Hot sand: An anthology

by Susan Kurosawa, Eric Yoshiaki Dando (Contributor), Barry Dickens (Contributor)

Short stories about the beach from Eric Yoshiaki Dando, Barry Dickens, Barry Humphries, Karen McKnight, Tim Winton and more.

Genres: Short Stories

383 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

You’ve had a hell of a year that dragged on and on, but you knuckled down and managed to endure all because you knew your Summer holiday was coming. You spent months thinking about the beach, the Hot Sand, the glistening bodies, your cute new swimsuit, and the crisp fresh water welcoming you to wash it all away. You’ll stay in a perfect fibro beach shack that’s pretty ordinary, but dirt cheap and in the best location. You’ll explore other beaches, you’ll come to appreciate how Australia really is one great Island. You’ll learn its secrets and share your own. You’ll have fun, active days, cool nights. You’ll finally be alive again. Your Summer holiday promises so much.
But it arrives, and, well, it’s a bit meh. It’s fine. Certainly some of it was enjoyable. It started off really well, there was one day that was brilliant. Surprising, and completely different to the plan and the other days. A bit bleak really, but you may have liked that one the best. It almost felt like some of the days were exactly the same. Some didn’t belong at all. Some were just a bit tacky, and there were more than a few typos. And, hang on a minute, what about that idea of exploring other beaches; did you just stay in the same area the whole time??
That is this book.

Some great authors, a couple of great stories; but unbalanced and the net result is mediocre.
It may be perfect for the library of a rented beach shack after all.