Review: Traveling Left of Center and Other Stories by Nancy Christie

In Traveling Left of Center and Other Stories, by Nancy Christie, the reader is introduced to an array of characters and plots that range from the incredibly lyrical to intensely morbid. 

These 18 stories examine the human spirit at it’s most vulnerable; the stories are complex, varying, and thoroughly imaginative, introducing a fresh voice to fiction that is both ironic as well as gorgeously gloomy. Throughout, a pervasive sense of melancholy hangs upon each story, coloring them with language that is both lilting as well as arresting in its deep sadness. 

In “Alice in Wonderland”, our protagonist is forced to care for her bitter and caustic mother. Torn between guilt, and a desire to escape her secluded life, Alice finds solace in eating the pages of books—literally ingesting the stories in an attempt to free herself from the dark confines of a life lived in servitude. “The Sugar Bowl” plays with the notion of story telling, and how powerful it can become when manipulated. A few stories later, we find “The Healer”, which tells the tale of a young girl who has inherited her mother and grandmother’s abilities. However, with her gift comes a great cost, which ultimately claims her life. “Out of Sight, Out of Mind” serves as a reinforcement of one of the main themes throughout this collection: mental illness, examined from a unique perspective that gives the reader insight into the mind of the insane. In “Waiting for Sara”, our protagonist is a single mother who yearns for her daughter who has run away, and chosen to live a life fueled by drugs and alcohol. It is one of the most realistic stories, and serves as a grounding point, in an otherwise mildly “surreal” collection. My favorite story, “Annabelle”, is a lengthier story, about childhood trauma, the role of women, and art. Anna is forced to confront her troubled past by her therapist, Jules. 

All of these stories have the gusto and literary verve to stand on their own. Their plots are well imagined, and regardless of the varying realism found throughout, believable. Christie gives the reader a cast of men, women, and children, all deeply imbedded into their lives, searching for something that is heart wrenching, and familiar.

Reviewed by MB Sellers

Publication date: 9/9/2014
Pages: 232

Review: Alice In Wonderland by Nancy Christie

Summary
When life is unbearable, where can one go to escape? For Alice, constrained by circumstances and unwanted obligations, books transport her to imagined worlds beyond her own, nourishing her spirit -- and her body. But what will Alice do when there are no more pages to devour and reality reclaims full dominion?

Review
If you were a fan of "Annabelle", than you will love her new short story "Alice In Wonderland". Just as wonderful, Christie's beautiful voice graces the pages introducing us to a young woman who uses her books to escape the intimidating torment of the emotional grasp her confined mother has on her. When you are taking care of someone who is solely dependent on another, for someone like Alice, it can become an emotionally draining task. Considering her mother is not the materialistic type, you can feel the desperation of being emotionally and physically trapped. Filled with emotion, beautifully written, the reader will escape into a story leaving you wanting more. From the first page to the last, what Christie has accomplished in such few pages, some cannot do in a hundred, which is such a testament to her beautiful voice as a storyteller. 

Reviewed by Michelle Bowles

Book Information
Publisher: Pixel Hall Press
Publication date: 11/27/13
Pages: 17

Review: Annabelle by Nancy Christie

Summary
We all have our fantasies—our hopes and dreams of what we want our future to be. But what happens when our fantasies are based on an erroneous interpretation of past events, when our hopes and dreams are so far from reality that they prevent us from having any kind of a normal life? A lonely young woman, all Annabelle wants is to love and be loved. But the twin emotions of fear and guilt, from a passion born on a summer day so many years ago, hold her fast.

Review
Annabelle is a literary gem that captures your imagination to a haunting surrender. While grabbing you from the first page, your mind in drawn towards this addictive narrative that silences everything around you grabbing your full attention. This was a short but fulfilling read.  The intricacy of the character Annabelle with her parents and the relationship between her parents had a delicate cohesiveness that seemed so seamless that you just couldn't stop reading.  

As a reader, to feel such intensity from such vivid, descriptive words is a testament to Christie’s ability as a storyteller. As you read Annabelle, it’s one of those stories that you completely escape into the characters. The storyline between her parents are so passionately engaging filled with love, loss, and tragedy. Her journey of desperation, guilt, seeking love, and that yearning to be that object of desire just completely satisfies your literary appetite. 

With all that said, if you love great writing and stories that you can completely escape into, I would recommend reading this. You will not be disappointed. This is one of those stories that you will remember for a long time.

Reviewed by Michelle Bowles

Book Information
Publisher: Pixell Hall Press
Release Date: 9/2013
Pages: 28