ARC review: "Emergency" by Kathleen Alcott

“Emergency” by Kathleen Alcott is a series of short stories mostly following people who seem to be at the precipice of making a decision that will take their life in a different, more fulfilling direction. The writing in this was captivatingly poetic, painting a fantastic picture of emotions and giving us great insight into the internal thoughts and struggle the characters are facing. The 1st story ("Emergency") immediately reminded me of reading "The Virgin Suicides" and "Rest and Be Thankful" with the words flowing like a stream leading to a floral covered field. While a couple of the stories fall a little flat for me, in particular the 3rd story “Natural Light” was a bit drawn out and the ending felt a little flat. With some reworking it could be one of the best of the selection. The 4th story ("A World Without Men") was an ambitious choice writing from the perspective of an elderly woman. It felt realistic and genuine, but the story itself seemed to lack the prose and depth of character of the previous stories, leaving it as the weakest of the seven shorts included in the book. It might have served the book better to have not included this one at all. Overall the stories were very engaging and Kathleen Alcott has a breathtaking way with words. This is definitely a short story collection that you should check out. It’s one that could easily be read in a sitting or two.

4/5 stars

"Emergency" by Kathleen Alcott has a expected publishing date of July 18th, 2023