Stepping Stones

Written by: The Survivors Writing Workshop
Published by: The Windows Project

Reviewed by E. Hughes

This is a very tidy and neat little book which takes about half an hour of your life to read, and very pleasant a read it was.

It is a collection of pithy observations, short stories and poems. Some of them are very good, and all are worth a read or two. The first poem that caught my eye was Helen, by John Clarke:

Helen twirled to show off her
new dress to her mother.
"It's lovely, darling. You look
gorgeous. Men will be
queuing up to take you
home tonight."

Later that Evening Helen
reflected on her mother's words
as she walked alone
to the long line of taxis
waiting at the rank

One of the strongest values in poems or short stories is in its portrayal of fleeting moments and feelings. What I get from this anthology is a sense of the fragility of life, and the extreme emotional vulnerability that so many of us are sensitive to. And how these disappointments and savage mental distresses can also make people stronger than they ever dared to imagine.

In a nutshell, you have to take time out to read this book of short stories and poems. When you do, you may be pleasantly surprised.