What do you think?
Rate this book
The Matchbook: A Short Story
Corbyn Thurber, seventeen, meets the love of his life while passing through the small town of Wakefield—he just doesn’t know it at the time.
He returns years later in search of the woman he never forgot only to discover she has a dark secret. And tracking her down under the watch of judgmental locals is only half as antagonizing as his sense of self-doubt.
Told from the perspective of a man haunted by regret, this short story, from the author of Fender and The Fifteenth of June, masterfully considers the consequences of a life unexplored.
He returns years later in search of the woman he never forgot only to discover she has a dark secret. And tracking her down under the watch of judgmental locals is only half as antagonizing as his sense of self-doubt.
Told from the perspective of a man haunted by regret, this short story, from the author of Fender and The Fifteenth of June, masterfully considers the consequences of a life unexplored.
- GenresShort Stories
23 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 2, 2017
2 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
About the author
Brent Jones
12 books88 followersFrom bad checks to bathroom graffiti, Brent Jones has always been drawn to writing. He won a national creative writing competition at the age of fourteen, although he can’t recall what the story was about.
Jones writes from his home in Fort Erie, Canada. He’s happily married, a bearded cyclist, a mediocre guitarist, and the proud owner of two dogs with a God complex. Subscribe to his newsletter (AuthorBrentJones.com) or follow him on social media (@AuthorBrentJ) for updates.
Jones writes from his home in Fort Erie, Canada. He’s happily married, a bearded cyclist, a mediocre guitarist, and the proud owner of two dogs with a God complex. Subscribe to his newsletter (AuthorBrentJones.com) or follow him on social media (@AuthorBrentJ) for updates.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 3, 2017
Is this a story that you can read in 20 minutes or less but leaves you pondering long after you put it down? Definitely. This author has a talent for short story writing.
Told in the first person, it draws you in and holds your interest straight through. It is the last sentence that grabs you. As I mulled it over, I thought how much fun it would be to discuss it in a room with a teenager, a 20,30,40,50,60, and 70 something age group, all of us together to discuss their interpretation. Thinking as my younger self, I had a different idea of who the protagonist was and what happened than my older self.
"The purpose of a storyteller isn't to tell you how to think, but to give you questions to think upon." (Brandon Sanderson).
Brent Jones does just that.
I have grown to appreciate this authors work and look forward to more.
Told in the first person, it draws you in and holds your interest straight through. It is the last sentence that grabs you. As I mulled it over, I thought how much fun it would be to discuss it in a room with a teenager, a 20,30,40,50,60, and 70 something age group, all of us together to discuss their interpretation. Thinking as my younger self, I had a different idea of who the protagonist was and what happened than my older self.
"The purpose of a storyteller isn't to tell you how to think, but to give you questions to think upon." (Brandon Sanderson).
Brent Jones does just that.
I have grown to appreciate this authors work and look forward to more.
March 9, 2018
Brilliant short
This brilliant short book should be considered a must read for a group of people looking to have something to talk about for days after finishing it.
Our hero, when he was younger, left behind someone that may have changed his life and now all he can do is try and regain some of what was lost so long ago.
He has grown. He has changed and now he has become something he was not then.
A great book for a class to read.
This brilliant short book should be considered a must read for a group of people looking to have something to talk about for days after finishing it.
Our hero, when he was younger, left behind someone that may have changed his life and now all he can do is try and regain some of what was lost so long ago.
He has grown. He has changed and now he has become something he was not then.
A great book for a class to read.
February 1, 2018
How often do things happen and happen for be a reason which we unfortunately can’t see or understand. Such is the case here with our protagonist, Corbyn Thurber, and perhaps his having been an inexperienced 17-year-old teenager when it to matter of the heart and love is why he’s in sort of a dilemma now.
Now 34, Corbyn’s back in Wakefield, the small town where the still ever so tiny flame of his first and most probably his only experience of having a true love is still burning.
With all of these years having gone by without his thinking about this woman things have definitely changed, most important of which is that this once sweet individual now possesses a somewhat nefarious secret.
People in small towns like this are historically keeping their ever-keen eyes on individuals like the one he’s looking for. The only remembrance he has of this time is the woman’s name and phone number written the inside of a matchbook cover.
Remember, there’s a reason you see the message “CLOSE COVER BEFORE STRIKING” on the outside of a matchbook cover, perhaps it might better if he’d kept the cover closed, before striking out trying to find her again, because his fingers might get burnt when he finds and discovers what she’s like now.
The author of this short book, Brent Jones, is getting 4 STARS for having given his readers a written story regarding a missed opportunity when it comes to any affair involving the heart, like has happened here.
Now 34, Corbyn’s back in Wakefield, the small town where the still ever so tiny flame of his first and most probably his only experience of having a true love is still burning.
With all of these years having gone by without his thinking about this woman things have definitely changed, most important of which is that this once sweet individual now possesses a somewhat nefarious secret.
People in small towns like this are historically keeping their ever-keen eyes on individuals like the one he’s looking for. The only remembrance he has of this time is the woman’s name and phone number written the inside of a matchbook cover.
Remember, there’s a reason you see the message “CLOSE COVER BEFORE STRIKING” on the outside of a matchbook cover, perhaps it might better if he’d kept the cover closed, before striking out trying to find her again, because his fingers might get burnt when he finds and discovers what she’s like now.
The author of this short book, Brent Jones, is getting 4 STARS for having given his readers a written story regarding a missed opportunity when it comes to any affair involving the heart, like has happened here.
January 31, 2018
When Corbyn Thurder was seventeen he found himself in the Platinum Paradise, a strip club. There he got to experience a dance from Sapphire. Afterwards she wrote her name and number on a matchbook. Corbyn has never forgotten her and now finds himself back in Wakefield tracking her down. There is clearing something going on with how the locals react every time he asks them about her. But when he finds her his illusion is shattered by the truth.
Not everything is as it first appears. Corbyn hunts down Sapphire, almost in a stalking manner, but he means the best for her. He was not expecting what he finds. I can relate. I moved states away from my original home and returns years later. It’s amazing how what we knew years earlier don’t have the same meaning and luster that I remembered.
This is a great short story that will make you think about things you remembered in the past and how much they have changed.
I received The Matchbook from the author for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
Not everything is as it first appears. Corbyn hunts down Sapphire, almost in a stalking manner, but he means the best for her. He was not expecting what he finds. I can relate. I moved states away from my original home and returns years later. It’s amazing how what we knew years earlier don’t have the same meaning and luster that I remembered.
This is a great short story that will make you think about things you remembered in the past and how much they have changed.
I received The Matchbook from the author for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
September 15, 2017
This is the third book I've read by author, Brent Jones. He's a gifted writer.
This short story is about regrets, or at least that's my interpretation of it. It's also about love...and how deeply one can be affected by someone they've only met once. I guess you really never know how big of an impression you can make when you're genuine and just being yourself.
How often do we wish we had done things differently? As the years go by, what do you do when you can't shake the feeling that you lost something, or someone, who never left your thoughts?
That's what this story is about.
The Matchbook is a quick and entertaining read by a talented writer.
This short story is about regrets, or at least that's my interpretation of it. It's also about love...and how deeply one can be affected by someone they've only met once. I guess you really never know how big of an impression you can make when you're genuine and just being yourself.
How often do we wish we had done things differently? As the years go by, what do you do when you can't shake the feeling that you lost something, or someone, who never left your thoughts?
That's what this story is about.
The Matchbook is a quick and entertaining read by a talented writer.
February 3, 2018
Short story
I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway.
In short (no pun intended), this was just a cute short story.
I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway.
In short (no pun intended), this was just a cute short story.
February 3, 2018
First, let me clear up a little confusion. When I first opened this story on my Kindle last night, I thought I pressed the button to tell Goodreads I was reading this story. But somehow that simple intention apparently got turned into a rating, which obviously was premature because I hadn't even read the story. Now that I actually have read The Matchmaker, my review follows.
The Matchmaker is a story of young Corbyn Thurber missing an opportunity for love, regretting his inaction for too long and then trying to find that opportunity again. As with most universal themes in fiction, the story depends less on the theme than the telling of the tale. Here I think the author, Brent Jones, has succeeded to a large degree. I won't throw in a spoiler, but will just say that Jones quietly covers a lot of important emotional ground in a few pages and does it believably and with grace.
The prose is smooth, reads fast and has a professional touch. As an old copy editor and writer myself, I'm a harsh critic of sloppy writing, and I'm happy to say that I found none of that in this story.
As good as all that is, I'm taking one star off my rating because of a few other matters:
1.) I found Charlotte the waitress unnecessarily harsh and judgmental. A little less attitude could have made her opinion resonate more.
2.) I wanted Corbyn to be a notch or two tougher without losing any of his compassion and longing. This may be one case where smooth prose does the character a disservice. So I wonder if a few sentence fragments and broken thoughts could have made Corbyn deeper and more compelling.
3.) The moral lesson that wrapped up the story struck me as too didactic and a little jarring in its tone. The story as a whole makes the same point in a convincing, artistic manner, so all I wanted at the end was for Corbyn to tell himself he wasn't going to make the same mistake again and then take action.
My quibbles aside, The Matchmaker is a story worth reading. It makes you think, and its well worth your 99 cents.
The Matchmaker is a story of young Corbyn Thurber missing an opportunity for love, regretting his inaction for too long and then trying to find that opportunity again. As with most universal themes in fiction, the story depends less on the theme than the telling of the tale. Here I think the author, Brent Jones, has succeeded to a large degree. I won't throw in a spoiler, but will just say that Jones quietly covers a lot of important emotional ground in a few pages and does it believably and with grace.
The prose is smooth, reads fast and has a professional touch. As an old copy editor and writer myself, I'm a harsh critic of sloppy writing, and I'm happy to say that I found none of that in this story.
As good as all that is, I'm taking one star off my rating because of a few other matters:
1.) I found Charlotte the waitress unnecessarily harsh and judgmental. A little less attitude could have made her opinion resonate more.
2.) I wanted Corbyn to be a notch or two tougher without losing any of his compassion and longing. This may be one case where smooth prose does the character a disservice. So I wonder if a few sentence fragments and broken thoughts could have made Corbyn deeper and more compelling.
3.) The moral lesson that wrapped up the story struck me as too didactic and a little jarring in its tone. The story as a whole makes the same point in a convincing, artistic manner, so all I wanted at the end was for Corbyn to tell himself he wasn't going to make the same mistake again and then take action.
My quibbles aside, The Matchmaker is a story worth reading. It makes you think, and its well worth your 99 cents.
July 10, 2018
I love that this is told in first person, I spent half of my reading time hoping he would find his long, lost love, and the other half wondering how real this love could be after one, hour-long conversation. It really makes you wonder about Corbyn's intentions - sometimes we remember events or people with such high esteem, only to find out later that those events/people weren't as great as they were.
I think this story is really about Sapphire - real name, Stephanie - and what has happened in her life during the seven years after her encounter with Corbyn. I don't really want to discuss it too much, because I don't want to spoil this story for anyone, but her reactions in the past and present are something else to think about.
This is a powerful short story. I knew Brent Jones was an incredible writer after reading Go Home, Afton, but this short story blew me away. His ability to create tension and cause readers to ponder the questions presented, in such a small amount of words is brilliant. It's the mark of a great story and a great writer, when a reader continues to think about a story, long after the last sentence is read.
I think this story is really about Sapphire - real name, Stephanie - and what has happened in her life during the seven years after her encounter with Corbyn. I don't really want to discuss it too much, because I don't want to spoil this story for anyone, but her reactions in the past and present are something else to think about.
This is a powerful short story. I knew Brent Jones was an incredible writer after reading Go Home, Afton, but this short story blew me away. His ability to create tension and cause readers to ponder the questions presented, in such a small amount of words is brilliant. It's the mark of a great story and a great writer, when a reader continues to think about a story, long after the last sentence is read.
September 5, 2017
Corbyn Thurber is really too young to know much about women, love, or life when he meets the lady late one night on a stop-over in Wakefield. In the ensuing years, however, with a little experience behind him, he still can't get her out of his head--or his heart. Perhaps it's all a fantasy, but he's compelled to find her and dispel or confirm the feelings he has harbored all this time.
It's a small town. It shouldn't be difficult to find her--surely someone knows where she is. But can the storybook ending he has harbored be made a reality?
This is a short story--premise driven--it'll grab you.
It's a small town. It shouldn't be difficult to find her--surely someone knows where she is. But can the storybook ending he has harbored be made a reality?
This is a short story--premise driven--it'll grab you.
September 11, 2017
This is a good short story . I enjoyed it mainly because it often happens that way. We meet someone or see something and when we get older, we return to search for that memory. Corbyn was fortunate to find his attractive woman but he found out that life and people change. I hope there will be a continuation as I would like to know what ends up happening...The suspence is killing me! Great writing Brent!
September 14, 2017
Have you ever gone back to that old movie that used to be your favourite and thought 'wow... I remember this being so much greater', or pulled out that old game system and realized how dated the graphics were? Well, Corbin Thurber certainly seems to. He had a perfect moment in his life that passed him by.. But, sometimes the reality of that moment isn't so perfect and people grow up and move on.. Or do they?
February 2, 2018
Short story
The Matchbook was a well written shortstory. Speaks of a young man coming of age and to terms with an event that happened when he was younger. He never gave up on a woman he met and went back for her.
The Matchbook was a well written shortstory. Speaks of a young man coming of age and to terms with an event that happened when he was younger. He never gave up on a woman he met and went back for her.
September 4, 2017
A young man visits the past in search of lost love, but discovers it's buried beneath dark small town secrets.
March 17, 2019
Solid 3.5 stars
Good story.
Good story.
September 4, 2017
I picked up this short story without reading the description first and was completely drawn in! I loved the layers to the story and it was a perfect length. Definitely recommending it!
Want to read
February 7, 2018I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways. It is a Kindle book.
Want to read
March 1, 2018I received this book for free from the author/publisher in response for an honest review of the book. I have not had the opportunity to read this book at this time. I will add my review of this book once I have read the book. Thank k you for allowing me the optometrist review your work. I look forward to reading this book.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews