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Shades of Grey
John is not a very nice man. He works for the government. So who has tied him to a chair and what do they want?James is a British soldier during WWII. Tom is a young boy with a terrible secret.Three stories. Three very different people. All of them battling to survive.
182 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 19, 2012
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59 people want to read
About the author
Michael Cargill
10 books80 followersI'm an author who lives in the sunny, green hills of England.
Over the years people had often said that I should write a book so, in mid 2011, I did just that! Anyone wondering which book of mine to read first should start with Shelter from Thunder; 'tis short and available for free.
Feedback of any kind is always welcome.
Over the years people had often said that I should write a book so, in mid 2011, I did just that! Anyone wondering which book of mine to read first should start with Shelter from Thunder; 'tis short and available for free.
Feedback of any kind is always welcome.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
May 18, 2012
I got this book for free from Making Connections, in exchange of an honest review.
There are some writers..hand them anything and they turn it into a story..Michael Cargill is one of them.
The three stories in this anthology are simple stuff but that doesn’t make them less interesting.
The first story,”Shades of Grey”, is about John. He’s a man who works for the government and is absolutely insane.
The second story is “There and Back Again” which focuses on James who is a British soldier taking part in a war for the first time. The ambiance and the emotions of the war are described beautifully, as is the feeling of guilt and shame when a soldier is asked to retreat.
The last story is called, “Down the Rabbit Hole”, about Tom who has an abusive father whose behavior is getting worse everyday. Then Tom’s favorite toy bunny starts to talk to the kid and solves his problems its own way.
All three stories are based on characters that are flawed due to events in their past and are trying to rise above it.
There are some writers..hand them anything and they turn it into a story..Michael Cargill is one of them.
The three stories in this anthology are simple stuff but that doesn’t make them less interesting.
The first story,”Shades of Grey”, is about John. He’s a man who works for the government and is absolutely insane.
The second story is “There and Back Again” which focuses on James who is a British soldier taking part in a war for the first time. The ambiance and the emotions of the war are described beautifully, as is the feeling of guilt and shame when a soldier is asked to retreat.
The last story is called, “Down the Rabbit Hole”, about Tom who has an abusive father whose behavior is getting worse everyday. Then Tom’s favorite toy bunny starts to talk to the kid and solves his problems its own way.
All three stories are based on characters that are flawed due to events in their past and are trying to rise above it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2014
Eating venison drinking wine and reading this in the city
A Nutty NUUT read
A Nutty NUUT read
March 15, 2012
Wow! I just finished the first short story. A simple story, but the author told it with such emotion. This story starts off with a bang! The way the author wrote the story is quite emotionally overwhelming at times, but he even had me giggling in spots. The constant flash backs to his life before being captured makes the story well rounded. It is not one you'll want to put down!
The second story in this collection was so detailed it made me tear up. I felt as if I was a part of this story. The war torn streets, the brutal screams as bodies were being torn apart, the description of the rumbling sounds of the fighter planes. I loved every word of this short story! The writer actually made me wonder whether he writes from experience.
If you enjoy books on war, you have to read the first two stories!!
The third story was my personal favourite! It's about a little boy who has a father that abuses him. It was a sad story at first, but then things started to change. It was a well written, keep you on the edge of your seat sort story.
I loved all three of these stories! My only complaint it that they were short stories...haha!! I wanted more!! Michael Cargill is an amazing author...captivates you with every word!
I would recommend this collection of short stories to everyone!
The second story in this collection was so detailed it made me tear up. I felt as if I was a part of this story. The war torn streets, the brutal screams as bodies were being torn apart, the description of the rumbling sounds of the fighter planes. I loved every word of this short story! The writer actually made me wonder whether he writes from experience.
If you enjoy books on war, you have to read the first two stories!!
The third story was my personal favourite! It's about a little boy who has a father that abuses him. It was a sad story at first, but then things started to change. It was a well written, keep you on the edge of your seat sort story.
I loved all three of these stories! My only complaint it that they were short stories...haha!! I wanted more!! Michael Cargill is an amazing author...captivates you with every word!
I would recommend this collection of short stories to everyone!
March 6, 2012
In short words: This collection of short stories was simply amazing.
The slightly longer version is like this:
The slightly longer version is like this:
April 22, 2012
Shades of Grey is a collection of three short stories, each dark and unique.
The first story in the collection, Shades of Grey, is told from the perspective of John, a UK government agent. The story takes place in John's mind as he is tied to a chair, and we get to see where his thoughts take him as he waits to be questioned by an unknown captor. The author did an excellent job getting into his character's mind, and I found myself really liking John. The humor sprinkle throughout the story was great and had me laughing out loud a in a few places.
There and Back Again is the story of James, a young man in the British Army during WWII. The story was well written and very detailed. I loved the emotion the author was able to evoke through this short story.
Down the Rabbit Hole, the third story, was by far my favorite. Tom is a young boy with a loving mother, an abusive father, and a dark secret. This story was much darker than the first two, and I loved the way it was played out.
The first story in the collection, Shades of Grey, is told from the perspective of John, a UK government agent. The story takes place in John's mind as he is tied to a chair, and we get to see where his thoughts take him as he waits to be questioned by an unknown captor. The author did an excellent job getting into his character's mind, and I found myself really liking John. The humor sprinkle throughout the story was great and had me laughing out loud a in a few places.
There and Back Again is the story of James, a young man in the British Army during WWII. The story was well written and very detailed. I loved the emotion the author was able to evoke through this short story.
Down the Rabbit Hole, the third story, was by far my favorite. Tom is a young boy with a loving mother, an abusive father, and a dark secret. This story was much darker than the first two, and I loved the way it was played out.
May 13, 2012
The stream of consciousness technique used in the first story, “Shades of Grey”, is highly effective for showing us the experience of a captured UK black ops agent. He’s not a very sympathetic character, but neither is anyone else described in the story. That’s very much the point of it. He’s what passes for ethical in the context of black ops which requires people who are willing to do whatever it takes to complete an assignment. He’s very critical of other black ops agents for enjoying violence too much, but he’s no paragon of virtue himself. I wondered about the location of this story’s events. It could have been in Ireland or somewhere in the UK itself. The protagonist mentions at least one mission within the UK. I remember thinking while I was reading this story that the protagonist could just as easily have been a mercenary. Mercenaries seem very similar to black ops agents.
The second tale in this anthology, “There and Back Again” takes place during WWII. The central character, James, was rather bland compared to other characters in this anthology. James’ war experience causes him to think differently about courage and cowardice. His fellow combatant, David, is much more complex. David is along the lines of the black ops agents in “Shades of Grey”, but he has survived a difficult past which makes him somewhat more sympathetic.
I would categorize the last of these stories, “Down The Rabbit Hole” as a horror tale. I don’t think it’s about domestic abuse as other reviews have said. The horror element surfaces much earlier in the story. I’ve seen other similar situations in the horror genre. Like the previous two stories in the anthology, it deals with crossing the line ethically. Where should that line be drawn? What happens when the person deciding whether the line has been crossed is a child? I think that another theme that this story shares with the others is that violence begets more violence. If countries have black ops teams, their antagonists escalate in response. The same thing certainly happens in war. In “Down The Rabbit Hole” the violence that begets more violence is incubated within a family. When the violence escalates, no one can predict what the consequences will be. It’s hard enough for an adult to be faced with such a situation. The responsibility would have to be staggering for a child who must figure out how to deal with what seems to be like a juggernaut that he is helpless to control. Fortunately, this is a remarkably tough child. I would agree with the reviewers of this anthology who consider “Down The Rabbit Hole” the best of the lot. This story’s placement provides Shades of Grey with a strong finish.
The second tale in this anthology, “There and Back Again” takes place during WWII. The central character, James, was rather bland compared to other characters in this anthology. James’ war experience causes him to think differently about courage and cowardice. His fellow combatant, David, is much more complex. David is along the lines of the black ops agents in “Shades of Grey”, but he has survived a difficult past which makes him somewhat more sympathetic.
I would categorize the last of these stories, “Down The Rabbit Hole” as a horror tale. I don’t think it’s about domestic abuse as other reviews have said. The horror element surfaces much earlier in the story. I’ve seen other similar situations in the horror genre. Like the previous two stories in the anthology, it deals with crossing the line ethically. Where should that line be drawn? What happens when the person deciding whether the line has been crossed is a child? I think that another theme that this story shares with the others is that violence begets more violence. If countries have black ops teams, their antagonists escalate in response. The same thing certainly happens in war. In “Down The Rabbit Hole” the violence that begets more violence is incubated within a family. When the violence escalates, no one can predict what the consequences will be. It’s hard enough for an adult to be faced with such a situation. The responsibility would have to be staggering for a child who must figure out how to deal with what seems to be like a juggernaut that he is helpless to control. Fortunately, this is a remarkably tough child. I would agree with the reviewers of this anthology who consider “Down The Rabbit Hole” the best of the lot. This story’s placement provides Shades of Grey with a strong finish.
June 18, 2012
*Received e-book through Read It and Reap program from the Shut Up and Read! Goodreads group from author;
**Also posted on Amazon.com under Leanne
Shades of Grey by Michael Cargill is a collection of three stories that illustrate the blurry area between right and wrong. The first story, Shades of Grey, depicts the torture of a secret operative named John, who has himself caused riots and killed others in the course of his job. The second story, There and Back Again, follows a British soldier named James who is bombarded by German attacks along the French border and must deal with the gritty reality of war. The final story, Down the Rabbit Hole, is about a boy named Tom whose toy rabbit begins talking to him, making dangerous suggestions to deal with an abusive father and a bully at school.
Shades of Grey: This was my second favorite story of the compilation. Cargill did an admirable job in bringing John’s character to life with his inner monologue as he was strapped to the chair. I found John engaging and multidimensional as he described his previous assignments and his failed marriage. Despite his non-ideal past, I was hoping he would survive his torture. The only thing I didn’t like about this story was that it ended too soon – I think Cargill could release a full story with John and would look forward to reading this.
There and Back Again: This was my least favorite story of the compilation. Although Cargill did a thorough job in describing James’s ordeals in various battles, I did not connect to the character, unlike the other stories. I found myself becoming disinterested in the plot and was actually waiting for the end in order to read the next one. I think this story would be more appreciated by fans of war scenarios (which I am not).
Down the Rabbit Hole: This was my favorite story of the compilation. Reminiscent of a Stephen King plot, I loved the sinister feel of the talking rabbit as he persuades Tom (unbeknownst to him) to set up “accidents” for a bully at school and a delivery driver. I thoroughly enjoyed the tension-filled buildup leading to the bloody finale involving the father. I felt that Cargill successfully wrote a complete short story with enough introductory information and a satisfying ending.
Overall, Shades Of Grey was a fast and entertaining read. I would recommend this to adult readers who are fans of suspense/thrillers, such as those written by Robert Ludlum and Stephen King.
**Also posted on Amazon.com under Leanne
Shades of Grey by Michael Cargill is a collection of three stories that illustrate the blurry area between right and wrong. The first story, Shades of Grey, depicts the torture of a secret operative named John, who has himself caused riots and killed others in the course of his job. The second story, There and Back Again, follows a British soldier named James who is bombarded by German attacks along the French border and must deal with the gritty reality of war. The final story, Down the Rabbit Hole, is about a boy named Tom whose toy rabbit begins talking to him, making dangerous suggestions to deal with an abusive father and a bully at school.
Shades of Grey: This was my second favorite story of the compilation. Cargill did an admirable job in bringing John’s character to life with his inner monologue as he was strapped to the chair. I found John engaging and multidimensional as he described his previous assignments and his failed marriage. Despite his non-ideal past, I was hoping he would survive his torture. The only thing I didn’t like about this story was that it ended too soon – I think Cargill could release a full story with John and would look forward to reading this.
There and Back Again: This was my least favorite story of the compilation. Although Cargill did a thorough job in describing James’s ordeals in various battles, I did not connect to the character, unlike the other stories. I found myself becoming disinterested in the plot and was actually waiting for the end in order to read the next one. I think this story would be more appreciated by fans of war scenarios (which I am not).
Down the Rabbit Hole: This was my favorite story of the compilation. Reminiscent of a Stephen King plot, I loved the sinister feel of the talking rabbit as he persuades Tom (unbeknownst to him) to set up “accidents” for a bully at school and a delivery driver. I thoroughly enjoyed the tension-filled buildup leading to the bloody finale involving the father. I felt that Cargill successfully wrote a complete short story with enough introductory information and a satisfying ending.
Overall, Shades Of Grey was a fast and entertaining read. I would recommend this to adult readers who are fans of suspense/thrillers, such as those written by Robert Ludlum and Stephen King.
March 19, 2012
Shades of Grey is a collection of three short stories. Each one different, but each with a very dark side to it. The stories all focus on violence and death, but from different angles. Each story is very different to the other, which is a credit to the author; all too often an anthology of short stories can be a bit too ‘samey’ when written by the one author.
The title story, Shades of Grey, was a little too abstract for me. I didn’t really get it, but then perhaps I was looking a little too deeply? It’s well written, but was, for me, the weakest of the three.
There and Back Again is set on the battlefield of world war two, and will be a familiar tale to those who have studied the period. It’s dark and it gave me a feeling of helplessness and a real feeling of the futility of war.
The third story, Down the Rabbit Hole, was my favourite. Other reviewers have commented that it reminded them of Roald Dhal, I see that comparison, although it’s a darker version of the brilliant Roald Dhal. I think there’ll be many different interpretations of this one, but it was, for me, the best written of the three stories, and the most interesting.
The stories are all thought provoking and do raise questions of morality, from the trained killer rationalising his own behaviours, to the looting of the bodies of dead soldiers to the ultimate demise of an abusive husband/father. Cargill does an impressive job of never casting his own judgements, he instead weaves enough into the stories for you to cast your own decision.
Shades of Grey is a well written, dark and different approach to the world of short stories and I’ll be interested to look at Cargill’s other work. These short stories were each so differently written that they could easily have been from different authors so I’ll be looking out for one of Cargill’s novels to see how he’s approached that.
All in all a different, but satisfying, read.
The title story, Shades of Grey, was a little too abstract for me. I didn’t really get it, but then perhaps I was looking a little too deeply? It’s well written, but was, for me, the weakest of the three.
There and Back Again is set on the battlefield of world war two, and will be a familiar tale to those who have studied the period. It’s dark and it gave me a feeling of helplessness and a real feeling of the futility of war.
The third story, Down the Rabbit Hole, was my favourite. Other reviewers have commented that it reminded them of Roald Dhal, I see that comparison, although it’s a darker version of the brilliant Roald Dhal. I think there’ll be many different interpretations of this one, but it was, for me, the best written of the three stories, and the most interesting.
The stories are all thought provoking and do raise questions of morality, from the trained killer rationalising his own behaviours, to the looting of the bodies of dead soldiers to the ultimate demise of an abusive husband/father. Cargill does an impressive job of never casting his own judgements, he instead weaves enough into the stories for you to cast your own decision.
Shades of Grey is a well written, dark and different approach to the world of short stories and I’ll be interested to look at Cargill’s other work. These short stories were each so differently written that they could easily have been from different authors so I’ll be looking out for one of Cargill’s novels to see how he’s approached that.
All in all a different, but satisfying, read.
April 23, 2012
The writing of these three stories was astonishing and I was moved by the depth and the realism I felt as I read each one of them. Each of them was unique in their storyline but the characters each came out a different person in the end. A better person? Well, that all depends on your own perspective. To tackle a variety of different storylines inside one book was a nice change and I commend the author. The author did an excellent job in the details of each story, giving the readers just enough information about the characters and their surroundings, that I didn’t feel overloaded with the sights, sounds or unnecessary information. I can’t say which story was my favorite as I think a couple of them I’ll remember for a while. The story Shades of Gray has so many little symbols of things that come to mind when I recall the story. While the hostage is tied to a chair, the thoughts that go through his head are so random that they are funny yet so predictable, I think. In There and Back Again, I was transported to WWII and lived it, at least a small part of it through the eyes of a young and brave soldier. Finally in Down the Rabbit Hole, I met Tom and Borger. I thought this story had a lot of twists to it. It also made me think of everyone’s evil side and I love the way the story ended.
June 2, 2012
I got a copy for review and have to say I was very pleased. Michael Cargill is an author I will make a point to read from now on because of Shades of Grey, it's a great sampler of his work.
I love short stories and the three in this book are no exception. The first about a man who wakes up to find himself tied to a chair. Out the window a lovely park children running, band playing inside the room with him are people who will do whatever it takes to find out what he knows.
The second about a soldier in WW II an interesting tale with such a detailed account of the start of the war from one mans perspective.
The third about a little boy who is abused by his father. When his stuffed toy rabbit starts talking to him is it a good or bad thing?
All so different from each other and yet so great an enjoyable. The author does a great job on character and story building and in such a short span. Wonderful job and again Michael Cargill is an author who's work I will be on the look out for.
I love short stories and the three in this book are no exception. The first about a man who wakes up to find himself tied to a chair. Out the window a lovely park children running, band playing inside the room with him are people who will do whatever it takes to find out what he knows.
The second about a soldier in WW II an interesting tale with such a detailed account of the start of the war from one mans perspective.
The third about a little boy who is abused by his father. When his stuffed toy rabbit starts talking to him is it a good or bad thing?
All so different from each other and yet so great an enjoyable. The author does a great job on character and story building and in such a short span. Wonderful job and again Michael Cargill is an author who's work I will be on the look out for.
March 24, 2012
I have to say it took me a longer to get around to reading this than I would have liked, but it was well worth the wait.
It’s not often I will sit a read a book in one go. I couldn’t even put it down between stories. There are three of them.
This book is not for the faint hearted. The tales are disturbing, dark and absolutely gripping. The stories suck you in, spin you around in a deliciously dark world and spit you out before you know what’s happened.
Michael really makes use of all five senses, which makes each story more three dimensional.
Each story is gritty and enthralling in a different way. All three are completely different from each other and it does credit to the authors versatility.
I hope he does write a novel as I would love to read it.
It’s not often I will sit a read a book in one go. I couldn’t even put it down between stories. There are three of them.
This book is not for the faint hearted. The tales are disturbing, dark and absolutely gripping. The stories suck you in, spin you around in a deliciously dark world and spit you out before you know what’s happened.
Michael really makes use of all five senses, which makes each story more three dimensional.
Each story is gritty and enthralling in a different way. All three are completely different from each other and it does credit to the authors versatility.
I hope he does write a novel as I would love to read it.
May 3, 2015
3,5, round up
Shades of Grey consists of three short pieces, two of which I would classify as vignettes as opposed to actual stories since they seem to simply relay the events of a segment of time rather than possess any sort of beginning, middle and end. Having said that, I rather enjoyed them all, the first most of all.
I’ll admit that the writing occasionally felt a little stiff and there was a certain juvenile (or maybe just male) preoccupation with excrement jokes and sexual/masturbatory references. I would be hard pressed to call this highbrow reading material, but I never got the impression it was trying to be. I enjoyed more than I grimaced at. What more could I really ask for?
Shades of Grey consists of three short pieces, two of which I would classify as vignettes as opposed to actual stories since they seem to simply relay the events of a segment of time rather than possess any sort of beginning, middle and end. Having said that, I rather enjoyed them all, the first most of all.
I’ll admit that the writing occasionally felt a little stiff and there was a certain juvenile (or maybe just male) preoccupation with excrement jokes and sexual/masturbatory references. I would be hard pressed to call this highbrow reading material, but I never got the impression it was trying to be. I enjoyed more than I grimaced at. What more could I really ask for?
July 25, 2012
Shades of Grey is a compilation of three unique short stories with a recurring theme of torture/abuse. My favorite was the second story where we get a glimpse into the life of James, a British solider during WWII. The author was able to draw me into each story through his descriptive detail of each character and how they dealt with their situation. Even though the subject matter is disturbing,I would recommend it to adults who are looking for a thriller.
March 31, 2012
Michael Cargill, with Shades of Grey, gives you three very different stories.
What you get are well written, engrossing tales dealing with torture, the horrors of the battlefield, and physical abuse, which draw out a subjective response.
Be prepared for some dark, thought provoking reading as this book is not just another collection of scary stories.
What you get are well written, engrossing tales dealing with torture, the horrors of the battlefield, and physical abuse, which draw out a subjective response.
Be prepared for some dark, thought provoking reading as this book is not just another collection of scary stories.
May 12, 2012
Having not read any works by this author before I was hence unsure of what to expect when offered ‘shades of grey’ to read, but I was certainly not expecting to be as overwhelmed by it as I was. Upon sitting down to read this book that is a work comprising of three individual short stories (part one being ‘shades of grey’, part two being ‘there and back again’ and part three ‘down the Rabbit hole’), I sat transfixed for several hours lost within the authors work reluctant to move and somewhat disappointed when I had finished. Each story was unique and completely singular showing how diverse a writer Michael Cargill is, and how universal these stories are that will appeal to so many different kinds of reader.
Part one ‘shades of grey’ instantly captured my attention and I was immediately drawn into the story from the very first few lines. After only a short amount of time the reader suddenly encounters an unexpected twist within the tale, which turns a somewhat predictable beginning of a story into something exciting and that made me want to read on as I sat in tense anticipation and excitement. This was certainly cleaver and I loved how I learnt so much about the main character strait away, without enduring any lengthy history or long descriptions; the fast-pace was set and the momentum was continued throughout. I loved the descriptions and the use of metaphors to create vivid imagery, for an example I loved the line; “…felt as if they had been cleanly sawn off and someone had stuffed angry bees into the wounds.” Just great writing! Another intriguing twist was when you actually found out the main characters supposed connection to the UK government, but which contrapuntally leans towards crime and the darker side of life. How he described his character was completely engaging and how he thought of his actions like a ‘show’ was a fascinatingly brilliant way of shedding light on the criminal mind. I loved the use of flashbacks and how it flicked from the present to the past, helping to develop the reader’s understanding of the main character and storyline. It was utterly readable, full of fast-paced action and completely engrossing, with one particular description reminding me of a film called ‘Taken’. The conversational style made it feel as if you were conversing with the main character. The use of short sentences also helped to add pace and highlight the intense drama.
Part two ‘there and back again’ completely juxtaposed part one entirely, and which instantly transported me to the battleground with its atmospheric & realistic portrayal, that touched upon all the senses. The reader is thrown headlong into all the action and taken on a personal journey through the eyes of the main character. The soldier’s innocence and the futility of war is emphasized throughout, with all the realism & horror. Part three ‘down the rabbit hole’ was ever so sinister and mentally impacting hence It has stayed on my mind since. The relationships and emphasis surrounding the violent father is so clearly depicted, that you can almost feel what the characters are feeling. There was a lingering feeling of foreboding, an eerie presence out of the corner of your eye that kept me in utter suspense and tense throughout. It felt always as if there was something more apparent than met the eye, and the tension and drama built to an exciting climax. The only element that left me despondent was the cliffhanger ending which especially on this story I would have preferred not to have, and since reading ‘shades of grey’ I am now longing to read more.Completely brilliant, 100% engrossing and something that as someone who does not read short stories very often it is surprising that I cannot enthuse enough about this book.
Part one ‘shades of grey’ instantly captured my attention and I was immediately drawn into the story from the very first few lines. After only a short amount of time the reader suddenly encounters an unexpected twist within the tale, which turns a somewhat predictable beginning of a story into something exciting and that made me want to read on as I sat in tense anticipation and excitement. This was certainly cleaver and I loved how I learnt so much about the main character strait away, without enduring any lengthy history or long descriptions; the fast-pace was set and the momentum was continued throughout. I loved the descriptions and the use of metaphors to create vivid imagery, for an example I loved the line; “…felt as if they had been cleanly sawn off and someone had stuffed angry bees into the wounds.” Just great writing! Another intriguing twist was when you actually found out the main characters supposed connection to the UK government, but which contrapuntally leans towards crime and the darker side of life. How he described his character was completely engaging and how he thought of his actions like a ‘show’ was a fascinatingly brilliant way of shedding light on the criminal mind. I loved the use of flashbacks and how it flicked from the present to the past, helping to develop the reader’s understanding of the main character and storyline. It was utterly readable, full of fast-paced action and completely engrossing, with one particular description reminding me of a film called ‘Taken’. The conversational style made it feel as if you were conversing with the main character. The use of short sentences also helped to add pace and highlight the intense drama.
Part two ‘there and back again’ completely juxtaposed part one entirely, and which instantly transported me to the battleground with its atmospheric & realistic portrayal, that touched upon all the senses. The reader is thrown headlong into all the action and taken on a personal journey through the eyes of the main character. The soldier’s innocence and the futility of war is emphasized throughout, with all the realism & horror. Part three ‘down the rabbit hole’ was ever so sinister and mentally impacting hence It has stayed on my mind since. The relationships and emphasis surrounding the violent father is so clearly depicted, that you can almost feel what the characters are feeling. There was a lingering feeling of foreboding, an eerie presence out of the corner of your eye that kept me in utter suspense and tense throughout. It felt always as if there was something more apparent than met the eye, and the tension and drama built to an exciting climax. The only element that left me despondent was the cliffhanger ending which especially on this story I would have preferred not to have, and since reading ‘shades of grey’ I am now longing to read more.Completely brilliant, 100% engrossing and something that as someone who does not read short stories very often it is surprising that I cannot enthuse enough about this book.
June 3, 2012
This novel is actually a collection of three short stories about three very different people and settings. Each main character, in their own way is trying to survive in messed up situations where they have very little control. There are tons of books out there right now with the same or similar titles, so be careful! I won this book from Becky's blog a couple of weeks back - thank you!
Story 1 – Shades of Grey; this is largely a stream of consciousness of the wandering mind of a captured operative, John, who is being tortured for information. He has been worked on for a while and he keeps flashing between past and present. It does go through some flashback to other people in John’s life so the reader can understand the ending. You don’t read too much about any gross torture stuff, but you know he is hurting. And, while it is a heavy subject matter, there are actually funny bits. Cargill seamlessly blends humor with horror and made me surprised that I found levity and laughed at times while reading about this situation.
Story 2 – There and Back Again - Set during WWII right before the Germans occupied France, we follow a British soldier, James who is one of the troops trying to stop the invasion. Also filled with a few humorous bits, this snapshot of war and the men who fight them shows what we are capable of committing and surviving during wartime, and a bit of the ridiculousness that accompanies it all. I don't normally read war stories, but I found it interesting.
Story 3 – Down the Rabbit Hole – this third story is the longest of the bunch and the most disturbing to me. Hard to believe since the others about the atrocities of war and torture! But this one follows a young boy named Tom who has an abusive father and loving but ineffectual mother, though relatively strong willed, even though she has stuck it out with such an ass of a man for so long. His best friend, a stuffed rabbit named Borger, comes alive, or at least begins talking, and makes suggestions to Tom, both in what to say and what to do when faced with adversity or even boredom. Borger’s suggestions begin helpful and smart and take a turn to menacing and even deadly. But Borger has Tom’s best interests at heart, or does he?
This collection was great. I really enjoyed each of the characters and even after having finished this book a week ago I am still picturing some of the scenes. That can be both good and bad since some of the scenes were intense, but it made me think and stuck with me so I find that impressive. I also really enjoy the seamlessly blended humor. It felt natural and normal, maybe I am messed up in the head, but I resort to humor during trying times, and I really felt that it works in these stories. After having read Cargill’s blog, I was expecting much more ridiculous and wacky stuff, but he keeps it limited and it almost sneaks up on you in Shades of Grey. I am looking forward to reading more from Cargill and give this book a 3.5/4 stars.
Story 1 – Shades of Grey; this is largely a stream of consciousness of the wandering mind of a captured operative, John, who is being tortured for information. He has been worked on for a while and he keeps flashing between past and present. It does go through some flashback to other people in John’s life so the reader can understand the ending. You don’t read too much about any gross torture stuff, but you know he is hurting. And, while it is a heavy subject matter, there are actually funny bits. Cargill seamlessly blends humor with horror and made me surprised that I found levity and laughed at times while reading about this situation.
Story 2 – There and Back Again - Set during WWII right before the Germans occupied France, we follow a British soldier, James who is one of the troops trying to stop the invasion. Also filled with a few humorous bits, this snapshot of war and the men who fight them shows what we are capable of committing and surviving during wartime, and a bit of the ridiculousness that accompanies it all. I don't normally read war stories, but I found it interesting.
Story 3 – Down the Rabbit Hole – this third story is the longest of the bunch and the most disturbing to me. Hard to believe since the others about the atrocities of war and torture! But this one follows a young boy named Tom who has an abusive father and loving but ineffectual mother, though relatively strong willed, even though she has stuck it out with such an ass of a man for so long. His best friend, a stuffed rabbit named Borger, comes alive, or at least begins talking, and makes suggestions to Tom, both in what to say and what to do when faced with adversity or even boredom. Borger’s suggestions begin helpful and smart and take a turn to menacing and even deadly. But Borger has Tom’s best interests at heart, or does he?
This collection was great. I really enjoyed each of the characters and even after having finished this book a week ago I am still picturing some of the scenes. That can be both good and bad since some of the scenes were intense, but it made me think and stuck with me so I find that impressive. I also really enjoy the seamlessly blended humor. It felt natural and normal, maybe I am messed up in the head, but I resort to humor during trying times, and I really felt that it works in these stories. After having read Cargill’s blog, I was expecting much more ridiculous and wacky stuff, but he keeps it limited and it almost sneaks up on you in Shades of Grey. I am looking forward to reading more from Cargill and give this book a 3.5/4 stars.
June 6, 2012
Three Crow Press Review by OCD Reader
This novel is actually a collection of three short stories about three very different people and settings. Each main character, in their own way is trying to survive in messed up situations where they have very little control. There are tons of books out there right now with the same or similar titles, so be careful! I won this book from Becky's blog a couple of weeks back - thank you!
Story 1 – Shades of Grey; this is largely a stream of consciousness of the wandering mind of a captured operative, John, who is being tortured for information. He has been worked on for a while and he keeps flashing between past and present. It does go through some flashback to other people in John’s life so the reader can understand the ending. You don’t read too much about any gross torture stuff, but you know he is hurting. And, while it is a heavy subject matter, there are actually funny bits. Cargill seamlessly blends humor with horror and made me surprised that I found levity and laughed at times while reading about this situation.
Story 2 – There and Back Again - Set during WWII right before the Germans occupied France, we follow a British soldier, James who is one of the troops trying to stop the invasion. Also filled with a few humorous bits, this snapshot of war and the men who fight them shows what we are capable of committing and surviving during wartime, and a bit of the ridiculousness that accompanies it all. I don't normally read war stories, but I found it interesting.
Story 3 – Down the Rabbit Hole – this third story is the longest of the bunch and the most disturbing to me. Hard to believe since the others about the atrocities of war and torture! But this one follows a young boy named Tom who has an abusive father and loving but ineffectual mother, though relatively strong willed, even though she has stuck it out with such an ass of a man for so long. His best friend, a stuffed rabbit named Borger, comes alive, or at least begins talking, and makes suggestions to Tom, both in what to say and what to do when faced with adversity or even boredom. Borger’s suggestions begin helpful and smart and take a turn to menacing and even deadly. But Borger has Tom’s best interests at heart, or does he?
This collection was great. I really enjoyed each of the characters and even after having finished this book a week ago I am still picturing some of the scenes. That can be both good and bad since some of the scenes were intense, but it made me think and stuck with me so I find that impressive. I also really enjoy the seamlessly blended humor. It felt natural and normal, maybe I am messed up in the head, but I resort to humor during trying times, and I really felt that it works in these stories. After having read Cargill’s blog, I was expecting much more ridiculous and wacky stuff, but he keeps it limited and it almost sneaks up on you in Shades of Grey. I am looking forward to reading more from Cargill and give this book a 3.5/4 stars.
This novel is actually a collection of three short stories about three very different people and settings. Each main character, in their own way is trying to survive in messed up situations where they have very little control. There are tons of books out there right now with the same or similar titles, so be careful! I won this book from Becky's blog a couple of weeks back - thank you!
Story 1 – Shades of Grey; this is largely a stream of consciousness of the wandering mind of a captured operative, John, who is being tortured for information. He has been worked on for a while and he keeps flashing between past and present. It does go through some flashback to other people in John’s life so the reader can understand the ending. You don’t read too much about any gross torture stuff, but you know he is hurting. And, while it is a heavy subject matter, there are actually funny bits. Cargill seamlessly blends humor with horror and made me surprised that I found levity and laughed at times while reading about this situation.
Story 2 – There and Back Again - Set during WWII right before the Germans occupied France, we follow a British soldier, James who is one of the troops trying to stop the invasion. Also filled with a few humorous bits, this snapshot of war and the men who fight them shows what we are capable of committing and surviving during wartime, and a bit of the ridiculousness that accompanies it all. I don't normally read war stories, but I found it interesting.
Story 3 – Down the Rabbit Hole – this third story is the longest of the bunch and the most disturbing to me. Hard to believe since the others about the atrocities of war and torture! But this one follows a young boy named Tom who has an abusive father and loving but ineffectual mother, though relatively strong willed, even though she has stuck it out with such an ass of a man for so long. His best friend, a stuffed rabbit named Borger, comes alive, or at least begins talking, and makes suggestions to Tom, both in what to say and what to do when faced with adversity or even boredom. Borger’s suggestions begin helpful and smart and take a turn to menacing and even deadly. But Borger has Tom’s best interests at heart, or does he?
This collection was great. I really enjoyed each of the characters and even after having finished this book a week ago I am still picturing some of the scenes. That can be both good and bad since some of the scenes were intense, but it made me think and stuck with me so I find that impressive. I also really enjoy the seamlessly blended humor. It felt natural and normal, maybe I am messed up in the head, but I resort to humor during trying times, and I really felt that it works in these stories. After having read Cargill’s blog, I was expecting much more ridiculous and wacky stuff, but he keeps it limited and it almost sneaks up on you in Shades of Grey. I am looking forward to reading more from Cargill and give this book a 3.5/4 stars.
May 2, 2012
Shades of Grey is a collection of three short stories, all touching on violence and death. Although this may sound a bit gruesome or odd, it's quite the contrary. Each story is from a different perspective, all seeing violence, life, and death differently than the other stories. Which was a nice approach for me. While I haven't read many collections of shorts, the ones I've had felt so similar they almost blended together to me. That's not the case with this collection - each story stands on its own.
The first and main title, Shades of Grey, is about a John, a government agent in the UK. Its told through his thoughts, as he's tied to a chair by an unknown captor. Cargill pulls you into the mans thoughts so deeply that they almost feel as if they're your own. He connects you with the character, not an easy task to accomplish with a short story. In Cargill way, there are bits of humor throughout the story, which added a lightness to the scene, yet connected you even more to the character.
The second short is There and Back Again, about James, a British soldier during WWII. This story comes at a completely different angle than the first. I loved the emotion it evoked. It shows how, sadly, war can make people become almost numb to violence and its affect on others. This was a very touching, heartbreaking read for me - one I think many would also feel an impact from.
The last title is Down the Rabbit Hole, is about Tom, a young boy with a very loving mom, and jerk, abusive dad. His best friend is a stuffed rabbit, who Tom finds out has come to life to help Tom with the issues in his life. Of course, Tom is thrilled, until things turn for the worst down a sinister path. This short is the favorite of most reviewers. It's much darker than one might think at first, certainly a very interesting story, and was fleshed out very well by the author.
I would be hard pressed to pick a favorite of the three; all offer so much for being short stories, and from such different perspectives. The author did a wonderful job separating each story, making it truly its own, not comparable to the rest. Cargill has a little darkness about his writing, a quirky humor, that I quite enjoy. This collection of shorts has good reviews and ratings for a reason - it's well written and very entertaining. If you're looking for something that's a little bit different than the norm, I'd say this book is for you.
**My review copied from my blog, CrazyLadywithaPen.blogspot.com
The first and main title, Shades of Grey, is about a John, a government agent in the UK. Its told through his thoughts, as he's tied to a chair by an unknown captor. Cargill pulls you into the mans thoughts so deeply that they almost feel as if they're your own. He connects you with the character, not an easy task to accomplish with a short story. In Cargill way, there are bits of humor throughout the story, which added a lightness to the scene, yet connected you even more to the character.
The second short is There and Back Again, about James, a British soldier during WWII. This story comes at a completely different angle than the first. I loved the emotion it evoked. It shows how, sadly, war can make people become almost numb to violence and its affect on others. This was a very touching, heartbreaking read for me - one I think many would also feel an impact from.
The last title is Down the Rabbit Hole, is about Tom, a young boy with a very loving mom, and jerk, abusive dad. His best friend is a stuffed rabbit, who Tom finds out has come to life to help Tom with the issues in his life. Of course, Tom is thrilled, until things turn for the worst down a sinister path. This short is the favorite of most reviewers. It's much darker than one might think at first, certainly a very interesting story, and was fleshed out very well by the author.
I would be hard pressed to pick a favorite of the three; all offer so much for being short stories, and from such different perspectives. The author did a wonderful job separating each story, making it truly its own, not comparable to the rest. Cargill has a little darkness about his writing, a quirky humor, that I quite enjoy. This collection of shorts has good reviews and ratings for a reason - it's well written and very entertaining. If you're looking for something that's a little bit different than the norm, I'd say this book is for you.
**My review copied from my blog, CrazyLadywithaPen.blogspot.com
January 30, 2016
I didn’t know what to expect of a book with three stories in it that at first look a bit different. Luckily, I ended up enjoying a book mainly about life and about survival, fear, death and our conscience.
In Shades of Grey we found three short stories. They are very different but similar stories, about men at a breaking point of their lives. At first it may look like they don’t have nothing in common but after you finish I think you would find out that they share a lot of characteristics.
They are united why the way they see life and death. They share the fact that they have their past really present in every move they made. Each one of them deals with death in a different way. Their stories show us things that sometimes we believed are wrong, without trying to justify them. The purpose of the book is tales us about these men (although one is a little boy) and what’s going on inside their heads, but without act like a redeemer for them. You never feel like somebody is trying to find a reason of why they act this way.
The author have the ability of transports us into each one of the stories. You can feel yourself strapped out to a chair, in a hole during a war and as a child trying to deal with life. Every feeling is really well described and I found a couple fragments very funny.
My favorite one was the last one Down the Rabbit Hole; in this one the author really makes a good job. Tom as a little kid still has that innocence where he doesn’t distingue between good and bad. Tom doesn’t understand yet the idea of taking some choices that would bring consequences, and has his imagination as his ally.
In the other two we found John and James, the first one is sort of a spy, which I love, and has a really interesting mind. Everything he says sounds funny. And then we have James, who is in the World War II, I really like his story. I’m a fan of historical books, but in this one we focalize in him and how he sees war.
Overall, a great book, that proves us that what matters is quality, not the length of the book.
*** I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. ***
In Shades of Grey we found three short stories. They are very different but similar stories, about men at a breaking point of their lives. At first it may look like they don’t have nothing in common but after you finish I think you would find out that they share a lot of characteristics.
They are united why the way they see life and death. They share the fact that they have their past really present in every move they made. Each one of them deals with death in a different way. Their stories show us things that sometimes we believed are wrong, without trying to justify them. The purpose of the book is tales us about these men (although one is a little boy) and what’s going on inside their heads, but without act like a redeemer for them. You never feel like somebody is trying to find a reason of why they act this way.
The author have the ability of transports us into each one of the stories. You can feel yourself strapped out to a chair, in a hole during a war and as a child trying to deal with life. Every feeling is really well described and I found a couple fragments very funny.
My favorite one was the last one Down the Rabbit Hole; in this one the author really makes a good job. Tom as a little kid still has that innocence where he doesn’t distingue between good and bad. Tom doesn’t understand yet the idea of taking some choices that would bring consequences, and has his imagination as his ally.
In the other two we found John and James, the first one is sort of a spy, which I love, and has a really interesting mind. Everything he says sounds funny. And then we have James, who is in the World War II, I really like his story. I’m a fan of historical books, but in this one we focalize in him and how he sees war.
Overall, a great book, that proves us that what matters is quality, not the length of the book.
*** I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. ***
May 30, 2012
I won this book in a givaway from the lovely Becky at her blog a few weeks back. Now before i start I'm just going to state that this is not a book like the one that has a very simular name.
This book is a collection of three short stories, and as the synopsis above states, the main theme through the book is survival. I did think that it was war to start with, but the last story really didnt fit the theme.
The first book in the collection was Shades of Grey. This is about a man called Jack, who we find tied to a chair. His thoughts go from the present, being surrounded by people with sniper rifles, and going back to the past where he found his wife in bed with his neighbour. I liked how these two halfs of the story fitted together and it really worked for me.
The second book in the collection was There and Back Again, I just couldnt get The Hobbit referance out of my head all through this story! However in my opinion this was the best story out of the three. This is about James, a foot-soldier during the first world war in France in the trenches. In this he faces his first battle and kills a man for the first time. I liked the emotion behind it and how he still had time to write home to his mum and dad back in England.
The final book in the collection was Down the Rabbit Hole, the title for me reminded me of Alice in Wonderland a little bit. This book is about a little boy called Tom who has a toy rabbit called Borger. He gets abused by his father and is unhappy. Now the bunny starts to talk to him and gets him to do quite horrible things if I'm honest. I didnt like this story at all, I'm not a fan of horror books and for me this is exactly what it was. I am a little uncomfortable to read about a little boy doing all those horrible things.
Now the book as a whole. I enjoyed this book, but to be honest it isnt one of my favourites. I liked the first two stories, but the third for me really put me off. I also thought that it was very gorey in places, which for me at least does put me off a little.
I would recommend this book for people that like crime/thriller/horror books, but for me the last story didnt hook me in as the others did.
This book is a collection of three short stories, and as the synopsis above states, the main theme through the book is survival. I did think that it was war to start with, but the last story really didnt fit the theme.
The first book in the collection was Shades of Grey. This is about a man called Jack, who we find tied to a chair. His thoughts go from the present, being surrounded by people with sniper rifles, and going back to the past where he found his wife in bed with his neighbour. I liked how these two halfs of the story fitted together and it really worked for me.
The second book in the collection was There and Back Again, I just couldnt get The Hobbit referance out of my head all through this story! However in my opinion this was the best story out of the three. This is about James, a foot-soldier during the first world war in France in the trenches. In this he faces his first battle and kills a man for the first time. I liked the emotion behind it and how he still had time to write home to his mum and dad back in England.
The final book in the collection was Down the Rabbit Hole, the title for me reminded me of Alice in Wonderland a little bit. This book is about a little boy called Tom who has a toy rabbit called Borger. He gets abused by his father and is unhappy. Now the bunny starts to talk to him and gets him to do quite horrible things if I'm honest. I didnt like this story at all, I'm not a fan of horror books and for me this is exactly what it was. I am a little uncomfortable to read about a little boy doing all those horrible things.
Now the book as a whole. I enjoyed this book, but to be honest it isnt one of my favourites. I liked the first two stories, but the third for me really put me off. I also thought that it was very gorey in places, which for me at least does put me off a little.
I would recommend this book for people that like crime/thriller/horror books, but for me the last story didnt hook me in as the others did.
April 29, 2012
Title: Shades of Grey
Author: Michael Cargill
Rating: 4/5
Summary: This is a collection of three stories where each of the main characters have one thing in common – the desire to survive. John is not very nice. James is a soldier for the British in WWII. Tom possesses a terrible secret.
Review:
Shades of Grey: British operative John, nicknamed many things, but one of them is “John the Baptist” has been abducted and is being tortured. This story is crude and tormenting, but it is fantastic and it leaves you with that dirty and dingy feeling of being in the mind of someone truly twisted.
There and Back Again: This story is about James, a soldier during World War Two. It is action packed and filled with the savagery of war and the bonds that can form from those extreme circumstances.
Down the Rabbit Hole: Tom, a young boy who is abused, soon finds that his stuffed rabbit is actually a help with his problems. Child’s toy soon comes to life and begins to aid him with his problems, however things eventually turn sinister and Tom’s happiness soon shatters.
This collection of stories, though short, is filled with action and adventure with a dash of strange. I am not normally a fan of something so crude as the first story, but it was something that was well written and I do enjoy like it. The best story of the three in my opinion is the third story. All in all, a fantastic book and I truly did enjoy it. I thank Michael Cargill for giving me the opportunity to read his book in exchange for this unbiased and honest review. It was a pleasure.
If you have any questions, comments or recommendations you can contact me at simplicity.kindreth@gmail.com
My reviews can be found here:
Confessions of A Bibliophile
My Tumblr
Cae's Reviews
Author: Michael Cargill
Rating: 4/5
Summary: This is a collection of three stories where each of the main characters have one thing in common – the desire to survive. John is not very nice. James is a soldier for the British in WWII. Tom possesses a terrible secret.
Review:
Shades of Grey: British operative John, nicknamed many things, but one of them is “John the Baptist” has been abducted and is being tortured. This story is crude and tormenting, but it is fantastic and it leaves you with that dirty and dingy feeling of being in the mind of someone truly twisted.
There and Back Again: This story is about James, a soldier during World War Two. It is action packed and filled with the savagery of war and the bonds that can form from those extreme circumstances.
Down the Rabbit Hole: Tom, a young boy who is abused, soon finds that his stuffed rabbit is actually a help with his problems. Child’s toy soon comes to life and begins to aid him with his problems, however things eventually turn sinister and Tom’s happiness soon shatters.
This collection of stories, though short, is filled with action and adventure with a dash of strange. I am not normally a fan of something so crude as the first story, but it was something that was well written and I do enjoy like it. The best story of the three in my opinion is the third story. All in all, a fantastic book and I truly did enjoy it. I thank Michael Cargill for giving me the opportunity to read his book in exchange for this unbiased and honest review. It was a pleasure.
If you have any questions, comments or recommendations you can contact me at simplicity.kindreth@gmail.com
My reviews can be found here:
Confessions of A Bibliophile
My Tumblr
Cae's Reviews
April 21, 2012
When I saw the announcement on anyone interested in reviewing this book I signed up in an instant. Not because it's m/m because it def isn't that. I told myself I would go out of my normal genre reading zone and chose this one. Boy did I ever! The cover I'll say is what brought my attention to the forefront the most.
Michael presents you with 3 stories. 2 with men and one with a young boy.
1. Shades of Grey: Features John who's kidnapped and you'll read in his POV his thoughts while he's being held captive.
2. There and Back Again: About James. A soldier in the war and experience his ordeal.
3. Down the Rabbit Hole: Young boy named Tom and his mischievous stuff animal toy.
I won't give more details than the above on each story since I'm not one to spoil it for potential readers. What came to mind after even having finished the first story was Sterling's Twilight zone storied. I really enjoyed the time that was aired on the tube. I miss them, but Michael brought some of that back with these short. Shorts versions that have potential to become great novels and def a great read from the norm.
I got a great taste of the genre I haven't really explored outside of m/m before. These interesting stories has a little bite that left me wanting more and their endings left it wide open for your mind to think, wonder and explore the possibilities of the impossible. You'll experience a mixed bag of intrigue, fascination and chills in the vivid details.
Overall this is a decent book worthwhile for fans of these kinda stories and I highly recommend it. But my honest perceives me and out of all 3? I impartial the last one the most with little Tommy.
A two thumbs up and I look forward to reading what others Michael has to offer.
Michael presents you with 3 stories. 2 with men and one with a young boy.
1. Shades of Grey: Features John who's kidnapped and you'll read in his POV his thoughts while he's being held captive.
2. There and Back Again: About James. A soldier in the war and experience his ordeal.
3. Down the Rabbit Hole: Young boy named Tom and his mischievous stuff animal toy.
I won't give more details than the above on each story since I'm not one to spoil it for potential readers. What came to mind after even having finished the first story was Sterling's Twilight zone storied. I really enjoyed the time that was aired on the tube. I miss them, but Michael brought some of that back with these short. Shorts versions that have potential to become great novels and def a great read from the norm.
I got a great taste of the genre I haven't really explored outside of m/m before. These interesting stories has a little bite that left me wanting more and their endings left it wide open for your mind to think, wonder and explore the possibilities of the impossible. You'll experience a mixed bag of intrigue, fascination and chills in the vivid details.
Overall this is a decent book worthwhile for fans of these kinda stories and I highly recommend it. But my honest perceives me and out of all 3? I impartial the last one the most with little Tommy.
A two thumbs up and I look forward to reading what others Michael has to offer.
April 2, 2018
I’ve not read a short story collection for a long while so, as it turns out Shades of Grey, was a perfect choice – because it is fantastic!
I read quite a lot and I have to say that it has been a long time since I found myself so ‘transported’ by a book – to the point that the descriptions and world built in the story feel so alive and real that I feel I could turn my head and actually see what the character is looking at – but that was a regular sensation when I was reading this.
The writing style is great – I liked the immediacy, the vivid reality created in the minds of the characters we meet in these short stories. Each is quite different in the content of the story and the perspective it’s written from, but at the same time there is a clear voice of the author.
One of the things Michael Cargill does very well is crawl into the head of characters, places and objects he depicts: whether it’s the convoluted inner workings of a tortured, disturbed intelligence officer; the war-torn landscape of WWII France; or the playtime friend of a lonely little boy; his ability to bring the various aspects of a story to life was spot-on for me and I would heartily recommend this collection to people who like a rollicking good read – you’ll race through the stories and enjoy every minute.
(My only caveat would be prepared for bad language in the first story – it fits perfectly with the character and works well imo, but some may find it a bit story for their tastes).
For an extended review, with thoughts on each story – visit:
http://melcj.wordpress.com/2012/04/26...
I read quite a lot and I have to say that it has been a long time since I found myself so ‘transported’ by a book – to the point that the descriptions and world built in the story feel so alive and real that I feel I could turn my head and actually see what the character is looking at – but that was a regular sensation when I was reading this.
The writing style is great – I liked the immediacy, the vivid reality created in the minds of the characters we meet in these short stories. Each is quite different in the content of the story and the perspective it’s written from, but at the same time there is a clear voice of the author.
One of the things Michael Cargill does very well is crawl into the head of characters, places and objects he depicts: whether it’s the convoluted inner workings of a tortured, disturbed intelligence officer; the war-torn landscape of WWII France; or the playtime friend of a lonely little boy; his ability to bring the various aspects of a story to life was spot-on for me and I would heartily recommend this collection to people who like a rollicking good read – you’ll race through the stories and enjoy every minute.
(My only caveat would be prepared for bad language in the first story – it fits perfectly with the character and works well imo, but some may find it a bit story for their tastes).
For an extended review, with thoughts on each story – visit:
http://melcj.wordpress.com/2012/04/26...
July 13, 2012
Shades of grey. I cannot think of anything more terrifying than coming to, tied to a chair, in a place I don't recognize , being interrogated by people I don't know, about some really bad stuff I've done, concerning a job that really isn't recognized by any legal agency. Well that is what the first story is all about. A tense situation to say the least. Deftly and artistically written by Cargill, at his best. He has a way depicting the underbelly of society, putting the reader right there, in the thick of it whether they want to be there or not. It's uncomfortable and frightening, but what a trip!
The second tale is one from WWII and a young soldier, James, is literally mired in the mud of war and psychological muck. Trying to make his way through the explosions around him and the ones going on in his head. Things aren't moving along the way they should, outside, and inside he gets more confused as the day passes. Trucks turn off to the left, and his decisions seem to take a left turn as well. He could never stay out of the dirt as a child,and he's not doing so well in the war either. What to do? All he really wants is to survive.
Tale three is just a bunny tale about a toy, who was to be named Roger, but mispronuciation won out and he became "Boger". But if I had a stuffed bunny like this, I'm not sure who I'd be more afraid of, the aupposedly inanimate fluffy tailed rabbit, who suddenly starts talking, and helps me buy a tazer online, or the psycho abusive father that blames me for everything that goes wrong?
The second tale is one from WWII and a young soldier, James, is literally mired in the mud of war and psychological muck. Trying to make his way through the explosions around him and the ones going on in his head. Things aren't moving along the way they should, outside, and inside he gets more confused as the day passes. Trucks turn off to the left, and his decisions seem to take a left turn as well. He could never stay out of the dirt as a child,and he's not doing so well in the war either. What to do? All he really wants is to survive.
Tale three is just a bunny tale about a toy, who was to be named Roger, but mispronuciation won out and he became "Boger". But if I had a stuffed bunny like this, I'm not sure who I'd be more afraid of, the aupposedly inanimate fluffy tailed rabbit, who suddenly starts talking, and helps me buy a tazer online, or the psycho abusive father that blames me for everything that goes wrong?
March 29, 2012
Shades of Grey
By Michael Cargill
Shades of Grey: British operative John, or “John the Baptist”, has been abducted and is being tortured; this is a crude and tormenting short story that delves into the psyche of the tortured mind.
There and Back Again: An Action packed story of James a soldier during World War Two, showing the savagery of war and the bonds that form under such extreme circumstances.
Down the Rabbit Hole: An abused young boy, Tom, finds that his best friend, a stuffed rabbit, has actually come to life to help him with his problems. Tom is ecstatic until things become sinister.
This collection of short stories is about one hundred pages of action, adventure, and even a taste of the somewhat strange. I personally wasn’t a fan of the first short story only because it tended to bounce around too much for my liking and was a bit too crude for me, but in my opinion Michael Cargill managed to pull it off with the last two stories, even saving the best for last. There were only a couple of things I could see that needed revising other than that well worth the read.
As always if you have any requests or recommendations email me at:
Reflections.of.a.BookWorm@gmail.com
Be sure to visit my blogs at:
http://reflectionsofabookworm.wordpre...
http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/
You can even follow me on Twitter
@BookWormRflect
By Michael Cargill
Shades of Grey: British operative John, or “John the Baptist”, has been abducted and is being tortured; this is a crude and tormenting short story that delves into the psyche of the tortured mind.
There and Back Again: An Action packed story of James a soldier during World War Two, showing the savagery of war and the bonds that form under such extreme circumstances.
Down the Rabbit Hole: An abused young boy, Tom, finds that his best friend, a stuffed rabbit, has actually come to life to help him with his problems. Tom is ecstatic until things become sinister.
This collection of short stories is about one hundred pages of action, adventure, and even a taste of the somewhat strange. I personally wasn’t a fan of the first short story only because it tended to bounce around too much for my liking and was a bit too crude for me, but in my opinion Michael Cargill managed to pull it off with the last two stories, even saving the best for last. There were only a couple of things I could see that needed revising other than that well worth the read.
As always if you have any requests or recommendations email me at:
Reflections.of.a.BookWorm@gmail.com
Be sure to visit my blogs at:
http://reflectionsofabookworm.wordpre...
http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/
You can even follow me on Twitter
@BookWormRflect
May 27, 2012
Since being given a Kindle for Christmas a couple of years ago I have found that my reading has become much broader and I was recently invited to read Michael's book of three short stories 'Shades of Grey' and was surprised at how much I enjoyed the stories as I had assumed that I 'never read that genre'. Each one of them invited me to look at the world with different eyes. However, the thing that impressed me the most was that the stories told me about the individual experience in a way that is little explored. I'm looking forward to my next outing with one of Michael's stories because I know it will give me an insight into a world I will probably never experience myself.
The first two were completely outside my comfort zone and introduced me to concepts and experiences I had never thought about before, my knowledge of the history of WWII being confined to that which is taught in school and never even considering what it might have been like to actually experience the day to day life of a simple solder. In shades of grey I was confronted by the inner mind of a hit man. For me the least of the three was the last story as it reminded me of the Chucky films (not that I've actually seen them!).
All together an excellent way to spend a few hours in the company of something unexpected and I'm very very much looking forward to enjoying more.
The first two were completely outside my comfort zone and introduced me to concepts and experiences I had never thought about before, my knowledge of the history of WWII being confined to that which is taught in school and never even considering what it might have been like to actually experience the day to day life of a simple solder. In shades of grey I was confronted by the inner mind of a hit man. For me the least of the three was the last story as it reminded me of the Chucky films (not that I've actually seen them!).
All together an excellent way to spend a few hours in the company of something unexpected and I'm very very much looking forward to enjoying more.
June 6, 2012
This is a collection of 3 short stories. All of them very different from each other but all dark and with the same themes of death and violence.
The first story, "Shades of Grey" is about a man (John) who works for a British government agency and who has made a career out of violence and killing. In the story he finds himself on the receiving end of some of his own tricks of the trade. This story I wanted to know more about. How did John end up tied in the interrogation chair? What happens to him after the end of this short story?
The second story, "There and Back Again" is about a young British soldier (James) fighting in France during the second World War. The realities of war seem to take a while to sink in for him. This was my least favorite of the 3 stories.
The third story, "Down the Rabbit Hole" is about a young boy with a mean, abusive father. He also has a plush bunny who begins to talk to him and has creative ways of solving the boy's problems. This was by far my favorite of the 3 stories.
This set of short stories was well-written and left me wanting to know more about the characters. I really enjoyed the stories and didn't want them to end so soon! I look forward to reading more from this author.
***I received this book at no charge through the Goodreads.com Shut Up & Read, Read It and Reap program.***
The first story, "Shades of Grey" is about a man (John) who works for a British government agency and who has made a career out of violence and killing. In the story he finds himself on the receiving end of some of his own tricks of the trade. This story I wanted to know more about. How did John end up tied in the interrogation chair? What happens to him after the end of this short story?
The second story, "There and Back Again" is about a young British soldier (James) fighting in France during the second World War. The realities of war seem to take a while to sink in for him. This was my least favorite of the 3 stories.
The third story, "Down the Rabbit Hole" is about a young boy with a mean, abusive father. He also has a plush bunny who begins to talk to him and has creative ways of solving the boy's problems. This was by far my favorite of the 3 stories.
This set of short stories was well-written and left me wanting to know more about the characters. I really enjoyed the stories and didn't want them to end so soon! I look forward to reading more from this author.
***I received this book at no charge through the Goodreads.com Shut Up & Read, Read It and Reap program.***
June 9, 2015
*Book source ~ A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
This anthology contains three fictional tales of suspense and nail-biting. Each is very different from the other, but they all kept me on the edge of my seat. Should you pick up this book be prepared for tension build-up.
Shades of Grey ~
John is some kind of British secret agent who gets caught and is tortured.
I was a bit confused at the beginning of this one, but it soon came together. Pretty good read and it left me wondering, but in a good way.
There and Back Again~
James is a British soldier in WWII and this story has nothing to do with Hobbits, Dwarves or a certain adventure.
This was my least favorite story of the three. It’s well-written, but history isn’t really my thing. It is interesting though.
Down the Rabbit Hole ~
This is about a boy named Tom and his stuffed rabbit named Borger, who does not carry a watch or proclaim he’s late.
Poor Tom! I hate his dad and I have to say he got what was coming to him though the school counselor got a bad deal. That stuffed rabbit of his is way creepy. What the hell?
This anthology contains three fictional tales of suspense and nail-biting. Each is very different from the other, but they all kept me on the edge of my seat. Should you pick up this book be prepared for tension build-up.
Shades of Grey ~
John is some kind of British secret agent who gets caught and is tortured.
I was a bit confused at the beginning of this one, but it soon came together. Pretty good read and it left me wondering, but in a good way.
There and Back Again~
James is a British soldier in WWII and this story has nothing to do with Hobbits, Dwarves or a certain adventure.
This was my least favorite story of the three. It’s well-written, but history isn’t really my thing. It is interesting though.
Down the Rabbit Hole ~
This is about a boy named Tom and his stuffed rabbit named Borger, who does not carry a watch or proclaim he’s late.
Poor Tom! I hate his dad and I have to say he got what was coming to him though the school counselor got a bad deal. That stuffed rabbit of his is way creepy. What the hell?
June 10, 2012
Sometime ago, the lovely Erin who co-writes our blog, read and reviewed this book of short stories and had the pleasure of doing an author spotlight with Michael on May 3, 2012.
So, when the author requested a few more reviews through Shut Up and Read Group, I jumped at the opportunity to read it as well.
Truthfully, the last story, 'Down the Rabbit Hole', is what really interested me the most about the collection, and due to my personal tastes, what 'made' this book for me.
'Down the Rabbit Hole' is about a boy who lives in fear of his father who is abusive. Suddenly one day, his favorite pet bunny begins talking in his head and telling him to do things that end up having a domino effect of disaster. Where one hand, I enjoyed him fighting back for himself against the bullies, certain scenes were a little evil (k lots) and I was pretty glad of the way it ended.
Michael Cargill is a pretty witty, funny guy as we had a chance to see during the interview process with him, and I most certainly concur that he is also a very talented author.
So Michael....
So, when the author requested a few more reviews through Shut Up and Read Group, I jumped at the opportunity to read it as well.
Truthfully, the last story, 'Down the Rabbit Hole', is what really interested me the most about the collection, and due to my personal tastes, what 'made' this book for me.
'Down the Rabbit Hole' is about a boy who lives in fear of his father who is abusive. Suddenly one day, his favorite pet bunny begins talking in his head and telling him to do things that end up having a domino effect of disaster. Where one hand, I enjoyed him fighting back for himself against the bullies, certain scenes were a little evil (k lots) and I was pretty glad of the way it ended.
Michael Cargill is a pretty witty, funny guy as we had a chance to see during the interview process with him, and I most certainly concur that he is also a very talented author.
So Michael....
June 5, 2012
In Shades of Grey, we find the tale of John, a soldier who has been captured. John doesn't remember how he got here or even where he's at. John sifts thru his memories of the past to be distant in the present. John's captor tries to get him to talk but hasn't had any luck so far. John knows that he can't give out any information to his captor. Will John break? Or will John be rescued? In There and Back Again, our tale picks up the story of James, a soldier in World War II fighting in France. James tries to see the best of things yet the harsh reality of war is all around him. James and his fellow soldier David seem to be where the action is. James seems to know when trouble occurs near his unit. Can James stay out of trouble? Will he see some action? Down the Rabbit Hole, a young boy named Tom leads an unhappy life with his family. Tom's father Jack is an abusive man that wants little to do with him. Tom loves his mother and his stuffed rabbit Borger very much. One day Tom discovers that Borger can talk to him and nothing is the same afterwards. What do Tom and Borger do? Can Tom get away from his father? Answers to all these questions are in Shades of Grey.
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