Publication Date: 21st March 2023
Genre: Short Story Anthology, Music
4.3 Stars
One Liner: A wonderful collection of short stories
A Broken People’s Playlist is a collection of twelve short stories set in Port Harcourt. The stories deal with various life stages, situations, moments, memories, and more. The characters are varied (though a few appear in more than one story, which doesn’t affect the readability) in personalities, professions, and age groups.
The common theme is that the stories are inspired by
songs. I don’t know a single song mentioned in the book, but it didn’t make any
difference. The stories are independent. Some have music as the central theme,
while others don’t.
An interesting point is that many stories come in
the second-person POV and read very well (not an easy thing to achieve). That
said, an anthology cannot have all hits, and this one is no exception. However,
the quality of writing and execution is top-class. The character arcs are
subtle yet perfect. It’s not common to have such layered characters in short
stories.
The setting is an integral part of all stories and
just enough to visualize everything. There are a few native words that can make
it a little difficult, but it’s easy to go with the flow (as always, I winged
it).
Here’s a list of stories in the book:
Lost Stars – 4.5 stars
Oh, my! The story starts out quite casually, but
soon we see the layers peeling off, revealing the depth of emotions. The climax
and the ending made me teary-eyed (not an easy task). The writing is almost
off-handed and distanced, which is a perfect choice for the plotline. A solid
start to the collection.
Music – 4 stars
A story about a boy growing up in a broken family
and the role of music in his life. The story looks like it is limited to one
phase of his life, but gives us the entire picture of the past and the future.
The characterization is top-class. It’s not often that short stories have such
strong characters.
Hurt – 4.5 stars
A dying man decides to arrange his funeral when he’s
alive. The story isn’t about the funeral, though. It is about people, their
actions, flaws, regrets, repentance, and more. The second-person POV is impactful
in this one and hits the reader with strong emotions when you least expect it.
Wonderful!
Song for Someone – 4.5 stars
Another story in the second person POV, and just as
impactful as the previous one. How does a woman break the toxic cycles in her
life? Can she even do it? The story goes back and forth, giving snippets of
information to build her character arc. I love that this one has the kind of
endings I enjoy.
In the City – 3.5 stars
A policeman fighting demons, a drug peddler, and an
innocent young man looking for a chance to get a decent job. How does a chase
gone wrong change their lives? This theme is familiar to me (we have enough
movies with it). The story is structured to continue the suspense, and the
ending is blunt. However, I knew what would happen and didn’t feel as emotional
as I thought I would.
I Put a Spell on You – 4.5 stars
The title says it all! The lives of three friends
are changing, and they can’t stop it. Given the tone of the stories until now,
I didn’t expect something lighthearted and funny. This steals deals with toxic
relationships, but the overall tone is a touch humorous and teasing.
I’d Die Without You – 4 stars
What breaks a broken man who can’t cry even though
he wants to? The story is written in the second person POV and has a distanced
narration to suit the character. It is compact and contained with just enough
ease at the end. The ending rounds up the theme and offers a different
perspective.
Beautiful War – 4 stars
What happens when a husband confesses to cheating on
his wife, especially when he was considered the faithful kind? The story comes
in the second-person POV of the husband and the first-person POV of the wife.
Knowing both sides makes the ending even better.
River – 3 stars
This is a story about an unlikely but strong
friendship between two young boys and how their lives change when they join
confra (something like a local rowdy gang). I can see why this is an important
story, but somehow I couldn’t connect with the main character despite the story
being in the second person POV. The ending is good, though.
Love’s Divine – 3.5 stars
What happens when a young teenage boy with dreams
about becoming a football star gets a chance of a lifetime? This one has great
potential and almost hits the mark. However, the main plot is predictable,
which dims the overall impact. Like the previous story, the ending is very
good, in fact, just right for the main character.
Desperado – 4 stars
A womanizer tries to get his wife back and finds
something more precious. Yet another story in the second person POV. It starts
almost like every other piece, but the writing and character development are
strong. The ending is half hopeful, though the readers can guess it could go
either way. The relationship between the two is beautifully presented.
You Suppose Know – 4.5 Stars
Oh, my heart! This is such a tender and touching
story. I don’t want to say anything except that it is the best of the
collection. Stories with loving and bickering older couples are a favorite of
mine. This one does full justice to the theme.
To summarize, A Broken People’s Playlist is a
bitter-sweet and heart-touching collection of stories about people we find
around us.
Don’t forget to read the author’s note. It’s
heartfelt and informative. As a writer, I can understand the struggle with
novels (one reason I prefer to write short stories). Nevertheless, I hope the
author will not give up and finish his second novel. I sure want to read it.
Thank you, NetGalley and HarperVia, for the eARC.
This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #ABrokenPeoplesPlaylist
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