Georgiann Baldino
"ChrisChat"
Tim Gager
Celia Ann Leaman
Dr. Bob Rich introduces this collection by explaining that none of his experiences are wasted. He tells us that everyday sights, sounds, and smells imprint his thoughts, get remixed, and re-emerge to inform his prose. That's a vital, interesting process for me as well, so I was eager to see how that translated into his stories.
In the first instalment, "Taming Tommy," I get to know the characters by seeing them in action, and by the end of the story am very glad that I did. The second story transforms a chore into a meditation. The third story shows transformation in itself. The next draws the reader in and asks her to make a choice.
By this time, I understand the title and the meaning of looking at life 'through' the empathetic eyes of Dr. Bob Rich. And highly recommend his collection to others.
Georgiann Baldino, Editor of A Family and Nation Under Fire, Kent State University Press, 2018.
She was a finalist in my third free book edit contest, 2018.
Bob is a unique writer. His story ideas and thought processes come straight from his life experiences and personal observations, more so than for other writers. Bob shares with his readers who he is, what he does and has done. At the end of most stories, he offers up how the story was born.
For “Through Other Eyes,” he suggests we don’t or won’t want to read the stories straight through. Sorry, Bob, I couldn’t stop myself. I was enjoying them too much.
Heck, I’m hard-pressed to even point out any favourites. Each story is different, and they run the gambit of genres. Bob writes about families and everyday life. He writes fantasy and science fiction. Some have quiet reminders of lessons forgotten; some will lift your spirits and remind you to just believe.
Whether it is Bob, himself, or his life as a writer, mudsmith, or psychologist, I’m always in for a surprise when reading him. By the way, you’ll have to check his website to find out what a mudsmith is.
Dear Bob,
'Through Other Eyes' treats the reader with some extremely moving stories. The story "The Trouble with Getong" was an extremely amusing story which is ideally ironic for the "General Nutrition Generation". This was my favorite because it was well written, humorous, and had a message that one could relate to.
I found that analysis of human behavior is your strength as a writer in this collection. "Gracie" is a prime example of this. The characters were clear, believable and without "holes".
I was also pleasantly surprised, since I am not a science-fiction fan, with "Death on Ice". This too makes a strong statement about the range of human emotions in situations beyond their control. It reminded me of the book, "Into thin Air", with the straightforward narrative mixed with the fear of group judgment. As it turned out that the story was only "futuristic" not Sci-fi which personally, I found to really enhance it.
Your stories really are strong when you dive into the psychology of people, the pros, cons and "human aspect" of the characters. Overall the collection is extremely well-written and interesting from front to back. The diversity of the subject matter made me mentally want more of the subjects that I related to. Just as I started getting into the grove and flow of your words the collection ended. I wanted more pages!
Tim Gager
Tim is a talented writer of what I would call 'black contemporary fiction'. His short story collection is titled Twenty-six Pack and can be inspected at his web site.
Through Other Eyes
26 Short Stories by Dr. Bob Rich
ISBN 1-877053-07-4
Published by: Anina's Book Company
Three things come to mind when describing Bob Rich's collection of short stories, THROUGH OTHER EYES: rich, touching and imaginative, as Bob looks at the world, literally, through other eyes. There is a story in this collection for everyone. They are the sorts of stories you could tell around a campfire with a bunch of people and see a smile on every face.
I believe it's hard to write such a collection without some of the author's own personality coming through, and I believe Bob must make a wonderful therapist: someone who would meet your problems with gentleness, humor and common sense advice. For instance, one of his characters says: You are your actions, not your feelings. This gave me food for thought.
Bob's stories are like their creator. You feel you can sit down with them. They're comfortable. Versatile. Sometimes homey, but that's fine with me. How wonderful to read something that isn't pretentious; that echoes the way in which we talk to one another in real life. I love reading authors who write from their hearts, and without a doubt Bob Rich is one of them. I had a smile on my face throughout most of this lovely little book, and I reckon you could give Bob, a born storyteller, a word, a sentence on any subject; wait a moment or two, and he'd come up with a great tale for you.
Celia was raised in Devon, England. After she emigrated to Canada in 1980 she had short stories published in magazines in the UK, Canada and the United States. One of these was translated into braille; another sold to a South African magazine. She also wrote and co-directed a play, performed on Galiano Island, British Columbia.
Celia writes in several genres. Her novel, Mary's Child http://twilighttimesbooks.com/MarysChild_ch1.html, reflects her love and memories of Dartmoor. There are two sequels to follow Mary's Child: PastPresent I: Awareness, and PastPresent II: Resolution. Jay, the Farmer's Daughter (in No More Regrets and Other Stories http://twilighttimesbooks.com/NoRegrets_ss1.html), was also inspired by the legend of Jay's grave, near where she used to live.
Twilight Times Publications has also published Unraveled and Deceitful Hags, mainstream, humorous novels spun around the Gulf Islands in British Columbia. Celia keeps up-to-date news about her books on her webpage at http://www.devonshirebabe.com.
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