Next by Keith Gray

by Keith Gray

Is there life after death?

Is there a heaven? Or a hell? Or is there nothing at all?

In 'Next' there are 8 different short stories all telling different versions of what happens when you die.

Some of today's leading writers for young people have come together to ask, what happens after you die?

Will you go out with a bang?

Or find a peace that only you can see?

Is heaven spending eternity reliving your happiest memories?

Or is your future in someone else's thoughts?

Could it even be that you leave a part of yourself behind?

Genres: Short Stories

Paperback

About the author

Keith Gray grew up in and around Grimsby and Cleethorpes on the east coast of England and decided he'd better take his writing ambition seriously after achieving 0% in his accountancy exams. His debut, 'Creepers', was published when he was only 24 and was shortlisted for the Guardian Fiction Prize. Since then his books have either won or been shortlisted for awards all over the world including the Sankei Cultural Publishing Prize of Japan, the American Library Association Best Books (YA) and the Booktrust Teenage Prize. In the UK his bestselling novel 'Ostrich Boys' was shortlisted for the prestigious CILIP Carnegie Medal, the Costa Children's Book Award and won the Scottish Children's Book Awards, and has been adapted for the stage. Keith has been a reviewer for both the Guardian and Scotsman newspapers. In 2017 he moved to live in Vienna, Austria, with his partner, their daughter and a parrot called Bellamy. Keith is a co-founder of Sunday Writers’ Club.

Reviews

[O'Train Disene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since time immemorial, people have always wondered what happens when we die. Do we either go to heaven or hell as we have been taught? Or do we just stop existing entirely? Well, for me, I think we stop existing. I believe it will feel like how it felt fifty years ago when I was not yet born. NEXT, edited by Keith Gray, is a collection of short stories that interpret the very same question of what happens when we die.

The first story is called Starbursting by Julie Bertagna. It is the story of a young, vibrant girl whose life was cut short by a car accident while riding with her lover. It sets the mood, and we see this girl narrating her life post the accident as she has joined the other side. The second one is called Green Fields by Jonathan Stroud. Jonathan took a rather creative route in tackling this topic. He introduced us to Frank Fisher, who works in an insurance company. Frank visits a sick old lady in a hospital, and he crosses over with her to the other side to try to convince her to sign some papers for some service she will receive in the afterlife. What he learns changes his whole life forever. The other stories featured are Surface Water by Gillian Phillip, The Fallen by Sally Nicholls, and three others.

I read this book while I was waiting for my order of other books to arrive. I finished it in a day, and I am glad that I read it. All these stories were amazing, and they each brought a fresh perspective of what might happen when die. Some were using metaphors to draw the image, while others taught us plainly that death is not felt by those who departed but by those who are left behind.

My favourite has to be the last one featured: Burying Barker by Keith Gray. I loved he lessons it taught, although it was a bit long-drawn and cliché in its lesson. My favourite quote from it: “If you want to believe there’s such a thing as an afterlife, then it’s they stories you leave behind.” The Fallen is the one that will probably live on in my heart because it tells of a father who died from suicide, and now his daughter and his wife are left to pick up the pieces. It gave me so much perspective, and I now understand the pain of those who were left behind this way.

[Caterpillar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting stories to read. They all to very different approaches which I enjoyed a lot, it kept it interesting. Even though they all had the same theme, it didn't feel overpoweringly similar but tied them together nicely, which is something I don't often find when reading collections of short stories; perhaps it is because there are various authors that have different styles and approaches. There were some I liked more than others but overall it was a nice, fast, and easy read.

[John Lane · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't really like this book

[Aline]

I didn’t finish it

[Sarah Broadley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always wondered what happens next. What happens to you when you close your eyes for the last time? Do you drift away or do you become part of another world? This book is full of such examples, a mind-blowing collection of the 'ah, so this is what happens when you die'. I'm not sure which path I will choose, if indeed there is one there for me to take when the time comes but I found this book a fantastic glimpse into what might happen through the eyes of some very famous authors. Let's face it, no-one really knows and has managed to tell the tale so why not give it your best and create a world worthy of your soul.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starbursting by Julie Bertagna - 5/5
Green Fields by Johnathan Stroud - 4/5
'These Are The Yolks, Folks!' by Philip Ardagh - 4/5
Surface Water by Gillian Philip - 4/5
The Receiving End by Malorie Blackman - 3/5
The Fallen by Sally Nicholls - 3/5
Can't You Sleep? by Frank Cottrell Boyce - 2/5
Burying Barker by Keith Gray - 3/5

[Alice Visser · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a book with short stories imagining how those who have died live on -- either in an afterlife or in people's memories. Several of the stories were quite moving (Starbusting by Bertanga was my favorite) but I must say I'm not a short story person. I just don't think there is enough time to identify with characters or themes, and the stories themselves are quickly forgotten.

[Bree Yerbury · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I read this book I thought the rest of the stories would be as good first one, so this book left me really disappointed. I understand that the stories are about what happens after you do but I found that most of the stories were quite eerie and religious based.

[Clay]

http://bookwitch.wordpress.com/2012/0...

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this really made me question my beliefs about what actually does happen after death. Many of the stories in this novel were very moving. It's a good read, and I read it in two days!

[Erin Horner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some stories I liked, others I found boring and confusing.

[Cody-Rochelle Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5