Reviewed:
Jacob is an outsider: scarred on the outside by a dog attack, on the inside by being raised in group homes since infancy. Now that he’s grown up and out of the system, he needs to learn how to become a functional adult in society. The bridge that gets him there is, in this case, the art of songwriting.
The author has, as of this review, posted three stories with very consistent structures and themes. Based on the internal evidence, I believe he wrote Jacob’s Story first. I could be wrong, but I’m reviewing his stories in this presumed order.
The pros are excellent, especially the prose. The author is a very good writer on the prosecraft level—the sentences and paragraphs flow beautifully. His style is harnessed in service of a genre we don’t see much around here, the character study. This isn’t a drama—there is no drama, no central conflict. Rather, it’s the quiet, steady exploration of how a man who survived a harsh institutional childhood has to, now that he’s an adult, grow out of the coping mechanisms that let him survive it. To grow from survive to thrive, if you will.
The overall arc of the story matches perfectly what the author is trying to achieve—each episode is carefully selected as a moment in this journey. They all fit together, a depiction of his slow healing.
We know this because of the biggest con: the author tells us how they fit together. Repeatedly. Starting halfway through, he starts telling us the point of every scene, sometimes more than once per scene. It’s not wrong to do this … once or twice. Doing it over and over feels like a hammer. Like the author doesn’t trust the story to come through, or maybe the reader to get it.
Along the way, we learn that the author’s favorite thematic word is “authentic.” Repeating it has the opposite effect than intended—if you have to insist on something’s authenticity, reader starts to wonder what’s being covered up.
So, a great opening work, showing great promise. I’m reviewing his other two stories, which show the growth of that promise. (That said, he still hasn’t shown he can write a decent story description.)
Reviewed:
If you like stories with genuine depth and interesting characters, try "Jacob's Story" by 'writer 406'.
The author is a first-time contributor to SOL, but you would never believe it considering the quality of the writing. The characters come across as real, and are unveiled through scenarios that are totally believable and can even melt your heart.
The main character, Jacob, has a nightmarish face resulting from a dog attack when he was very young. His personality is influenced by growing up in foster homes, and he is truly an introvert, largely because of his shocking facial features.
But he learns how to support himself in a profession where his features are mostly irrelevant. His isolation from society causes him to observe others rather than participating, and he writes music and lyrics, and paints to express himself. Through a music busking performance at a local market, he gradually starts to expand his connections with the world around him as people listen to his music.
That's all I'll describe for now since the story is still in progress. I've read 25 chapters, and there are still (hopefully many) more to go. Give it a try. I can't think of a single first-time author whose work has impressed me this much during my many years of subscribing to SOL. It's directly comparable to some of the best authors on this site. And, you'll find an extremely small number of grammar distractions in the story, even if you're a member of the literary police, making it even more enjoyable.
Reviewed:
There are many readers out there who are hesitant on taking a chance on reading a work submitted by a new, unknown writer. I know that feeling since I am generally one of these people. I tend to only read in progress stories submitted by writers that I know. However, for whatever reason, I found myself intrigued by a new writer's (writer 406) first story - "Jacob's Story." I took a chance and I am very glad that I did.
If you read this story, you will find yourself drawn into a wonderful story filled with well written characters that are deftly presented. The story will well presented - there are no glaring grammatical errors; the prose is well crafted and interesting. This story sucks you in - you care about the characters involved. These are not the caricatures that you often find in many (people that you often don't care about). Rather, you find a main character, Jacob, who is a recluse but a wonderful musician and song writer. This story is about him and the people that he interacts with. There is a sense of ordinariness about the characters that draws you. These are not rich people nor are they handsome nor are they well endowed. They are ordinary and in that ordinariness you find yourself identifying with them and caring about them.
As I previously said, the story draws you.; it captures you. So, my recommendation - for a first time writer, what a truly wonderful surprise. Read this story - you will note regret it one bit.
I am giving this story my highest ratings - it deserves them.