What do you think?
Rate this book
Was
"Was": Written in a month. Edited in a week. And it just might make you believe that a story can change a life.
Hospice nurse Wilma Jones gave up on having an extraordinary life long ago. A single mother with little to her name but debt and disappointment, she at first ignores the mysterious new patient who arrives at Evergreen Hospice. Mr. Was makes all sorts of fantastic claims, telling her tales of the days he spent traveling the world, or slaying dragons, or falling in love with a prostitute.
Eventually, the stories told by Was draw Wilma in - some seem like fairy tales, others like memories. Soon they become the highlight of her day, the only thing keeping her going as the rest of her life falls apart. But when Wilma is involved in a terrible accident, her own story takes a surprising turn, one that even Mr. Was might not have expected.
Exploring the nature of stories and our very selves, Was will make you question all that is, and think anew about all that will be.
"Was" is the debut novel of Beth Kander, whose previous publications include stage plays and the children's book "Glubbery Gray, the Knight-Eating Beast." The novel was written in less than 30 days, as part of the 2012 NaNoWriMo challenge.
Hospice nurse Wilma Jones gave up on having an extraordinary life long ago. A single mother with little to her name but debt and disappointment, she at first ignores the mysterious new patient who arrives at Evergreen Hospice. Mr. Was makes all sorts of fantastic claims, telling her tales of the days he spent traveling the world, or slaying dragons, or falling in love with a prostitute.
Eventually, the stories told by Was draw Wilma in - some seem like fairy tales, others like memories. Soon they become the highlight of her day, the only thing keeping her going as the rest of her life falls apart. But when Wilma is involved in a terrible accident, her own story takes a surprising turn, one that even Mr. Was might not have expected.
Exploring the nature of stories and our very selves, Was will make you question all that is, and think anew about all that will be.
"Was" is the debut novel of Beth Kander, whose previous publications include stage plays and the children's book "Glubbery Gray, the Knight-Eating Beast." The novel was written in less than 30 days, as part of the 2012 NaNoWriMo challenge.
221 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 8, 2013
1 person is currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
Beth Kander
19 books122 followersBeth Kander is a USA Today bestselling writer with tangled roots in the Midwest and Deep South. The granddaughter of immigrants, her work often explores how worlds old and new intertwine—or collide. Beth earned an MSW from the University of Michigan and an MFA in Creative Writing from Mississippi University for Women, where she has also served as a visiting professor. She calls Chicago home these days, and is lucky to live there with her very favorite characters: her heroic husband, their two brave, hilarious kids, and a giant rescue dog named Oz.
For more: www.bethkander.com
For more: www.bethkander.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 2, 2013
Wow. What a great read! I can be such a typical american with my short attention span, but the way this book flowed so seamlessly from one tale to the next kept me hooked. The stories-within-the-story themselves were my favorite part, but the overarching narrative that tied them all together was touching and beautifully told. I laughed out loud at parts and teared up at others - and honestly, what more can you ask for from the precious time you get to spend reading?
Recommended.
Recommended.
April 15, 2013
My kind of book! I loved the stories within stories and found myself looking for threads from real life, and where the threads of the folk or fairy tales are woven into the fabric of my own life. Can't wait to read more from this author! Full disclosure: yes, we are related- and I still honestly love the book!
June 26, 2013
Great story. Really enjoyed!
March 13, 2013
Great story! Fun read!
March 28, 2017
Three-line review: Written by one of my childhood friends, Was was written by Kander in one month and edited in a single week, and for that purpose alone, this is an impressive read. Told from the perspective of Wilma, a struggling single mother, Was weaves together a series of fantastic tales told by a mysterious old man while Wilma navigates the complications of her personal life. I love the concept of this book, and though the ending is a bit esoteric, it is very creative.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews