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Death is a Many-Splendored Thing
Fourteen short stories of “reality-based horror”We all die. Rich, poor, famous, unknown, cultured, or uneducated, we all leave this world. Some of us leave naturally, some of us leave accidentally, and some of us leave deliberately. Yet no matter what any of us do, we all face that final moment of our lives.Author’s NoteThese stories are based on real news articles, random things from the Internet, and personal accounts given to me by family and friends. Horror is not necessarily monsters and crazed serial killers, but rather our day-to-day lives and the sometimes overwhelming difficulties we face.
94 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 16, 2017
9 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
William Quincy Belle
15 books202 followersWilliam Quincy Belle is just a guy. Nobody famous; nobody rich; just some guy who likes to periodically add his two cents worth with the hope, accounting for inflation, that $0.02 is not over evaluating his contribution. He claims that at the heart of the writing process is some sort of (psychotic) urge to put it down on paper and likes to recite the following, which so far he hasn't been able to attribute to anyone: "A writer is an egomaniac with low self-esteem." You will find Mr. Belle's unbridled stream of consciousness floating around in cyberspace.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 9, 2019
14 stories about death. Each story unique. Each story from the point of view of the person doing the dying, and from the point of view of witnesses. Some stories seem to be showing karma at work. Some express a bit of irony. Others are just unfortunately timed. Some are about suicide. Nothing would lead you to believe that death is " a many splendored thing".
Well written. But these are stories that did not have any kind of moral lessons. None of the victims expressed any belief in God. Yes, life is unfair, and we will all go, but what is there to it? We cease to exist? Okay folks, keep going, there is nothing to see here, go about your business, etc, etc, etc.
Which leads me to just one question about this book, why was it written?
Well written. But these are stories that did not have any kind of moral lessons. None of the victims expressed any belief in God. Yes, life is unfair, and we will all go, but what is there to it? We cease to exist? Okay folks, keep going, there is nothing to see here, go about your business, etc, etc, etc.
Which leads me to just one question about this book, why was it written?
October 18, 2023
The description of this book was unusually different and this made me read the book.
It’s always good to try new genres and you never know when a book will end up surprising you.
This book is a collection of short stories that describe the last moments of people’s lives. People die accidentally, planned, unplanned, killed, with reason, without reason etc., and this book covers those topics. It also tells us how unpredictable life is. One thing that is noticeable in most of the short stories is the mental health of people. Mental health awareness is important because you never know what’s happening in a person’s mind, they may end up harming themselves or end up harming others too.
Overall, it’s a quick read and it’s good to read it during the spooky season.
It’s always good to try new genres and you never know when a book will end up surprising you.
This book is a collection of short stories that describe the last moments of people’s lives. People die accidentally, planned, unplanned, killed, with reason, without reason etc., and this book covers those topics. It also tells us how unpredictable life is. One thing that is noticeable in most of the short stories is the mental health of people. Mental health awareness is important because you never know what’s happening in a person’s mind, they may end up harming themselves or end up harming others too.
Overall, it’s a quick read and it’s good to read it during the spooky season.
February 2, 2019
14 coffee-break-length tales of death, exploring different ways of shuffling off the mortal coil. Suicide, murder, accidents, all based on real events. Despite the subject matter, there's nothing overly gruesome, but I think that's down to the way the author handled each situation. I really enjoyed this collection - especially the way different perspectives are given in most of the stories. Well worth picking up a copy.
November 4, 2023
Death is a Many-Splendored Thing" by William Quincy Belle offers a unique collection of stories that delve into the multifaceted aspects of death.
The concise and rhythmic writing style allows for a poignant exploration of characters' experiences with mortality, akin to how we cherish memories of our own losses. Some narratives portray death in the mundane details of life, like "Time Drains Away," where a victim of a house break-in grapples with mortality while replaying the incident in his mind. Others take a matter-of-fact approach to death, treating it as a routine or bureaucratic matter. Despite the sometimes grim scenarios, these stories feel relatable, like tales you might hear on the news or from acquaintances.
The collection skillfully illuminates various perspectives on death and its impact on the lives of those left behind.
Belle's writing is lucid and succinct, swiftly establishing characters and settings, creating a vivid sense of each character's final moments. The universal experience of death, something both shared and deeply personal, is thoughtfully depicted in these narratives. This quick read satisfies the curiosity about others' encounters with mortality. While some might find the topic morbid, I would argue that this is a tasteful exploration of the inevitable. The stories range from heart-wrenching to lighthearted, offering a well-rounded look at the human experience with death. "Death is a Many-Splendored Thing" is a thought-provoking collection based on real events, presenting both possible and actual final moments. Belle's compassionate portrayal of these stories sets them apart from typical news articles.
Death is an inescapable part of life, as the author poignantly illustrates, and this collection provides a profound reflection on our shared and deeply personal encounters with mortality. I found immense enjoyment in this book and would undoubtedly rate it with five stars.
Belle's work is clever, intriguing, fun, eye-opening, and presents a simple yet profound exploration of a topic that affects us all – the inevitability of death.
The concise and rhythmic writing style allows for a poignant exploration of characters' experiences with mortality, akin to how we cherish memories of our own losses. Some narratives portray death in the mundane details of life, like "Time Drains Away," where a victim of a house break-in grapples with mortality while replaying the incident in his mind. Others take a matter-of-fact approach to death, treating it as a routine or bureaucratic matter. Despite the sometimes grim scenarios, these stories feel relatable, like tales you might hear on the news or from acquaintances.
The collection skillfully illuminates various perspectives on death and its impact on the lives of those left behind.
Belle's writing is lucid and succinct, swiftly establishing characters and settings, creating a vivid sense of each character's final moments. The universal experience of death, something both shared and deeply personal, is thoughtfully depicted in these narratives. This quick read satisfies the curiosity about others' encounters with mortality. While some might find the topic morbid, I would argue that this is a tasteful exploration of the inevitable. The stories range from heart-wrenching to lighthearted, offering a well-rounded look at the human experience with death. "Death is a Many-Splendored Thing" is a thought-provoking collection based on real events, presenting both possible and actual final moments. Belle's compassionate portrayal of these stories sets them apart from typical news articles.
Death is an inescapable part of life, as the author poignantly illustrates, and this collection provides a profound reflection on our shared and deeply personal encounters with mortality. I found immense enjoyment in this book and would undoubtedly rate it with five stars.
Belle's work is clever, intriguing, fun, eye-opening, and presents a simple yet profound exploration of a topic that affects us all – the inevitability of death.
February 20, 2019
4.5 Cranky Stars
William Quincy Belle gave a voice to those stories you read about in the news. The ones you wonder what lead up to those crucial moments. The story about a family out for a family dinner to celebrate and suddenly half the family is wiped out. That tires that fly off an 18-wheeler and the damage it can cause. The suicide no one saw coming till it literally splats right in front of you. Those little anxiety ridden doomsday thoughts I’m sure some of us have had. The what if and the what could have beens. Death isn’t always tragic or gruesome it can be an ending of your own design after years of suffering.
I was hooked from the first story. I binge on ID channel and serial killer documentaries. I’m curious about the human brain and what makes it tick. I think the stories that really stuck out to me was the distracted driver because we see so much of it and I’ve encountered it myself. The 18-wheeler tire because my husband has instilled in my brain how even being on side of them for more an a few seconds could be deadly. I really enjoyed this series of short stories and I’m glad I got a chance to read them.
William Quincy Belle gave a voice to those stories you read about in the news. The ones you wonder what lead up to those crucial moments. The story about a family out for a family dinner to celebrate and suddenly half the family is wiped out. That tires that fly off an 18-wheeler and the damage it can cause. The suicide no one saw coming till it literally splats right in front of you. Those little anxiety ridden doomsday thoughts I’m sure some of us have had. The what if and the what could have beens. Death isn’t always tragic or gruesome it can be an ending of your own design after years of suffering.
I was hooked from the first story. I binge on ID channel and serial killer documentaries. I’m curious about the human brain and what makes it tick. I think the stories that really stuck out to me was the distracted driver because we see so much of it and I’ve encountered it myself. The 18-wheeler tire because my husband has instilled in my brain how even being on side of them for more an a few seconds could be deadly. I really enjoyed this series of short stories and I’m glad I got a chance to read them.
December 30, 2023
Author Belle's adept writing style intricately explores characters' encounters with mortality, creating a poignant reflection reminiscent of our own losses.
Some stories delve into the ordinary aspects of life intertwined with death, such as "Time Drains Away," where a burglary victim grapples with mortality while replaying the incident mentally. Other narratives adopt a matter-of-fact approach, treating death as routine or bureaucratic. Despite the sometimes somber scenarios, the stories maintain a relatable tone akin to news reports or anecdotes from acquaintances.
The book skillfully navigates the challenging topic of death, presenting a collection of tales that balance objectivity, informativeness, and vivid imagery.
Author Belle successfully crafts a narrative that allows readers to absorb the stories as if shared casually by a friend.
The exploration of death's various perspectives and its impact on those left behind is both clever and illuminating.
Five enormous stars are well-deserved for this gracefully written, interesting, and eye-opening collection.
This is a delightful and thought-provoking journey into the complexities of life and mortality.
Some stories delve into the ordinary aspects of life intertwined with death, such as "Time Drains Away," where a burglary victim grapples with mortality while replaying the incident mentally. Other narratives adopt a matter-of-fact approach, treating death as routine or bureaucratic. Despite the sometimes somber scenarios, the stories maintain a relatable tone akin to news reports or anecdotes from acquaintances.
The book skillfully navigates the challenging topic of death, presenting a collection of tales that balance objectivity, informativeness, and vivid imagery.
Author Belle successfully crafts a narrative that allows readers to absorb the stories as if shared casually by a friend.
The exploration of death's various perspectives and its impact on those left behind is both clever and illuminating.
Five enormous stars are well-deserved for this gracefully written, interesting, and eye-opening collection.
This is a delightful and thought-provoking journey into the complexities of life and mortality.
January 17, 2023
Very short reads that attempt to create a bit of background to some startling and/or mysterious deaths. Ranging from accidents, to murder, to suicide, all have a twist that make them that little bit more unsettling or disturbing or unsettling. I recognized a few - others were unfamiliar to me, but followed familiar paths. Some are visually macabre, some are psychologically distressing, some are just horrible tragic timing, some are flat out creepy. As these are brief reads the story telling is more along the lines of the gossip behind the headline - not a full rich novel type telling. For the most part, this isn't overt gore or scares horror, it is the everyday type that creeps up on you and echoes in your thoughts days later when you least expect it giving you shudders as you suddenly look at something familiar in a new and disconcerting way.
February 1, 2019
A man jumps from the 48th floor.
A love that goes unrequited for a lonely, fat man.
A mad woman ranting over the outrage regarding the 9/11 attacks.
“Desperate people do desperate things, and sometimes they see no other way out.” (7)
Candid and well-versed, these short stories are a witty portrayal of life’s challenges and the untimely demise. Tales were so refreshingly frank and had that wonderful touch of irony.
“It’s an amazing moment…when you come face to face with your mortality…There’s the possibility of seeing that time cut short by unforeseen circumstances.” (69)
With haunting beauty and keen perception, the author managed to make death a splendored thing. A good read!
A love that goes unrequited for a lonely, fat man.
A mad woman ranting over the outrage regarding the 9/11 attacks.
“Desperate people do desperate things, and sometimes they see no other way out.” (7)
Candid and well-versed, these short stories are a witty portrayal of life’s challenges and the untimely demise. Tales were so refreshingly frank and had that wonderful touch of irony.
“It’s an amazing moment…when you come face to face with your mortality…There’s the possibility of seeing that time cut short by unforeseen circumstances.” (69)
With haunting beauty and keen perception, the author managed to make death a splendored thing. A good read!
December 20, 2022
Death is a Many Splendored Thing by William Quincy Belle is a collection of short stories about the many different ways people can die. The stories were short and easy to read. The writing was quite entertaining considering the topic of each short story. If you enjoy a quick read that leaves you feeling satisfied, this collection is for you.
My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions expressed are
my own.
My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions expressed are
my own.
February 7, 2019
This was good, I think the book should have a Trigger Warning on it, the many ways to die, I enjoyed how most of the stories showed the Different perspectives. I received this book from the Hidden Gems website and voluntarily choose to review all the above opinions are my own.
February 10, 2019
wow...this was a very intriguing book. I enjoyed this was based off true stuff. I'm voluntarily leaving an honest review for a copy of the book via hidden gems.
April 14, 2019
Great read.
Sometimes I just want to read short stories. I loved the stories & how they were told. I'm definately going to read more of William Quincy Belle' s other books.
Sometimes I just want to read short stories. I loved the stories & how they were told. I'm definately going to read more of William Quincy Belle' s other books.
June 14, 2019
14 stories about death and I was dying of boredom
14 seconds in. No depth to the characters, not much background story either.
14 seconds in. No depth to the characters, not much background story either.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews