Book Review: Traveling Left Of Center And Other Stories by Nancy Christie

As the title says, this book consists of multiple short stories. So to make things easier (for me or you, either one), I decided to review them individually while also explaining a brief description on what the story is about.
Hopefully I don't give anything away because most of them, if not all, are edge of your seat reading.

Traveling Left Of Centre

I found this story to be a case of one not learning from their mistakes. Or more to the point of not knowing what they are doing is completely wrong.
A young woman who dwells on men wanting her, ends up pregnant and the father leaving before the child is born.
I didn't love this character, she was selfish, stupid at most times, and all she talked about was her nails. Her mother wasn't any better, yeah she kept telling her to put her life together, but in the end she let her get away with it so she just kept on doing it.

Just because I didn't enjoy the characters in the story did not mean in the slightest that I didn't love it. It showed us the real world, not sugar coating it and a happily ever after.


Alice In Wonderland

This one was interesting and disturbing. At first I wasn't quite sure what I was reading because it was telling us she eats the pages of the books to escape her tortured life of living with her evil mother. At first I thought what she meant my eating the pages was another way of saying she was digesting the book and getting really absorbed in the story, but when I think about it, I think she actually ate the pages.
Other then that, this story blew me away. Just the way it was written of a woman who was struggling with life every day, dealing with this evil person who didn't care about anyone else but herself.

I'm going to mention this a lot with the other stories, but that ending. I need to know more, it possibly can not end that way!


The Sugar Bowl

The Sugar Bowl was straight out strange, a woman goes out looking for older men, they buy her dinner and what not, but when she gets back to her place she comes up with crazy stories about this old sugar bowl. Now the older gentlemen feels sorry for her and leaves. The odd thing is, that's what she plans to do all along, she wants them to feel sorry for this young woman and just leave.
I just didn't see the point in all of it, yes peoples minds are different, but really?

Again the ending left me wanting more, what can I say, this character was a strange one.


The Shop On The Square

Not surprising another strange and gripping story. This one in the point of view of a man who stumbles across a small Mexican town seeking refuge from the blazing heat.
I don't want to say too much about this one, except I love it and everyone should read it. Unfortunately you will be frustrated at the end because all you want to know is what happened to him.


Watching For Billy

A sad story of am elderly woman living on her own since her husband died and her son who never visits. All she wants is company and she gets it in a young boy by the name of Billy.
Let's just say this is why I get angry at young people and taking advantage of the older generation. I'm not saying they are all like that, but there is a few. I was angry and sad throughout this story, and I just wanted to go to her and spend a moment of my time with this lonely woman.
This definitely tugged at the heart strings.


The Healer

I believe Nancy Christie writes some interesting characters and strange plot lines. A young woman has the ability to heal others just by her touch, but she doesn't want this power, she just wants to live a normal life.
Read this one people, it makes you think about the way we live. Well that was what I got from it anyway.


The Clock

I'm going to say this right now, I was literally cheering at the end. It's basically about an old man and his verbally (and physically) abusive wife. It just goes on and on and on until....Well you have to read it to find out.
One of my favourite stories.


Anything Can Happen

Charlotte who is always careful to the point of being OCD, has a day where things don't go according to her plan.
There isn't much else I can say about this without giving too much away.
I loved this one and really felt sorry for Charlotte and what she must go through on a daily basis.


Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind

What a strange story, a man with I'm guessing mental issues, has voices in his head telling him what to do.
It's interesting seeing the point of view of a character like this, it makes you see the bigger picture.


Misconnections

I love this story because I love the aspect of dreams. It's crazy about what we dream about, especially if we are dreaming about a tragic disaster, a family member dead, why would we dream something like that?
The main character, a mother and wife, her dreams are taking over her life, which is also making her slightly paranoid.
Very enjoyable read, my heart truly goes out to her.


Skating On Thin Ice

This was a case of life repeating itself.
I do believe that your behaviour in front of your children will rub off on them. You are the figure they look up to, what most aspire to be. So if you are an alcoholic, it's more then likely they would be too. This story anyway.
A terrible childhood with a drunk mother and a missing father, her story is very interesting. Especially when you get towards the end.
I wish I could read more of this character, I need to know how she is.


Still Life

This is something I think everyone experiences. It's the difference between fantasy and reality, what we want our lives to be like to what it really is like.
This story should be read by everybody, the ending surprised me.


The Storyteller

An old lady telling stories to sick children about her exciting life from childhood to present, except she's lying. She tells these magical stories to children who will never be able to experience it for themselves, and maybe also a childhood she wish she had.
I really felt sorry for the old lady, especially when something happens to her at the end of the book. Again, I want more of this story, I wish it never ended.


Exit Row

An old man sick of dealing with his basically stupid wife for over 50 years, goes on a holiday. The whole scene takes place on the flight over, and what an interesting story it is. This man has to deal with so much from his wife, that I wonder why he couldn't just stick up to her. And my goodness is she stupid, or is it really stupidity.
I was sad and happy with the ending, you have to read it to find out what I mean.


Waiting For Sara

As a mother this story made me scared.
It's about a mother who is waiting for her runaway daughter to finally return to her. All she wants is the best for her child, but it's hard when she doesn't tell you where she is all the time, only calling to give her small details or when she is in a pickle.
If my child every did this to me, I don't know how I will react. Probably freak out and hunt them down.


Beautiful Dreamer

What a tragic story.
Eleanor is a lonely woman who doesn't deal well with social surroundings, avoiding people at all costs. Until she wakes up to a voice saying she is beautiful. She believes that there is mystery man out there that could be the one for her.
I really enjoyed this story, my heart goes out to her. Again, please give me more.


The Kindness Of Strangers

This is a story that if I say anything will give it away, because you really need to go in blind.
I will say this, it's about an old woman by the name of Mona, is in a nursing home (?), who is complaining about everything, especially a particular person by the name of Kate.
Please read this book, it will make you feel all types of feels.


Annabelle

A young lady tells her story when she visits the psychiatrists, a story about her strange parents. Her father a painter who devotes all his attention to painting his wife.
Out of all the short stories I've read, this will have to be not only my favourite, but also the saddest.
It was strange and intriguing all rolled up into one. I'm going to admit (because I don't usually do this), but I did slightly cry. I take off my hat to Nancy Christie for creating this masterpiece.



Those are all the short stories in the book, and I loved every single one of them, I wish they never ended. I also wish my review does it justice, because I really did love this book as a whole and each one of them individually.
I want to thank Cynthia from Pixel Hall Press for sending me this masterpiece to review. I will definitely be reading more of Nancy Christie and requesting everyone to read it also.
Words truly can not describe how much I loved this book.


My star rating for Traveling Left Of Center And Other Stories by Nancy Christie is: