What do you think?
Rate this book
Glide
The old man walks slowly to the row of red chairs in the airport terminal. He sits down, opens his paper, and starts to read. A short while later, a woman approaches and finds a place to sit across from him. At a quiet gate, two strangers speak. Each with something to give, each with something to gain—a conversation and contemplation of simple coincidence, what is meant to be, and whatever space is left between the two.
- GenresShort StoriesFiction
29 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 6, 2017
10 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
September 26, 2019
4.5 stars rounded to 5 stars
What a powerful little slice of life this is! Glide is an engaging little-read short story that can be completed over lunch. Two elderly strangers, Mimi and Papa, pass the time together in an airport as they await the boarding of their flights. In the short span of 29 pages, we really get to know the essence of these two people, an impressive accomplishment by the author.
It’s revealing, it’s touching, it’s jolting. And if it hadn’t taken me a couple of minutes and a quick Google search to have the ending hit me full force, I’m sure I would have cried. As it was, I was totally stunned.
Bittersweet and a wonderful lesson learned.
Thank you to my new Goodreads friend Bren for bringing this story to my attention. Highly recommended for all.
What a powerful little slice of life this is! Glide is an engaging little-read short story that can be completed over lunch. Two elderly strangers, Mimi and Papa, pass the time together in an airport as they await the boarding of their flights. In the short span of 29 pages, we really get to know the essence of these two people, an impressive accomplishment by the author.
It’s revealing, it’s touching, it’s jolting. And if it hadn’t taken me a couple of minutes and a quick Google search to have the ending hit me full force, I’m sure I would have cried. As it was, I was totally stunned.
Bittersweet and a wonderful lesson learned.
Thank you to my new Goodreads friend Bren for bringing this story to my attention. Highly recommended for all.
January 27, 2025
"Groups and pairs and lone travelers, families on trips and the briefcased on business-different faces and different voices and different tones, all sizes and shapes and groups and colors strewn into a cacophony of unfiltered drones that leveled to a singular bridled commotion".
Glide by DWR II
Sometimes , when writing a review I will use the words "Gut punched" to describe how I felt about a certain book.
This was more like a body slam.
I really can't say to much. This is a slice of life short story about a meeting between two strangers at an airport. But it is so much more then that.
David Ridd is the name of the writer. Well..he made me cry. I may have just cried more then I have at some of the classics. You will know why if you read this story.
There are only two characters in it really. Well..also the airport. I have always ben fascinated by airports. I find them exciting and always have. As a frequent traveler with perpetual wander lust that I think I was born with, I've been at airports since before I could walk.
Everything about them I have found mysterious. And alluring. And I have had many a conversation with fellow travelers at these airports.
Nothing like the conversation in this story though. You know one is talented when, in the space of thirty or so pages, the characters become so real they jump off the page and speak to you. And you want to hug them because you know them.
If this is sounding all happy and dandy I do not mean it to. Bring Kleenex. And do not read if you are not prepared to be a bit shaken up. Actually more than a bit.
It is a beautiful story. It maybe the best short story I have ever read. I so want to talk about the ending but I guess I can't. I know how tempting it might be to look at the spoilers.
Can I just say I wanted something that did not happen? And I did not want something that did happen. So heartbreakingly beautiful.
Five stars.
Glide by DWR II
Sometimes , when writing a review I will use the words "Gut punched" to describe how I felt about a certain book.
This was more like a body slam.
I really can't say to much. This is a slice of life short story about a meeting between two strangers at an airport. But it is so much more then that.
David Ridd is the name of the writer. Well..he made me cry. I may have just cried more then I have at some of the classics. You will know why if you read this story.
There are only two characters in it really. Well..also the airport. I have always ben fascinated by airports. I find them exciting and always have. As a frequent traveler with perpetual wander lust that I think I was born with, I've been at airports since before I could walk.
Everything about them I have found mysterious. And alluring. And I have had many a conversation with fellow travelers at these airports.
Nothing like the conversation in this story though. You know one is talented when, in the space of thirty or so pages, the characters become so real they jump off the page and speak to you. And you want to hug them because you know them.
If this is sounding all happy and dandy I do not mean it to. Bring Kleenex. And do not read if you are not prepared to be a bit shaken up. Actually more than a bit.
It is a beautiful story. It maybe the best short story I have ever read. I so want to talk about the ending but I guess I can't. I know how tempting it might be to look at the spoilers.
Can I just say I wanted something that did not happen? And I did not want something that did happen. So heartbreakingly beautiful.
Five stars.
September 30, 2019
A random encounter in the airport by two strangers waiting for their respective flights to board. Haunting and bittersweet.
September 13, 2019
Two elderly strangers, keep each other company, in an airport, for a few short hours as they wait for their flights.
Amazing that in just 29 pages, I can feel so moved...
Thanks for putting this one on my radar, Bren!! 🛫🛫🛫🛫🛫
Amazing that in just 29 pages, I can feel so moved...
Thanks for putting this one on my radar, Bren!! 🛫🛫🛫🛫🛫
October 20, 2019
Waiting at the airport - The old man - The old newspaper - The old woman - Conversation - Shared secrets between strangers - A touching brief encounter - The end.
Oh my!
Hauntingly pleasant and painful read.
Well done!
September 23, 2018
I found this to be a very touching story. I loved the Airport setting . Airports have always fascinated me. They are places that are always alive, they have seen both happiness and sadness, and they are also places where many meaningful conversations develop. Strangers sometimes interact so deeply, yet briefly. The Story had a touch of fleeting happiness, sadness.... and life inevitably moving on....towards it's final destination.... just like a plane journey.
September 29, 2019
A lot of people seemed to like this book a lot, so I guess I must be missing something. I really didn't see much of a story here at all, and not much to learn that seemed very earth-shattering. It seemed to be saying something like don't put off letting those you care about know that you care, or something similar, but not in any really new way.
I realize the flight the man was waiting for was perhaps a surprise, but really, so what?
I realize the flight the man was waiting for was perhaps a surprise, but really, so what?
January 9, 2017
A wonderful first step.
Every author has their first step, the moment when they take that leap and publish their first work for the world to see. Glide is exactly that, and what a confident foray it is. The characters and their conversations are the kind that stick with you, the combination of simplicity and eloquence that we all hope for in our daily lives. Great books are written with sincerity, with moments that stand out to us in their simple wisdom. For such a short read, Glide is full of those. This is a short story that I will reflect on for some time to come.
Every author has their first step, the moment when they take that leap and publish their first work for the world to see. Glide is exactly that, and what a confident foray it is. The characters and their conversations are the kind that stick with you, the combination of simplicity and eloquence that we all hope for in our daily lives. Great books are written with sincerity, with moments that stand out to us in their simple wisdom. For such a short read, Glide is full of those. This is a short story that I will reflect on for some time to come.
February 25, 2020
It took a few moments for this story to sink in and for me to understand what I just read and what it meant. In fact, after I finished, I sat for a moment thinking - there is something I'm supposed to be getting here that I'm just not seeing. At first, it was just a lovely little story - simple, sweet, charming. Then it hit me. A quick Google search to check if I was right. Sure enough, I had the moment of clarity. And simple, sweet and charming became oh so bittersweet and much more powerful.
January 15, 2018
Shocker
Good chemistry develops between two erstwhile strangers, and then the unfinished story ends, but we all know the ending, regardless. Well done! Bravo!
Good chemistry develops between two erstwhile strangers, and then the unfinished story ends, but we all know the ending, regardless. Well done! Bravo!
October 19, 2019
Sweet short story,clever ending.
June 3, 2020
A nice book about older people like me
Complete strangers. A coincidental meeting at an airport. Stories shared of a lifetime of joy and regret. I wish there was more to it, but I am okay with it as is. Wisdom. Generosity. Regret. A blooming love with no end. Melancholy now. Great short story.
Complete strangers. A coincidental meeting at an airport. Stories shared of a lifetime of joy and regret. I wish there was more to it, but I am okay with it as is. Wisdom. Generosity. Regret. A blooming love with no end. Melancholy now. Great short story.
August 27, 2017
Charming read
At an airport waiting area a charming elderly gentleman and an equally charming lady meet. After small talk they have breakfast and confess their deepest secrets to each other. The writer puts their short airport journey into a great read.
At an airport waiting area a charming elderly gentleman and an equally charming lady meet. After small talk they have breakfast and confess their deepest secrets to each other. The writer puts their short airport journey into a great read.
September 25, 2018
Beautiful...
When Papa's flight was called, I felt as though a hand squeezed my heart just a bit. Loved the characters and their stories...very special.
When Papa's flight was called, I felt as though a hand squeezed my heart just a bit. Loved the characters and their stories...very special.
September 26, 2018
One of the most touching short stories I've ever read!! Such a beautiful story. A must read.
January 16, 2019
Warm and light-hearted read, with a bit of twist in the end.
February 3, 2019
As we glide through life
It was a lovely story that made me ponder my life, the choices I made and a different perspective of death.
It was a lovely story that made me ponder my life, the choices I made and a different perspective of death.
July 20, 2019
Excellent
Read and your heart will dance! I needed this read to put hope and love back into my heart...life indeed is short.
Read and your heart will dance! I needed this read to put hope and love back into my heart...life indeed is short.
November 18, 2020
Short but sweet. Although it has some spelling and vocabulary mistakes, I really enjoyed it. Nostalgic and dreamy. I also really liked the main characters and setting. The only "downside" is that there's a lot of unnecessary description. It works because it's a short story, but if wouldn't have worked if it was any longer.
April 22, 2020
A gem of a short story.
Glide focuses on the brief and touching encounter between two strangers waiting for their respective flights in an airport. As someone who has traveled extensively (and often alone) this feels very realistic.
Word of warning, the ending is a gut-punch.
Glide focuses on the brief and touching encounter between two strangers waiting for their respective flights in an airport. As someone who has traveled extensively (and often alone) this feels very realistic.
Word of warning, the ending is a gut-punch.
February 1, 2019
VERY short, quick read. I'm not quite sure what to make of it.
March 12, 2020
A brilliant short story about living life without regret.
May 12, 2020
This book is my first book that i've read completely in years and i've liked it. The story is entertaining.
January 15, 2021
Lovely morning read over coffee, brought a tear in my eye. A much needed touching and full of sweetness story during this challenging time. Gave me pause and hope.
February 4, 2025
The writing is terrible though the premise is not and the revelation at the end comes as quite a shock. .
November 7, 2025
3.75/5🌟. Such a emotional kind of and a cute short story. Papa and Mimi were adorable and I wish it was a little longer.
March 8, 2022
Ugh no. Even though it’s short it’s a waste of time to read.
I don’t understand why everyone else is giving it such high ratings?
I think the general idea of the story does have potential but imo it was poorly done here.
The only thing that kept me going to the end was knowing it was a short story and waiting with no avail to find out if there was a point or meaning or anything worthwhile to it. I kept hoping for it to come together somehow but it just felt like a bunch of ideas smushed together without much purpose.
Also the writing was all over the place, run on sentences, poor grammar and sentence structure which aren’t usually things I notice, so for me to have noticed they were bad is 😬.
And the characters names were kinda cringy and lacked creativity to say the least.
I don’t understand why everyone else is giving it such high ratings?
I think the general idea of the story does have potential but imo it was poorly done here.
The only thing that kept me going to the end was knowing it was a short story and waiting with no avail to find out if there was a point or meaning or anything worthwhile to it. I kept hoping for it to come together somehow but it just felt like a bunch of ideas smushed together without much purpose.
Also the writing was all over the place, run on sentences, poor grammar and sentence structure which aren’t usually things I notice, so for me to have noticed they were bad is 😬.
And the characters names were kinda cringy and lacked creativity to say the least.
September 7, 2020
A simple story
A simple story, indeed, with a shocking ending. Nothing happens, but yet, much is implied. We know what happens to PaPa, and it almost seems as if he might, as well.
A simple story, indeed, with a shocking ending. Nothing happens, but yet, much is implied. We know what happens to PaPa, and it almost seems as if he might, as well.
July 25, 2022
3.5 stars
cute slice of life w great message
the ending omg
cute slice of life w great message
the ending omg
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews