tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post2084327973278766057..comments2023-09-16T09:33:11.757-04:00Comments on Diary of an Eccentric: Down to a Sunless Sea by Mathias B. FreeseAnnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08046635675540466183noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-62676925960190807102009-01-28T18:38:00.000-05:002009-01-28T18:38:00.000-05:00Sandy: I don't know if I'd start with these short...<B>Sandy</B>: I don't know if I'd start with these short stories. Not that they're badly written, they're just heavy. I don't even know what to recommend for a first try at short stories. Maybe an anthology with a bunch of different authors?<BR/><BR/><B>Some Kinda Wonderful</B>: I thought the characters' voices were very authentic, very unique. There's not a lot of historical details, though. They really are character sketches, getting to know a particular character rather than seeing them in a particular situation. It's hard to describe.<BR/><BR/><B>Matt</B>: Thanks for stopping by my blog!<BR/><BR/><B>Jeannie</B>: There is a dark focus to these stories, which I like, so I agree if you're looking for something happy and uplifting, there's not a whole lot of that here.<BR/><BR/><B>Alyce</B>: Glad you stopped by to read my thoughts on the book.<BR/><BR/><B>Nicole</B>: I don't have a problem with vignettes. I was just so intrigued by the characters he created that I wanted more from them.<BR/><BR/><B>Shana</B>: Thanks!<BR/><BR/><B>Dawn</B>: So true!<BR/><BR/><B>Trish</B>: I don't have a problem with use of an extensive vocabulary, I just felt there were too many big words interrupting the flow.<BR/><BR/><B>Ladytink</B>: Not sure about that, but I've seen tons of reviews around lately.<BR/><BR/><B>Naida</B>: Totally.<BR/><BR/><B>Bookfool</B>: I agree that many of them were meaningful. He really has a great understanding of people.<BR/><BR/><B>Andi</B>: I'm looking forward to your review!<BR/><BR/><B>Serena</B>: I think you'd find this interesting. Let me know if you'd like to borrow my copy.Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08046635675540466183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-75044742444341756202009-01-27T10:10:00.000-05:002009-01-27T10:10:00.000-05:00I think this sounds like an interesting set of sho...I think this sounds like an interesting set of short stories. I like character sketches.Serenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04745809545249574387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-23823366935794782112009-01-27T09:48:00.000-05:002009-01-27T09:48:00.000-05:00I have this one to review. I'm working on another ...I have this one to review. I'm working on another story collection right now (Delicate Edible Birds, by Lauren Groff), but if I'm still in the mood for a story when I'm done, I may pick up Down to a Sunless Sea.Andihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05220718933942181809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-67436715907767989582009-01-26T21:46:00.000-05:002009-01-26T21:46:00.000-05:00Quite a few of us have felt the same way about not...Quite a few of us have felt the same way about not getting a few stories. In general, I found they were awfully depressing but that the author was trying to place readers in the shoes of those who are set apart from normal society and in that regard many of them made sense to me and I found them deeply meaningful. But, I still didn't understand the point or the meaning of at least two of them.Bookfoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08247136634069540446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-4849318509008276392009-01-26T16:31:00.000-05:002009-01-26T16:31:00.000-05:00these short stories do sound intense.http://theboo...these short stories do sound intense.<BR/><A HREF="http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/" REL="nofollow">http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/</A>The Bookwormhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10217390642323530030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-872831551493501822009-01-25T23:53:00.000-05:002009-01-25T23:53:00.000-05:00I'm trying to remember where I heard of this befor...I'm trying to remember where I heard of this before. I think the author might have been in one of my online book clubs?Ladytink_534https://www.blogger.com/profile/14317480621483829078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-48060234995283185492009-01-25T23:21:00.000-05:002009-01-25T23:21:00.000-05:00Glad I'm not alone with the "big words." I was ac...Glad I'm not alone with the "big words." I was actually pretty satisfied with how developed the stories were, but I had a hard time getting past the vocabulary. "Alabaster" was one of my favorites as well.Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17225576485797030511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-46538455281985250932009-01-25T21:05:00.000-05:002009-01-25T21:05:00.000-05:00I appreciate your honest review. There are so man...I appreciate your honest review. There are so many books out there, and an audience for each one of them ...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-64991052862960623582009-01-25T20:10:00.000-05:002009-01-25T20:10:00.000-05:00Anna, this sounds like a difficult read. I was in...Anna, this sounds like a difficult read. I was intrigued when I received a review request, but declined because I'm so far behind. Loved reading your thoughts on this collection.Shanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07303029261460733363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-51520402970162261012009-01-25T14:10:00.000-05:002009-01-25T14:10:00.000-05:00I read this book as well and I had a hard time wit...I read this book as well and I had a hard time with a lot of them because as you mention they seem more like vignettes than they do stories.Nicole (Linus's Blanket)https://www.blogger.com/profile/12473607646939202824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-18478033066838414612009-01-24T23:41:00.000-05:002009-01-24T23:41:00.000-05:00Interesting comment by the author... Anyway,I have...Interesting comment by the author... Anyway,I haven't been that interested in this book because I have read similar reviews elsewhere. Thanks for the review!Alycehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10919057159829023714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-22550986688153638312009-01-24T12:36:00.000-05:002009-01-24T12:36:00.000-05:00Thanks for the review, Anna. I'm not into stories...Thanks for the review, Anna. I'm not into stories that are a downer, so I will have to pass on this one.Jeanniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15118103744959559899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-89861837816378843332009-01-24T08:55:00.000-05:002009-01-24T08:55:00.000-05:00to the readers who have left comments:The book is ...to the readers who have left comments:The book is a prizewinner,and if you need to get a "handle" on me, go to www.mathiasbfreese.com. I've been writing for four decades and most of the stories in the collection have been published before. Novelist Mayra Calvani, darkphantom.com, just reviewed my Holocaust fiction, The i Tetralogy, at Today.com. She did a remarkable job in reviewing the essence of the book.<BR/>Kind regards,<BR/>Matt FreeseAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-6560029423994955282009-01-23T23:30:00.000-05:002009-01-23T23:30:00.000-05:00I love a good anthology, Anna. Are the stories his...I love a good anthology, Anna. Are the stories historically accurate? I mean, do the characters use the talk in the way people did in their era? Think in their era's mentality? You know what I mean. I think I might want to look this one up. I have enjoyed some 'true to life' stories, true crime stories, true stories of Holocaust survivors, etc. Would I feel like I got my monies worth if I purchase this book. Or will I be wondering where the rest of the story is, when I come to the end of each one?Some Kinda Wonderfulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02314091117741552400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-89935587067162339132009-01-23T22:58:00.000-05:002009-01-23T22:58:00.000-05:00Even your description of some of these stories mak...Even your description of some of these stories makes your stomach tighten. I keep saying that I need to pursue short stories...this is not a genre I have explored as of yet. I am asking myself whether this is the one to start on!Sandy Nawrothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00564390728106776030noreply@blogger.com