Hands

by J.H. Bunting

After nearly a decade, a dying musician meets his favorite student again, but finds he can only connect again through music.

This short story by Joe Bunting features the life of the great jazz trumpeter Clifford Brown, who died tragically far too young, and is about the power of music to connect us despite race, generation, and even death.

Genres: Short Stories

15 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

JH Bunting is a bestselling author, novelist, and dad. He leads The Write Practice, an award-winning community of creative writers. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife Talia and three kids and enjoys coffee and corpse reviver no. 2s. You can follow him on Instagram (@jhbunting) and find his creative writing under the name Joe Bunting.

Reviews

[Boocoos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've known this author as a funny, quick thinking, probable prankster for a while now. This story, HANDS, is such a slow dance with soul, I could barely believe I had ever known him at all. A view of how we used to be as humans in general, leaves the reader completely satisfied, yet longing. This touched me in a place and time so familiar, yet so far away, I had forgotten its very existence. Like laying on a warm beach, Bunting washes the reader over and over with gentle waves of comforting warmth.
At the same time that this story is such a departure from what I know about Bunting, I'm not really so surprised. As a master of the short story, he can write almost anything and make it feel like a personal experience. Even using the narrative, it feels like someone passionate about his subject matter, putting his arm around you on the front porch swing and speaking his story for you alone.
I feel sorrow for the younger generations. They can never remember what we used to be like as human beings.

[Danica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very rarely do i read short stories, stories like these are the reason. I felt a lot of sympathy for the main character, he reminded me a lot of my uncles who would ramble to stories that never related to the conversation but I still liked to listen to. I would call this story a sombre one and a powerful one at that. I didn't want the story to end and I just wanted to hug Jim, the main character, and tell him everything would be alright. Please read it, it's such a good read. I got a copy for free in exchange for a review but it's £0.77 on amazon kindle :)
4 stars because I wanted more

[megHan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very powerful, emotional and moving short story. Sad, yet, at the same time, hopeful. I enjoyed it and hope to read more from this author in the future.

Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Richard Goodrum · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, bittersweet memoir. A white jazz musician reminisces about life and music. It does feel like it hits the points of the blurb. But it's still good. His memories, like his hands, are beginning to go. His beloved wife, Jean, has been dead for a while. He finds that life and music have moved on without him. A bit of a sad story.

Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Haunting. Whimsical. Wonderful characters.

[ნინო ქერდიყოშვილი · Rating 3 out of 5]

სათაურიდან გამომდინარე,ცოტა სხვა რამეს ველოდი :დდდ
თუმცაღა,მთხრობელის მარტოსულობა,გრძნობები და ისტორია ქმნის ამ მოთხრობას იმად,რაც არის.
ყველაზე საინტერესო და ემოციური კი, რაღა თქმა უნდა, ავტორის დამოკიდებულებაა მუსიკისადმი,როგორც ცალკე ღმერთისადმი.

[I. Madreia S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very powerful and at the same time a sweet story that I'll think about the next few weeks because the message was that effective. Also... I needed a light read, so it's suited me well. That's all I could say for now and I think it's enough.

[Tyler Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story filled with heart and soul.

It flows clean and sharp like a well struck note, and it lingers, at least it did for me, long after the words ended.

[Lillian Bobbitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good short story.

I really like the ending of the book. I had forgot the real meaning of jazz. This book seems to be coming from the author’s heart.

[Geraldine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really moved by the story. I liked that somehow the main character made me remember my grandpa. The story was short but it still made sense. I was really discouraged by the cover but I am really glad that I read the book.

[Cily · Rating 5 out of 5]

A touching and inspiring story.
This is a wonderful and complex story about growth, redemption, sadness, relationship, fears, it’s about music and a man struggling with who he is.
Writing about music is difficult but I found the setting descriptive and very well written.
With every line i read, the story got more and more interesting.
The main character unfolds slowly so the reader has to savor the pace, but he is warm and complex and each moment of the story is important.
It made me think of all the choices a person makes during his whole life and left a bittersweet flavor when I finished reading.
If you are looking for a fast fun read; skip it. If you are looking for evocative images, deep insights into human nature- rich texture- this one is for you.

I received this book at Story Cartel, in exchange for an honest review.

[D.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mellifluous story of a moment in time for an aging Jazz musician looking back on his life through the infusion of music. The story evoked the experiences an old musician's concerns about aging in a visceral way and I felt transported with him to memories of a happier times and places in his life. Although I didn't grow up in the Jazz era, I felt like the story took me there through the wonderfully rich, vivid and colorful descriptions.

Note: Received a free review copy from The Story Cartel

[Yoanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A touching story about what really is important in life. Not in the all-knowing-philosophically-existential kind of way but in the private, what-really-makes-you-feel-alive kind of way. At the end of the day, it's what comes over you just before you go to sleep in order to put the universe in order. And it's not politics!

[bethany m. planton · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story as told by an elderly jazz clarinetist does an excellent job of capturing the essence of jazz. Just like a good jazz piece, this short story doesn't ever quite resolve. This piece makes you stop a moment and ponder where your life is going.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought provoking short story of a nice length with believable dialog and considerable detail. Viewing life as seen through an aging musician's hands. (Review copy.)

[Elsbeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, melancholy story about an old man and the loves he lost (his wife and his jazz) but who are still with him in some way...
Thank you, Joe Bunting, for sharing this story!