, a un pueblo en una comunidad.
May 9, 2024
Flash fiction is, by definition, short. And this is the first novella in flash I've read. What I now know to be true is how much effort it must take to make flash fiction read so effortlessly. Finn Burnett has woven a society, a world, into being using very few words. Pretty much the whole spectrum of humanity is represented, along with the throng of emotions that go along with it. The depth achieved in these compact, concise pages it pretty remarkable. Well worth a read!
March 10, 2024
4.5 - This was an example of emotional, interconnected storytelling at its finest.
I was given an advanced copy of this book for my honest opinion.
It's not often I go into a story blind, but I made an exception here. I didn't read the blurb, didn't open the press release, or look up the book online before diving in. To say it's not my normal preferred genre would be an understatement. Literary short fiction is pretty far off the beaten path from long, sapphic speculative fiction. That said, here are my thoughts:
Pros: Have you ever seen a movie where the director pulls off the 'impossible' long continuous shot through a series of action sequences, the camera never faltering, and the viewer pulled along for the ride to an ending you're not sure of? Burnett is the director of this impossible cinematic short.
The Price of Cookies is a snapshot of a small town. It's a series of interconnected stories following people's lives as they try to navigate through pain, sorrow, change, and hope. Each voice is unique. Each tale, a part of a larger tapestry woven by Burnett's talented words. And I took joy in the discovery of each new facet on this jewel, turning it in the light in order to see how one part meets with another as I stumbled from one story to the next. I was humbled by Burnett's world and skill at immersing me in it without drowning.
Cons: No cons for the fiction. It was well-written, emotional, and very real. The only issue I found pertained to a few odd formatting spots, where some spaces between words were missing.
This short piece was perfect for what it was. A single polaroid picture of siblings, humanity and growth, found within an old photo album on the shelf. You're left feeling a sense of nostalgia for people you've never met, for people that never existed to begin with, other than in some writer's mind. Excellent.
I was given an advanced copy of this book for my honest opinion.
It's not often I go into a story blind, but I made an exception here. I didn't read the blurb, didn't open the press release, or look up the book online before diving in. To say it's not my normal preferred genre would be an understatement. Literary short fiction is pretty far off the beaten path from long, sapphic speculative fiction. That said, here are my thoughts:
Pros: Have you ever seen a movie where the director pulls off the 'impossible' long continuous shot through a series of action sequences, the camera never faltering, and the viewer pulled along for the ride to an ending you're not sure of? Burnett is the director of this impossible cinematic short.
The Price of Cookies is a snapshot of a small town. It's a series of interconnected stories following people's lives as they try to navigate through pain, sorrow, change, and hope. Each voice is unique. Each tale, a part of a larger tapestry woven by Burnett's talented words. And I took joy in the discovery of each new facet on this jewel, turning it in the light in order to see how one part meets with another as I stumbled from one story to the next. I was humbled by Burnett's world and skill at immersing me in it without drowning.
Cons: No cons for the fiction. It was well-written, emotional, and very real. The only issue I found pertained to a few odd formatting spots, where some spaces between words were missing.
This short piece was perfect for what it was. A single polaroid picture of siblings, humanity and growth, found within an old photo album on the shelf. You're left feeling a sense of nostalgia for people you've never met, for people that never existed to begin with, other than in some writer's mind. Excellent.
March 30, 2024
A quick and easy read, The Price of Cookies is a complex study of the human condition. This tightly woven tapestry of sketches taken from significant moments and events in the lives of people who are connected will resonate with readers who have experienced grief, loss, and fear of acceptance in its various forms. Author Finnian Burnett is a master of short prose, using an economy of words to evoke empathy and understanding.
I was immediately drawn into this book from the first story, immersed in the theft of a few cookies as seen through both the eyes of the store clerk and the young thief. As I continued to read, it became obvious these stories are more than a collection—they are snippets of flash fiction carefully stitched together in a novella depicting a community and the trials of individuals who in turn impact the lives of others. Author Burnett has expertly pieced together the stories and timelines of their characters into a puzzle that forms a clear photo montage of their lives. The final scene circles back to the first, with the store clerk and boy thief sandwiching the in-between stories with the resiliency of the human spirit.
At times the scenes elicited a heartwarming response, but this was interspersed with horror as I read about the cruelty inflicted by intolerant behaviour. But each reader's response will vary, no doubt, due to Burnett’s finesse in telling a story that encourages introspection.
The question of life's significance is one we all share, as a part of our small communities as well as that of the larger world. Burnett will pull you into their community of interconnected characters who ponder the cost of what they need and desire in life. A thought-provoking read, The Price of Cookies will stay with you long after you finish reading the story, necessitating a second read.
I was immediately drawn into this book from the first story, immersed in the theft of a few cookies as seen through both the eyes of the store clerk and the young thief. As I continued to read, it became obvious these stories are more than a collection—they are snippets of flash fiction carefully stitched together in a novella depicting a community and the trials of individuals who in turn impact the lives of others. Author Burnett has expertly pieced together the stories and timelines of their characters into a puzzle that forms a clear photo montage of their lives. The final scene circles back to the first, with the store clerk and boy thief sandwiching the in-between stories with the resiliency of the human spirit.
At times the scenes elicited a heartwarming response, but this was interspersed with horror as I read about the cruelty inflicted by intolerant behaviour. But each reader's response will vary, no doubt, due to Burnett’s finesse in telling a story that encourages introspection.
The question of life's significance is one we all share, as a part of our small communities as well as that of the larger world. Burnett will pull you into their community of interconnected characters who ponder the cost of what they need and desire in life. A thought-provoking read, The Price of Cookies will stay with you long after you finish reading the story, necessitating a second read.
March 10, 2024
I received an ARC of The Price of Cookies in exchange for an honest review.
A brief and satisfying read, The Price of Cookies presents us with a town-as-tapestry and then gently tugs on its threads.
That Burnett is a master of the novella-in-flash is evident in the fact that no character, setting or detail is extraneous; rather, the reader is drawn in by means of connections that act as tiny sutures, mending wounds even as Burnett creates them.
The origin point of the radius of this town's circle is explored by means of the book's eponymous theme: the price of cookies. While the literal cookies throughout represent realized desire, the price of obtaining them hooks the reader and moves them from page to page as they reckon with the price of realizing their own deepest desires. In each case, what is each character willing, or forced, to pay?
Rife with the characters' mistakes and yet bereft of moral judgments, TPOC urges each of us to look a little closer at the people around us. TPOC has a satisfying ending, an ominscient narrator, and a story that will keep readers thinking for long after the last page.
Finnian Burnett bakes us a very human recipe, one that will perhaps cost us our worldview in exchange for the sweetness it leaves behind in our hearts.
A brief and satisfying read, The Price of Cookies presents us with a town-as-tapestry and then gently tugs on its threads.
That Burnett is a master of the novella-in-flash is evident in the fact that no character, setting or detail is extraneous; rather, the reader is drawn in by means of connections that act as tiny sutures, mending wounds even as Burnett creates them.
The origin point of the radius of this town's circle is explored by means of the book's eponymous theme: the price of cookies. While the literal cookies throughout represent realized desire, the price of obtaining them hooks the reader and moves them from page to page as they reckon with the price of realizing their own deepest desires. In each case, what is each character willing, or forced, to pay?
Rife with the characters' mistakes and yet bereft of moral judgments, TPOC urges each of us to look a little closer at the people around us. TPOC has a satisfying ending, an ominscient narrator, and a story that will keep readers thinking for long after the last page.
Finnian Burnett bakes us a very human recipe, one that will perhaps cost us our worldview in exchange for the sweetness it leaves behind in our hearts.
March 20, 2024
Once again, Finnian Burnett has captured the essence of a well-crafted narrative, exploring such themes as intolerance, fears of abandonment, and the high price paid by those who are brave enough to stay true to who they are, while facing incredible internal and external odds. Burnett’s stories definitely have that small-town feel, yet they expose the rot that lies underneath small communities; that of whispered rumors and underlying prejudices.
Each flash piece is intricately woven together in inter-connecting threads that tether all the characters together somehow, despite their differences in time and place. The emotions of a grieving young boy and a bereft young widow each share in the same pain and anguish despite being separated by age and gender. Homophobia is explored in the same way when a local baker receives a beating because of his homosexuality and later a young boy fears the repercussions of coming out to his brother. Burnett’s characters are crafted with such precision that they practically leap off the page to offer you an oatmeal raisin.
It’s an eye-opening take reminding us that we are all unique ingredients that make up the recipe of our human condition, good or bad. Pre-order The Price of Cookies today, you won’t regret it.
Each flash piece is intricately woven together in inter-connecting threads that tether all the characters together somehow, despite their differences in time and place. The emotions of a grieving young boy and a bereft young widow each share in the same pain and anguish despite being separated by age and gender. Homophobia is explored in the same way when a local baker receives a beating because of his homosexuality and later a young boy fears the repercussions of coming out to his brother. Burnett’s characters are crafted with such precision that they practically leap off the page to offer you an oatmeal raisin.
It’s an eye-opening take reminding us that we are all unique ingredients that make up the recipe of our human condition, good or bad. Pre-order The Price of Cookies today, you won’t regret it.
March 9, 2024
Finnian Burnett is a master of flash fiction, and I’m a big fan of their unique storytelling style. So I’m not surprised that they were able to interlace flash pieces to provide a close look into the lives we casually encounter but rarely consider within the context of a community.
The collection captures the essence of a small town, where characters face challenging circumstances and experience a kaleidoscope of emotions.
The deliberate selection of words in each phrase builds intricate narratives that resonate deeply with readers, evoking profound empathy.
I was captivated by the seamless integration of characters in each flash piece, as their stories intertwined and unfolded. Picking a favourite story was as challenging as picking a favourite cookie, but the tales of Adam and Sal and every character in their web were tied for the number one spot.
Filled with a mix of grief, love, and anger, the collection manages to infuse a flavor of hope that is truly satisfying.
The collection captures the essence of a small town, where characters face challenging circumstances and experience a kaleidoscope of emotions.
The deliberate selection of words in each phrase builds intricate narratives that resonate deeply with readers, evoking profound empathy.
I was captivated by the seamless integration of characters in each flash piece, as their stories intertwined and unfolded. Picking a favourite story was as challenging as picking a favourite cookie, but the tales of Adam and Sal and every character in their web were tied for the number one spot.
Filled with a mix of grief, love, and anger, the collection manages to infuse a flavor of hope that is truly satisfying.
March 10, 2024
Calling The Price of Cookies by Finnian Burnett a novella-in-flash suggests that the work is a quick read, whether taken in single pieces or all in a single sitting. I'd argue that this collection of interconnected stories best represents itself upon a second or third reading.
The individual pieces deal with an individual private dramas, but collectively they build the story of a community. I found the structure interesting, the way one piece briefly introduces the character who will become a central character in the next piece, creating a domino-effect of narratives where the business of the whole novella is greater than the sum of its parts.
The writing style is crisp and spare, providing an essential balance to the complexity of the network of characters.
The individual pieces deal with an individual private dramas, but collectively they build the story of a community. I found the structure interesting, the way one piece briefly introduces the character who will become a central character in the next piece, creating a domino-effect of narratives where the business of the whole novella is greater than the sum of its parts.
The writing style is crisp and spare, providing an essential balance to the complexity of the network of characters.
March 11, 2024
As a barista at my little neighbourhood cafe I love (and sometimes don't love) interacting with and getting to know all the disparate people in my community. I'm constantly reminded, and perhaps needing to remind myself, that everyone is their own little universe.
Finnian Burnett's novella understands this well. Finnian is adept at weaving together the stories of people in a community, acknowledging that ties can be strong or weak, good or bad. Sometimes the only thing that binds a commentary together is, well, cookies. And sometimes the cookies are just the catalyst for something stronger.
This is a quick read, and if you've ever been in any kind of community (so, everyone ever), you will find something you can relate to.
Finnian Burnett's novella understands this well. Finnian is adept at weaving together the stories of people in a community, acknowledging that ties can be strong or weak, good or bad. Sometimes the only thing that binds a commentary together is, well, cookies. And sometimes the cookies are just the catalyst for something stronger.
This is a quick read, and if you've ever been in any kind of community (so, everyone ever), you will find something you can relate to.
June 21, 2024
A Novella (a short novel for those not in the know) told in Flash (a series of flash fiction stories all brief & under 1000 words.)
The structure nearly guarantees that you cannot be bored even if you want to!!!
The stories go by so quickly, the characters flash in our consciousness and out again. It might sound as if it would be jarring, but it’s not. One story flows to the next and cookies always brilliantly feature in each chapter in one way or another! I wasn’t prepared though for the emotional jolts that such short pieces could shoot deep into my heart. I certainly wasn’t ready for cookies to make me cry…but they did.
Just a wonderful, moving, powerful queer novella that made me want more!! FIVE STARS!!! YAY
The structure nearly guarantees that you cannot be bored even if you want to!!!
The stories go by so quickly, the characters flash in our consciousness and out again. It might sound as if it would be jarring, but it’s not. One story flows to the next and cookies always brilliantly feature in each chapter in one way or another! I wasn’t prepared though for the emotional jolts that such short pieces could shoot deep into my heart. I certainly wasn’t ready for cookies to make me cry…but they did.
Just a wonderful, moving, powerful queer novella that made me want more!! FIVE STARS!!! YAY
June 5, 2024
I got my copy today and despite my busy to do list, I couldn’t wait to read it and devoured it immediately (not the bonus content, I have SOME self-restraint, lol). What an absolutely amazing book!!! The intertwined stories gave me all the feelings and I think a novella in flash is such an incredibly creative idea, and they did it perfectly. My heart broke for all the characters, but I especially felt for Kelvin and Bobby and Raj. I LOVE this book, and I thank them for writing it! And now, I need a cookie. ❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2024
This book. Wow. What can I say? The print is a great size for a quick read, and it was over far too soon! Finn has done an incredible job of conveying complex characters and situations in an entertaining story. I’ve had the book since the official book launch and signing, but was saving it for a dedicated time. It was worth the wait! As I sat in a hospital waiting room, I laughed (too loud) and cried, and read parts out loud to my other half, who stared at me like I was nuts. If you have not had the pleasure of reading this book yet, please go get it and read it! It’s wonderful!
April 22, 2024
In this novella-in-flash, Finn masterfully explores diverse elements of love and relationships through a series of interlinked stories.
I loved this book. I expected to read for 5 minutes before bed, but the moment I met Raj, John, Lana and Eva Longing, I was hooked and couldn't put it down. I am amazed at how Finn develops such rich characters and communicates so much emotion to the reader in so few words. Lovely read! :)
I loved this book. I expected to read for 5 minutes before bed, but the moment I met Raj, John, Lana and Eva Longing, I was hooked and couldn't put it down. I am amazed at how Finn develops such rich characters and communicates so much emotion to the reader in so few words. Lovely read! :)
April 11, 2024
Finnian Burnett's ability to characterize in just a few hundred words is simply astounding. I really enjoyed how they captured the characters' actions and reactions amidst grief--and showed each character's inner dialogue of grief. The Price of Cookies is a masterpiece of characters' interwoven lives with a common thread. This is the Spoon River Anthology of modern time.
March 8, 2024
That cookie jar that looks at you from the shelf, tempting you to steal from it even if you don’t know what type of cookies it contains… that’s this story.
Full review on https://miramichireader.ca/
Full review on https://miramichireader.ca/
June 29, 2024
This is a stunning collection of interconnected stories that will take your breath away. Simply incredible! You will experience every emotion as you make your way through the characters and situations in this universe. I'm blown away by how much it hit me. Loved this collection!
April 20, 2024
This sweet, small book is bursting with characters, each the subject of a tiny story. So many characters that you almost can’t keep track except that Burnett connects them expertly through a lovely weft of overlapping events.
One of their characters imagines herself shrieking at a colleague “How do you make it make sense?” and that really is the question that links this collection of vignettes that hop through a few years, in what seems like a small town but could be any neighbourhood. The stories are connected with a trail of cookie crumbs, through the lives of ordinary people who have to endure the pain of tragedies, large and small, that love begets, the pain that is the price of love. Of course, making sense is too much to expect of life, and as Burnett gently reveals, it’s only by letting yourself be open to the love that’s offered that you can find the sense. When words fail, what better way to show love than by offering something wholesome and handmade? It’s a lesson of kitchen-table centered wisdom, that healing can be helped by giving or by receiving gifts of sweaters, a pardon, a touch, and it goes without saying, cookies.
One of their characters imagines herself shrieking at a colleague “How do you make it make sense?” and that really is the question that links this collection of vignettes that hop through a few years, in what seems like a small town but could be any neighbourhood. The stories are connected with a trail of cookie crumbs, through the lives of ordinary people who have to endure the pain of tragedies, large and small, that love begets, the pain that is the price of love. Of course, making sense is too much to expect of life, and as Burnett gently reveals, it’s only by letting yourself be open to the love that’s offered that you can find the sense. When words fail, what better way to show love than by offering something wholesome and handmade? It’s a lesson of kitchen-table centered wisdom, that healing can be helped by giving or by receiving gifts of sweaters, a pardon, a touch, and it goes without saying, cookies.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews