There's a Bear in our House! - Thibault Busschots - ★★★★

-
AUTHOR: Thibault Busschots
GENRE: Short Story
RATING: 4 stars.

In a Nutshell: A short story about a young couple who encounter an unexpected guest in their new cottage. Mixes humour and awareness in an interesting way.


Plot Preview:
A young couple has just moved into a cottage, eager to begin the next phase in their relationship: that of living together. As they are going about what they usually do, they have an unexpected visitor. Yup, as you might have guessed from the title: a bear. What happens next?


Let me first blow my own trumpet. This story exists because of me. 😎 No, no, I didn't write it. But I happened to read a short story titled 'There's a Bear in the House!', on the review of which I had complained that I was expecting something funnier and directly related to the bear. Author Thibault Busschots, who  happens to be a friend of mine on Goodreads, commented with what he would have expected from the title. I liked his idea so much that I told him he needs to pen down his version. And here we are! 


Woohoos:
+ The track related to the bear, and its purpose for the attack. Nicely done, with a subtle hint of how humans are affecting animal habitats.

+ Raises some great points about gender roles in a relationship - an unexpected bonus. I was going to complain about one thing, but realised that the author wrote that particular line with a specific intent. He sorts out the gender role expectations perfectly at the end, the message being perfectly in sync with my beliefs on the matter.

+ I like how the couple stays unnamed throughout the story. The 'He' and 'She' make their issues more neutral than specific to a particular country or culture. 

+ The pacing - steady all the way. 

+ The story structuring - great beginning, impressive middle, nice ending. 

+ The funny elements in between the serious bear attack, partly due to the events and partly because of the couple's banter, serve well to lighten the tension. A couple of the comic scenes are slightly slapstick in nature, which doesn't work much for me but isn’t poorly written.


Hmmms:
- There are many extended conversations in this 20-page tale. Most of these clearly show the connect between the couple. But at times, it becomes tough to figure out who is doing the talking.

- While I like the inclusion of the message, it gets a teeny bit heavyhanded at the end. I'd have preferred the story to end the way it began: with a focus on the couple than on the environment.


All in all, THIS is the kind of story I would have expected from this title - the right mix of terror and humour and morals. Good for a quick break, plus you get to support an indie author.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this story from the author, and my review is honest and voluntary. I beta-read this work for the author, but my review is based on the published version.

Comments

Post a Comment

Explore more posts from this blog:

Takeout Sushi - Christopher Green - ★★★★

-
Image
  AUTHOR: Christopher Green GENRE: Contemporary Short Story Collection, Japanese Fiction. PUBLICATION DATE:  May 2, 2024 RATING: 3.9  stars. In a Nutshell: An interesting collection of stories, with most of them set in Japan. Loved the writing style and enjoyed the diverse emotions. Much recommended! This story collection has, as the title suggests, a strong Japanese flavour. So let me begin by confessing that I am not a fan of Japanese literature. Most Japanese fiction that I tried hasn’t suited my reading tastes, so I generally keep away from this genre. The reason I picked this collection up is... No, no, the sushi had no role to play in my decision; I can’t stand even the thought of sushi! The reason I wanted to read this is that the author is NOT a Japanese! 😁 I know this sounds quite silly to declare, but had the author been Japanese, I would have resisted opting for this. But by virtue of his being an “outsider”, I thought it was a great opportunity to get a look at Japan witho
Read More»

Big Bad Wolf Investigates Fairy Tales - Catherine Cawthorne - ★★★★★

-
Image
AUTHOR: Catherine Cawthorne ILLUSTRATOR: Sara Ogilvie GENRE: Children's Nonfiction PUBLICATION DATE: April 25, 2024 RATING: 5 sparkly, scientifically accurate stars. In a Nutshell: This book and I were a match made in book heaven! Loved the approach that combines humour and logic to debunk the sillier elements of some fairy tales. Strongly recommended! I enjoy fairy tales. I love scientific thinking. I adore logic. I relish humour. Seeing all four of these together in a single work was almost a “bookgasmic” moment for me! 😆 Had the book not delivered on any of these factors, I might still have been happy reading it. But the content not only reaches but also surpasses the promise made by the title and cover. All of us know that there are several logically impossible elements in fairy tales. In childhood, we might have oohed and awwwed at the stories without overthinking the practicalities. In adulthood, we might have cringed at the gender bias, wealth bias, and the lack of conse
Read More»

Red Runs the Witch's Thread - Victoria Williamson - ★★★★

-
Image
  AUTHOR: Victoria Williamson GENRE: Historical Fiction, Horror. RATING:  4 stars. In a Nutshell: A psychological horror inspired by the last witch burning in Scotland in 1697. A disturbing yet compelling read. I wanted more closure at the end for my own peace of mind, but other than that, this was a satisfying book. Recommended! Plot Preview: 1722. Paisley, Scotland. Thirty-seven-year-old widow Christian Shaw is obsessed with perfecting her thread bleaching process. She wants to make the thread the purest white, so it can sell better and restore their family fortunes. In the absence of any male family members, it is up to her as the eldest daughter to ensure the security of their house, her mother and two younger sisters, and her late father’s social position as the laird (landowner.)  However, Christian’s mind is troubled. With the 25th anniversary of the witch burnings of 1697 approaching, Christian’s thoughts go frequently to the past, and to the role she played in the burning of s
Read More»

Making Up the Gods - Marion Agnew - ★★★★.¼

-
Image
AUTHOR: Marion Agnew GENRE: Contemporary Fiction PUBLICATION DATE: October 15, 2023 RATING: 4.25 stars. In a Nutshell: An indie drama with some quirky characters and a great setting in Lake Superior, Canada. Mellow in tone, genuine in content, thought-provoking in themes. I enjoyed this unusual novel. Plot Preview: Simone, almost 70, is a retired widow who lives an isolated life in her cottage on the banks of Lake Superior and still misses her husband, though he’s been dead for five years. While she is now active in her local church and finds solace in baking for those grieving, she is fiercely protective of her privacy. But when the local reverend asks her to take care of nine-year-old Chen while his widowed mother goes on a much-needed trip, Simone finds it tough to refuse a fellow-mourning widow. Just before Chen arrives, a stranger named Martin knocks at Simone’s door, claiming to be her cousin. Simone is suddenly handling two strangers at once, and she worries that they will dis
Read More»

The Great Divide - Cristina Henríquez - ★★★★.¼

-
Image
AUTHOR: Cristina Henríquez GENRE: Historical Literary Fiction PUBLICATION DATE: March 5, 2024 RATING: 4.25 stars. In a Nutshell: A literary fiction focussed on Panama during the time of the construction of the Panama Canal. Note that this isn’t a book directly about the canal or its construction, but about the people connected to the canal in some way or the other during that period. A great book if you go in with the right expectations and enjoy character-oriented fiction. Plot Preview: 1907, Panama. Francisco, a Panamanian fisherman, hates the commercialisation of his country under the foreigners, and hence resents his son Omar’s joining the canal construction crew. Omar, however, wants to learn and earn more than his little village can offer him. Sixteen-year-old Ada has heard about Panama having many jobs. She has stowed away to Panama, hoping to get some work and earn enough for her ailing sister’s surgery back in Barbados. Her mother Lucille, a tailor, doesn’t yet know of her ru
Read More»