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Ten Tiny Tales: Stories of Broken Elevators and Other Mundane Things
Gene Kendall returns with ten stories of everyday joys, anxieties, and all the gooey stuff in-between. A few tales of families and criminals and windbags and kids who need haircuts. Featuring material originally presented in the Saturday Evening Post.
160 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 16, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 18, 2024
"Like something out of a movie. Scorsese or Tarantino."
You can say that again. Kendall's prose operates at break-neck speed, suave, cinematic, highly-focussed. The dialogue is very sophisticated. A favourite simile of mine: "His voice croaked like a teenager taking orders at the drive-thru window." Some dreary urban grit, the extinguishing of youth and vaulting consumerism lodged in there.
Have been a big fan of short story collections for a long time, and have always valued how little passages, even single lines, can unravel a whole identity. A life in a microcosm, a single room, a daily commute. This book fits that bill perfectly. There is a kitchen-sink element: a small focal point that accelerates outwards to something more existential. Characters who shrink into themselves in aging and regret, see their environments do the same. Mundanity packs a punch in our lives.
There's a story which is entirely dialogue, which I found to be innovative. I think often times, this dialogue fits Kendall's intentions very well for an organic unravelling.
Sardonic and witty, I highly recommend people pick up this collection. It's a quick and bouncy, but still somehow graceful ride.
You can say that again. Kendall's prose operates at break-neck speed, suave, cinematic, highly-focussed. The dialogue is very sophisticated. A favourite simile of mine: "His voice croaked like a teenager taking orders at the drive-thru window." Some dreary urban grit, the extinguishing of youth and vaulting consumerism lodged in there.
Have been a big fan of short story collections for a long time, and have always valued how little passages, even single lines, can unravel a whole identity. A life in a microcosm, a single room, a daily commute. This book fits that bill perfectly. There is a kitchen-sink element: a small focal point that accelerates outwards to something more existential. Characters who shrink into themselves in aging and regret, see their environments do the same. Mundanity packs a punch in our lives.
There's a story which is entirely dialogue, which I found to be innovative. I think often times, this dialogue fits Kendall's intentions very well for an organic unravelling.
Sardonic and witty, I highly recommend people pick up this collection. It's a quick and bouncy, but still somehow graceful ride.
February 10, 2025
Light Hearted Series of Twilight Zone/Amazing Stories Collections.
This is the best material I have read from Gene Kendall. A series of stories that I would refer to as lighthearted incarnations of what you would see on The Twilight Zone or Amazing Stories, Kendall has developed ten well written stories with riveting characters and thought provoking plots. In my mind, the best stories are the ones with the dentist, the cat in the pound, and Anton Anti Christ although all ten have something to recommend it. If you want an entertaining read, you can not go wrong with Ten Tiny Tales.
This is the best material I have read from Gene Kendall. A series of stories that I would refer to as lighthearted incarnations of what you would see on The Twilight Zone or Amazing Stories, Kendall has developed ten well written stories with riveting characters and thought provoking plots. In my mind, the best stories are the ones with the dentist, the cat in the pound, and Anton Anti Christ although all ten have something to recommend it. If you want an entertaining read, you can not go wrong with Ten Tiny Tales.
September 19, 2024
I enjoyed reading this collection of short stories. Sometimes darkly funny, the collection casts a light on the ordinary moments of life in all their mundane heartbreak, a theme that was well-developed through the course of the stories. I particularly liked both “They Can Put Mickey Mouse on Anything” and “Save the Cat,” which both explore the love of a parent amidst difficult circumstances. The characters – and the dilemmas they face – feel real and human. Kendall doesn’t shy away from difficult subject matter but does it in a way that affirms the humanity of both his characters and readers. I'd recommend this collection!
February 16, 2025
I am surprised that this author's books are not at the top of Amazon and still not on the bestseller lists! I am also surprised that the author still has so few reviews for his books.
For me, Gene Kendall is a rising star in the writing world! He has a great command of storytelling, a strong sense of rhythm, and a subtle use of timing, and he conveys a true sense of presence in every scene. His characters are vivid, and the dialogues feel real. The author plays well with contrasts, building his characters in a way that makes them stand out clearly in the reader's imagination. He manages to maintain tension in the narrative.
I am absolutely thrilled with this book!
Highly recommended for reading!
For me, Gene Kendall is a rising star in the writing world! He has a great command of storytelling, a strong sense of rhythm, and a subtle use of timing, and he conveys a true sense of presence in every scene. His characters are vivid, and the dialogues feel real. The author plays well with contrasts, building his characters in a way that makes them stand out clearly in the reader's imagination. He manages to maintain tension in the narrative.
I am absolutely thrilled with this book!
Highly recommended for reading!
April 25, 2024
Mundane made interesting.
Ten Tiny Tales is a collection of delightfully quirky, perfectly formed short stories.
The reader is instantly drawn into the everyday lives of the characters as the author infuses the mundane with meaning through gorgeous vignettes and surprising denouements. Some are funny, nostalgic, even tragic, but all are uniquely engaging. The writing is clever and accomplished; the dialogue snappy; the humour wry.
Ten Tiny Tales is a collection of delightfully quirky, perfectly formed short stories.
The reader is instantly drawn into the everyday lives of the characters as the author infuses the mundane with meaning through gorgeous vignettes and surprising denouements. Some are funny, nostalgic, even tragic, but all are uniquely engaging. The writing is clever and accomplished; the dialogue snappy; the humour wry.
April 28, 2024
The author writes with color and verve, producing ten diverse short stories that read like a vignette of life. I liked the way he packed all the vibrance and characterization in a large novel into a short format, getting to the point of the story efficiently. What I like best about the author's work is his style, short paragraphs with an excellent balance of dialogue and description. Recommended.
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December 17, 2024I read the "Quotidian Struggle" by Gene Kendall. The story, which is nearly all dialogue, made me wonder about the differences between a work that is complete dialogue that is called a story and a work that is complete dialogue that is a play. Not much I, I suppose. Perhaps the way the speakers are introduced each time they say something (colons versus quotation marks) and a little bit of a stage direction here and there.
Why do I bring this up? I think because whenever an author gets you to start questioning something, anything, they have in a way succeeded. But beyond that, I felt like this story would be perfect for the stage. Kendall's ability to poke fun at the literati and the eggheads amongst us would do well live. His humorous efforts result in a victory, at least in this story, for the common wo/man over the elitist. That's another thing that would be appreciated on stage.
Stylistically, I get notes of John Kennedy Toole in the paradoxical intelligent buffoonery of the main character. Additional flavors in the story include tongue and cheek humor and sharp-witted correspondence reminiscent of classic sitcom. He makes the mundane fun.
Why do I bring this up? I think because whenever an author gets you to start questioning something, anything, they have in a way succeeded. But beyond that, I felt like this story would be perfect for the stage. Kendall's ability to poke fun at the literati and the eggheads amongst us would do well live. His humorous efforts result in a victory, at least in this story, for the common wo/man over the elitist. That's another thing that would be appreciated on stage.
Stylistically, I get notes of John Kennedy Toole in the paradoxical intelligent buffoonery of the main character. Additional flavors in the story include tongue and cheek humor and sharp-witted correspondence reminiscent of classic sitcom. He makes the mundane fun.
June 19, 2024
Gene Kendell's writing is excellent. Each story is unique. Some stories are touching and one is clearly experimental in nature. My favourite stories would have to be Something Inevitable and The Family Friendly Radio Edit. I also enjoyed Most Likely to Succeed. For me, weaker stories were the Quotidian Struggle and Dull Darlene and Rebellious Renee. There's something for everyone though, some excellent characterisation, drama, thriller and morality.
July 4, 2024
'Ten Tiny Tales' is a captivating collection of short stories that breathes life into the mundane. With cinematic prose and snappy dialogue, Kendall crafts diverse vignettes that explore themes from family relationships to social satire. Each story packs a punch, often culminating in surprising twists. While not every tale hits the mark, the author's skillful characterization and command of language shine throughout. A quick, engaging read that proves the power of the short story format.
March 10, 2025
I have now read several of Gene Kendall’s books and stories and I have learned that he is a very talented and creative author. I have enjoyed most of his works and found his books mostly very good to excellent. Now having read two of his anthologies, however, I find it is in his short stories that his writing skills truly shine. ‘Ten Tiny Tales’ is a collection of outstanding stories about everyday people that face existential challenges, or mundane circumstances, which show the world who they are. And in his depictions of these everyday life stories, Kendall has shown the world how gifted a writer he is. A successful oral surgeon who gets mixed up with a crowd from the wrong side of the tracks. An executive assistant whose boss asks him to do usual things for research, with one request that goes a little too far. A father who plans to do the unthinkable to pull his daughter from a down-spiralling lifestyle. A man who takes on a mob, risking life and limb, to ensure his women can avoid their wrath and escape to lead a new life. A man who changed his outlook on life for the better following his divorce, and now is obsessed with riding an elevator that stops functioning at the same time every Tuesday afternoon. A father with a stray female cat problem, who must solve a costly dilemma, so as not to disappoint his daughter. These are just a few of the ten great stories that Kendall offers to readers who are looking for writing brilliance in a short read.
June 15, 2024
Kendall’s “Ten tiny tales” is a volume of engaging stories bringing together well-crafted characters. The themes are diverse and broad: they touch on family relationships, pop culture, murder, addiction. While they vary in substance and tone, these stories are absorbing, and most end with an unexpected twist. Addiction runs as an undercurrent in many of these stories and is skillfully explored in “Most likely to succeed” and “They can put Mickey Mouse on everything.” Social satire expands to the mechanics of daily life; such is the case with “It starts with a tear,” an ironic and equally profound discussion on the toxic impact “careers” can have on relationships.
A gifted writer, Kendall captures the essence of a character in snippets that demonstrate great command of language: “Girl’s barely a slip of a thing. Right at five foot, with a frame so thin she could dance in a shower and never get wet.” Or “Spent so long living the easy life on Mr. Henry’s tab, I’d forgotten that immediate taste of old pennies after a solid blow.”
In conclusion, a thought-provoking volume of short stories by a gifted writer. Highly recommended.
A gifted writer, Kendall captures the essence of a character in snippets that demonstrate great command of language: “Girl’s barely a slip of a thing. Right at five foot, with a frame so thin she could dance in a shower and never get wet.” Or “Spent so long living the easy life on Mr. Henry’s tab, I’d forgotten that immediate taste of old pennies after a solid blow.”
In conclusion, a thought-provoking volume of short stories by a gifted writer. Highly recommended.
September 12, 2025
Ten Tiny Tales is a collection of short stories that vary from the light-hearted ones to those that pull your heartstrings. The tales are both about ordinary people with their ordinary problems and the more fugitive and hardcore ones. I’d say I prefer the first.
Sometimes I see the ending coming, but on others it makes me raise my eyebrows. My favourite tale is Save the Cat because of the mundane situations that are realistically relatable in real life, both in the problems and the frustrating side characters. Maybe that is also the reason that it’s this tale that still lingers after I have moved on.
Other less memorable ones are It Ends With a Tear and The Quotidian Struggle, in which I had to do a double-take to make sure I didn’t understand the stories wrong. There are other stories with common endings, but it’s enjoyable to get there with creative ideas like Mickey Mouse ones and That Is Not Funny. Bring on all the gross cards!
The tales are certainly worth reading, there are layers of meanings and relatable human struggles. I can also relate to the many Pop references.
May 1, 2025
Ten Tiny Tales is a collection of short stories, most of which have a plot twist (some predictable, some not). Some were great, some more mundane, a couple beg to be expanded and turned into full blown novels. "It Ends With a Tear" is a vivid description of an overachiever trying to impress his brilliant and eccentric boss and is one of the stronger stories in there--or maybe I loved the ending the most. He does a great job of painting the picture of his wayward characters in "Something Inevitable" and that may have been my favorite story.
What Kendall is a very strong writer and maybe I am the same age bracket, but his 80's/90's pop culture references are great. And yes I did see No Doubt open for Bush as he talks about in "Dull Darlene and Rebellious Renee" so I got a kick out of that story. His strength is making the reader feel as if he is there in the scene with the characters.
If you are a fan of short stories with a current vibe but have characters tied to the cultural past of our youth, you might find a story or two in here that you will enjoy.
What Kendall is a very strong writer and maybe I am the same age bracket, but his 80's/90's pop culture references are great. And yes I did see No Doubt open for Bush as he talks about in "Dull Darlene and Rebellious Renee" so I got a kick out of that story. His strength is making the reader feel as if he is there in the scene with the characters.
If you are a fan of short stories with a current vibe but have characters tied to the cultural past of our youth, you might find a story or two in here that you will enjoy.
June 25, 2025
Short stories with a twist
Ten Tiny Tales is an eclectic compilation of short stories, each leaving the reader wondering how it will turn out - often with surprising outcomes. Gene Kendall's punchy writing style captures the narratives with flair, precision, and solid character development. From the mundane to the quirky to the strange, life dilemmas are explored, often with a sense of irony and a sharp wit that runs through the narratives ranging from playful to cynical or dark.
Some stories are stronger than others, and my personal favorites are Save the Cat, The Family-Friendly Radio Edit, and The Quotidian Struggle.
For readers who enjoy edgy and unpredictable stories, I recommend this book.
Ten Tiny Tales is an eclectic compilation of short stories, each leaving the reader wondering how it will turn out - often with surprising outcomes. Gene Kendall's punchy writing style captures the narratives with flair, precision, and solid character development. From the mundane to the quirky to the strange, life dilemmas are explored, often with a sense of irony and a sharp wit that runs through the narratives ranging from playful to cynical or dark.
Some stories are stronger than others, and my personal favorites are Save the Cat, The Family-Friendly Radio Edit, and The Quotidian Struggle.
For readers who enjoy edgy and unpredictable stories, I recommend this book.
November 13, 2025
Quality stuff! The title alone invokes a wave of euphoria. Thanks to ‘tuber Andy Austin's exploration of “unremarkably odd” video game environments, I've been endowed with an admiration of mundane trivialities. The first few stories in this collection are too thrilling to be mundane, but Kendall doesn't fail to disappoint. In the latter half of Ten Tiny Tales, the unremarkable is elevated into the numinous, the trivial into the cathartic. The best story is easily “That's not Funny,” greeting readers halfway through the book with a premise exceptionally unremarkable for a tale that kept me on the edge of my seat and delivered more than one gut-punch laugh.
It's so close to a five-star book. I'd give it 4.5 if I could. Sadly, the writing sometimes slips into exposition (telling rather than showing), and parts of certain stories felt comically contrived. (I'm looking at you, the climax to “They Can Put Mickey Mouse on Anything.”)
This review was given as part of the Goodreads Review Group.
It's so close to a five-star book. I'd give it 4.5 if I could. Sadly, the writing sometimes slips into exposition (telling rather than showing), and parts of certain stories felt comically contrived. (I'm looking at you, the climax to “They Can Put Mickey Mouse on Anything.”)
This review was given as part of the Goodreads Review Group.
April 22, 2025
A Quirky, Thoughtful Collection
Ten Tiny Tales is a clever and often surprising set of short stories that walks the line between heartfelt and offbeat. Gene Kendall has a knack for finding the strange in the ordinary, with characters who feel oddly familiar and situations that twist just when you think you know where they’re headed.
Not every story was a hit for me, but enough stood out to make it a worthwhile read. The writing style is unique and took a little getting used to, but it ultimately adds charm and personality to the collection.
If you like stories with a dash of dark humor and emotional depth, this one’s worth a look.
Ten Tiny Tales is a clever and often surprising set of short stories that walks the line between heartfelt and offbeat. Gene Kendall has a knack for finding the strange in the ordinary, with characters who feel oddly familiar and situations that twist just when you think you know where they’re headed.
Not every story was a hit for me, but enough stood out to make it a worthwhile read. The writing style is unique and took a little getting used to, but it ultimately adds charm and personality to the collection.
If you like stories with a dash of dark humor and emotional depth, this one’s worth a look.
June 3, 2025
There are lots of really good books that I've only given 4 stars to. This is because I like to save the 5 stars for something special and this collection of short stories certainly merits it. Each one moves at its own well measured pace. Some will appeal to some readers more than others, but I found them all well-written. There are clever societal observations, for example, about the world of advertising/marketing, and almost Alfred Hitchcock type morality tales about the bad guy getting brought back down to earth in a big way. I'd definitely recommend it.
July 3, 2024
I really enjoyed this anthology of short stories from Gene Kendall. Each tale is a bright snippet of life. What is truly amazing about this collection is how the author can pack tone, character development, plot, drama, suspense, and excitement into so few words. And with a satisfying ending.
The stories showcase the hopes, dreams, and humanity of the common man/woman.
These would be a great addition to high school (upper grades) or junior college classrooms.
A resounding 5-stars.
The stories showcase the hopes, dreams, and humanity of the common man/woman.
These would be a great addition to high school (upper grades) or junior college classrooms.
A resounding 5-stars.
October 6, 2024
This author is always interesting. I've read several of his books and they are all different, but consistently well-written, well-proofed and, well, quirky. This collection of stories continues that body of odd, off beat, and thought-provoking work. My favorite is the story about the cat, Ebony. I did notice some odd formatting in my Kindle version: sections of double spacing for no apparent reason. It didn't affect my ability to read, though.
October 31, 2024
The author writes the mundane beautifully, a series of short stories that are artistically presented and executed in a way that is thoroughly enjoyable. Others have commented on the stories feeling highly efficient in their telling, but they still linger on the relevant details and descriptions that a good novel would too. A great read.
January 30, 2025
Reading dare
So it was a dare to read groupings of short stories. I chose this one that started running right out the gate. Like any read. The first half is as hard to finish as the second half.
So it was a dare to read groupings of short stories. I chose this one that started running right out the gate. Like any read. The first half is as hard to finish as the second half.
March 24, 2025
A really enjoyable collection of short stories. Kendall has a very specific writing style, which I found a bit disconcerting at first, but formed a big part of my enjoyment of these stories in the end. Kendall has a gift for writing about insignificant events and details, and bringing them to life.
June 23, 2024
Captivating stories by Gene Kendall to charm and entertain you.
Ten Tiny Tales is a great collection of short stories with a big impact. The stories cover life with an interesting twist. Realistic tellings of surreal ideas and circumstances. An intense guy who ruins his life over a mundane job, a father who wants to commit a murder for his daughter when all she wants is the opposite. Captivating stories by Gene Kendall to charm, surprise and entertain you long into the night. Recommended for readers looking for stories with an original angle.
Ten Tiny Tales is a great collection of short stories with a big impact. The stories cover life with an interesting twist. Realistic tellings of surreal ideas and circumstances. An intense guy who ruins his life over a mundane job, a father who wants to commit a murder for his daughter when all she wants is the opposite. Captivating stories by Gene Kendall to charm, surprise and entertain you long into the night. Recommended for readers looking for stories with an original angle.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews