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Ten Seconds
The ten loosely interconnected stories in this collection (nine flash fiction and one short story) focus on small moments of everyday life. Overall, the book tries to present, metaphorically, a human life, from birth to death.
[Flash Fiction: fictional work of extreme brevity (up to 1000 words) that still offers character and plot development; also known as microfiction, sudden fiction, or micro-story. (Wikipedia)]
[Flash Fiction: fictional work of extreme brevity (up to 1000 words) that still offers character and plot development; also known as microfiction, sudden fiction, or micro-story. (Wikipedia)]
34 pages, Paperback
Published November 8, 2018
About the author
Lucian Lupescu
12 books10 followersLucian Lupescu is an English/French/Italian/Romanian freelance translator since 2008. He did some independent forensic linguistics research, after studying with Dr. John Olsson. Sometimes he writes fiction, and creates digital art. Bylines in "Philosophy Now," "Translation Journal," and "Synthography Magazine."
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
August 23, 2019
Endurance
Ten Seconds is a collection of ten Flash Fiction and Short Stories that grab moments of life that have meaning and emotional pull. The stories start at an occurrence of birth, then journey through episodes of flash memories as a child, a teenager, an adult, married, in a career and end with the finality of death. The stories exhibit a pervading sense of loss and loneliness, even the birth story tells of losing the safety of the womb to a world where:
The writing style is lyrical, punchy and creates wonderful images that bring incidents alive and leverage the personalities of a range of different characters. With the constraints of flash fiction writing, I was impressed by how the characters rendered so much meaning. There were times when the narrative didn’t just quite hit home, but each story held my attention and made me think.
I would recommend reading this book and I would like to thank Lucian Lupescu for providing me with a free copy of his book in return for an honest review.
Ten Seconds is a collection of ten Flash Fiction and Short Stories that grab moments of life that have meaning and emotional pull. The stories start at an occurrence of birth, then journey through episodes of flash memories as a child, a teenager, an adult, married, in a career and end with the finality of death. The stories exhibit a pervading sense of loss and loneliness, even the birth story tells of losing the safety of the womb to a world where:
“The bright light almost blinds you. The extremely loud noises almost deafen you. There is confusion. Fear. And cold. So cold.Each piece gives us a glimpse into the mental state of the character and we often feel their detachment and resignation in accepting defeat, but that it is tolerable, and some smaller aspects of life can still hold anticipation, like an encounter with someone.
You will not remember any of this, even though you will relive it again and again, until the end.”
The writing style is lyrical, punchy and creates wonderful images that bring incidents alive and leverage the personalities of a range of different characters. With the constraints of flash fiction writing, I was impressed by how the characters rendered so much meaning. There were times when the narrative didn’t just quite hit home, but each story held my attention and made me think.
I would recommend reading this book and I would like to thank Lucian Lupescu for providing me with a free copy of his book in return for an honest review.
February 25, 2019
***** ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
This Romanian guy writes in English better than some few English native authors, and not just that, is fluent in street talk and the whole thing sounds so good.
The short stories are very well written, too short for my taste, but Lucian has potential. If he could captured details in short stories you can imagine how good it will be when he will write a book.
Is been too long since I've read a brilliant work from a Romanian author, congrats Lucian!
Thank you for trusting me with your work and please start writing a full story !
This Romanian guy writes in English better than some few English native authors, and not just that, is fluent in street talk and the whole thing sounds so good.
The short stories are very well written, too short for my taste, but Lucian has potential. If he could captured details in short stories you can imagine how good it will be when he will write a book.
Is been too long since I've read a brilliant work from a Romanian author, congrats Lucian!
Thank you for trusting me with your work and please start writing a full story !
June 11, 2019
At first I want to thank the author for the review copy of this book We have ten classic short stories here that form a circle of life. 'Onset' starts with the pains of birth, 'Big Brother' documents the carefreeness of youth, 'Bad Strategy', a bit too long winded, shows how a bullied boy finds fulfilment in a brutal shooter game; then we came to my first favourite, 'A Day Like Any Other' about the loss of a beloved cat who always lived in the house with Karen, 'Ten Seconds' is about taking chances: when you're not promoted maybe you have luck with women,; 'Perfect Marriage' shows the monotony of sex life of a couple that's married for quite a time. With 'A Nice Ring' you have to ask yourself the question if everything that glitters is pure gold. 'On The Bus' is another fine story and favourite of mine: what changed in a prisoner's mind and what remained; 'Birthday' is a nice looking back on former festivities and life with the kids at home. 'Quietus' is the final chapter of ongoing surgery no one wants to suffer from. A fine book of short stories, well plotted and well written. The author really has potential and some of his stories can be regarded as modern classics you won't forget. Highly recommended!
August 15, 2019
Life in Cartoons
I felt these flash fiction stories as a sequence of life cartoons:
In the first one, you’ll picture yourself in the safety of the womb. All sorts of sounds and noises come to you, but everything is in a blur. You’re safe and sheltered, and nothing truly affects you. This valuable feeling of protection will remain with you as long as you live, to pull you out of a storm, every time you feel overwhelmed by uncontrollable events.
In the next cartoon you’re already a kid and your parents are constantly fighting. You’re no longer shielded, no longer in the comfortable safeness of the womb, which means, you’re bound to suffer some of the annoying effects. However, it won’t be much of a deal, cos problems are adults stuff, definitely not for kids like you.
On and on they’ll go, a set of snaps, portraying significant life moments you can easily relate to...
This bunch of life tales concerns all of us. It’s about being born, evolving (or not?!) until naturally decaying. It’s an exquisite menu for thought, for pondering over human growth! 😍
All in all , “Ten Seconds” made me think of life’s brevity. If it’s all about Ten Seconds, better start making the most out of each!😉
A Tiny Jewel for Life Thinkers 🥰👍
I felt these flash fiction stories as a sequence of life cartoons:
In the first one, you’ll picture yourself in the safety of the womb. All sorts of sounds and noises come to you, but everything is in a blur. You’re safe and sheltered, and nothing truly affects you. This valuable feeling of protection will remain with you as long as you live, to pull you out of a storm, every time you feel overwhelmed by uncontrollable events.
In the next cartoon you’re already a kid and your parents are constantly fighting. You’re no longer shielded, no longer in the comfortable safeness of the womb, which means, you’re bound to suffer some of the annoying effects. However, it won’t be much of a deal, cos problems are adults stuff, definitely not for kids like you.
On and on they’ll go, a set of snaps, portraying significant life moments you can easily relate to...
This bunch of life tales concerns all of us. It’s about being born, evolving (or not?!) until naturally decaying. It’s an exquisite menu for thought, for pondering over human growth! 😍
All in all , “Ten Seconds” made me think of life’s brevity. If it’s all about Ten Seconds, better start making the most out of each!😉
A Tiny Jewel for Life Thinkers 🥰👍
October 20, 2019
First and foremost, a large thank you to Lucian Lupescu for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
I was recently asked if I would read and review a collection of flash fiction stories by Lucian Lupescu. This collection proved to be unique, not only for the length of the short pieces, but also for the collected thread that runs through the writing, while keeping each independent in their own right. Lupescu tells a collection ten short stories that span the ever-evolving life of a protagonist, one who usually differs from piece to piece. From the opening story about life in utero through to the coming to terms with failed relationships or empty sexual experiences, the pieces end in the twilight of someone's life. The pieces, which can be read together or independently show a passion for the written word, though some are so short that the reader has little time to get acclimated before the final period appears.A decent collection that should only take the length of consumption of a beverage, but will linger long after the final page turn. Recommended for those who love short stories as well as the progression of life through a series of short writings.
I struggle to write this review, not because the stories in this collection are sub-par, but due to their brevity. Perhaps intended to be so, Lucian Lupescu certainly uses the title of his collection to denote the length a quick reader will take between pieces. Literally a set of literary snapshots, Lupescu shows that he has a way with words, while also showing that he can leave the reader wondering as each piece ends abruptly. There is no way to fixate or become attached to any of the characters herein, but Lupescu writes in such a way that he invites extrapolation by the reader as to what might come next, or how things got to this point. Unique does not seem the right word, though it surely fits in this situation. I can only hope others will take this brief journey and find themselves composing their own personal sequels or series to those they encounter within the pages of this brief collection.
Kudos, Mr. Lupescu, for giving me the opportunity to enjoy this collection over a quick cup of tea!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
I was recently asked if I would read and review a collection of flash fiction stories by Lucian Lupescu. This collection proved to be unique, not only for the length of the short pieces, but also for the collected thread that runs through the writing, while keeping each independent in their own right. Lupescu tells a collection ten short stories that span the ever-evolving life of a protagonist, one who usually differs from piece to piece. From the opening story about life in utero through to the coming to terms with failed relationships or empty sexual experiences, the pieces end in the twilight of someone's life. The pieces, which can be read together or independently show a passion for the written word, though some are so short that the reader has little time to get acclimated before the final period appears.A decent collection that should only take the length of consumption of a beverage, but will linger long after the final page turn. Recommended for those who love short stories as well as the progression of life through a series of short writings.
I struggle to write this review, not because the stories in this collection are sub-par, but due to their brevity. Perhaps intended to be so, Lucian Lupescu certainly uses the title of his collection to denote the length a quick reader will take between pieces. Literally a set of literary snapshots, Lupescu shows that he has a way with words, while also showing that he can leave the reader wondering as each piece ends abruptly. There is no way to fixate or become attached to any of the characters herein, but Lupescu writes in such a way that he invites extrapolation by the reader as to what might come next, or how things got to this point. Unique does not seem the right word, though it surely fits in this situation. I can only hope others will take this brief journey and find themselves composing their own personal sequels or series to those they encounter within the pages of this brief collection.
Kudos, Mr. Lupescu, for giving me the opportunity to enjoy this collection over a quick cup of tea!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
March 27, 2020
Ten Seconds by Lucian Lupescu is a delightful little pack of flash fiction to fulfill your TBR shelf.
I needed something soft yet brilliant to read, and this just fit the bill. I didn't want tons of commitment, I didn't want something that would make my brain hurt or make me anxious with the world going into apocalypse mode. Lucky for me, Lucian Lupescu crafted a lovely collection of flash fiction that took my brain off of all the insanity going on in the world right now. Thank you, seriously.
Each story follows a slice of life, as you will. Onset tackles birth, Bad Strategy holds fury and anger, Big Brother the pain of loss, and more. They are all a little bit different, but all simple enough to read and very engaging. I found each one to have their own little 'umph' that had me continue with these stories. It helps they aren't very long either, which makes it so simple to binge another one.
I would definitely recommend this book if you're looking for something short and sweet yet also poetic and well written. I even went through this little collection twice because I enjoyed it so much, which is honestly a rare feat for me. If you haven't grabbed it yet, take a little peek and enjoy the ride! It's well worth it!
Four out of five stars!
Thank you to Lucian Lupescu for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
I needed something soft yet brilliant to read, and this just fit the bill. I didn't want tons of commitment, I didn't want something that would make my brain hurt or make me anxious with the world going into apocalypse mode. Lucky for me, Lucian Lupescu crafted a lovely collection of flash fiction that took my brain off of all the insanity going on in the world right now. Thank you, seriously.
Each story follows a slice of life, as you will. Onset tackles birth, Bad Strategy holds fury and anger, Big Brother the pain of loss, and more. They are all a little bit different, but all simple enough to read and very engaging. I found each one to have their own little 'umph' that had me continue with these stories. It helps they aren't very long either, which makes it so simple to binge another one.
I would definitely recommend this book if you're looking for something short and sweet yet also poetic and well written. I even went through this little collection twice because I enjoyed it so much, which is honestly a rare feat for me. If you haven't grabbed it yet, take a little peek and enjoy the ride! It's well worth it!
Four out of five stars!
Thank you to Lucian Lupescu for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
June 16, 2019
4 👏🤩😮👏🌟✨s
I was among the readers who were asked by the author for an honest pov, regarding Ten Seconds. Although this genre doesn’t belong to my reading preferences, I couldn’t deny, due to his polite and kind request.
Lucian Lupescu composed ten short stories regarding scenes from everyday life, from conception to demise. I was impressed of his use of english language, while it is not his native. He delivered many emotions and depth in those small stories, with an unfussy writing having as a target the reader’s captivation.
The specific stories had an aura of loneliness though, and brought a heaviness of heart. But life is not always flowers and sunshine...
I would like to thank the author and wish all the best on his next release!
I was among the readers who were asked by the author for an honest pov, regarding Ten Seconds. Although this genre doesn’t belong to my reading preferences, I couldn’t deny, due to his polite and kind request.
Lucian Lupescu composed ten short stories regarding scenes from everyday life, from conception to demise. I was impressed of his use of english language, while it is not his native. He delivered many emotions and depth in those small stories, with an unfussy writing having as a target the reader’s captivation.
The specific stories had an aura of loneliness though, and brought a heaviness of heart. But life is not always flowers and sunshine...
I would like to thank the author and wish all the best on his next release!
March 2, 2020
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A collection of short stories about different aspects of life. The effects of debt on a family, to a bullied boy, repressed in the real world finding an escape in cyberspace.
All the stories were good as far as they go I would be interested to see how the author writes longer stories with character development.
A good quick read, worth looking through, and interesting to see what could come next.
A collection of short stories about different aspects of life. The effects of debt on a family, to a bullied boy, repressed in the real world finding an escape in cyberspace.
All the stories were good as far as they go I would be interested to see how the author writes longer stories with character development.
A good quick read, worth looking through, and interesting to see what could come next.
March 29, 2019
This was a very interesting and surprising read.
It´s the first microfiction or micro-story type of book that I´ve read.
The stories are pretty good, straight to the point and interesting and the author´s English is very good, considering that (I think) he´s not a native English.
I would definitely read more of that kind of work, it was very enjoyable.
It´s the first microfiction or micro-story type of book that I´ve read.
The stories are pretty good, straight to the point and interesting and the author´s English is very good, considering that (I think) he´s not a native English.
I would definitely read more of that kind of work, it was very enjoyable.
April 28, 2020
Life is a blur. Moments become memories that become flashes and before you know it you’re old or dead. Flash fiction is a genre well-suited for tackling life as a series of recollections. Each story is calibrated to carry as much emotional punch as their constricted length allows.
This very short book consists of nine flash fictions and one short story. The flash fictions roll into one another with the cumulative effect of a cinematic montage. The significantly insignificant moments in the lives of their nondescript characters merge and stumble over one another, vying for significance, begging for recognition.
The book works well as a concept, which is why the inclusion of a short story left me scratching my head. It's a good story and I enjoyed it, but its length broke the momentum that the flash fictions were building up. I feel like the project would have been more interesting if the author had committed to utilising flash fiction through and through.
Thank you to the author for reaching out and providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
This very short book consists of nine flash fictions and one short story. The flash fictions roll into one another with the cumulative effect of a cinematic montage. The significantly insignificant moments in the lives of their nondescript characters merge and stumble over one another, vying for significance, begging for recognition.
The book works well as a concept, which is why the inclusion of a short story left me scratching my head. It's a good story and I enjoyed it, but its length broke the momentum that the flash fictions were building up. I feel like the project would have been more interesting if the author had committed to utilising flash fiction through and through.
Thank you to the author for reaching out and providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 25, 2020
In Ten Seconds are 10 short stories, with different topics like for example a Birthday short story and a Perfect Marriage short story plus a short story about Ten Seconds, with many other wonderful short stories. This book is absolutely ideal for anyone who can't read long books and an interesting short book for many readers that just love reading all types of books. I think that this short book would be a good source to discuss at book clubs.
September 26, 2018
Great surprise to read a Romanian author who's writing so well in English. What I love about the short stories is that every word is precious. Lucian is very good at it, he gives a well controlled dose of surprise and bitterness, he has a calm and natural voice to tell the stories - thats quite a rare quality for the Romanian writers today. I really enjoyed it and warmly recommend it.
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February 25, 2019I've answered some questions about my book here: https://asynonymforrambling.wordpress...
August 12, 2024
I got this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. And yes, it took me years 😢
But till now it was never the right time....
Till yesterday, the flight ✈️, the scrolling the list of possibilities and feeling that yep, now is the time.
This is a collection of short stories, reflecting human's life from the start till the last moment. On the small scale author plays big. Or to be precise he notes the moments that usually go unnoticed... Those little precious moments that we usually really miss.
I loved the most stories with animals - cat story and story about released prison. So were not that favourite with me as the bullied boy playing shooting online game.
Overall short and easy to read stories, great English which I like and good matter for thought 💭 🤔.
I'm letting 4 happy spoilt 🐈 🐈 🐈 🐈 roam around in the 🌞.
First sentence: In the beginning there was warm wetness.
Last sentence: Must be the anesthesia.
Goodreads Challenge 2024: 73. book
But till now it was never the right time....
Till yesterday, the flight ✈️, the scrolling the list of possibilities and feeling that yep, now is the time.
This is a collection of short stories, reflecting human's life from the start till the last moment. On the small scale author plays big. Or to be precise he notes the moments that usually go unnoticed... Those little precious moments that we usually really miss.
I loved the most stories with animals - cat story and story about released prison. So were not that favourite with me as the bullied boy playing shooting online game.
Overall short and easy to read stories, great English which I like and good matter for thought 💭 🤔.
I'm letting 4 happy spoilt 🐈 🐈 🐈 🐈 roam around in the 🌞.
First sentence: In the beginning there was warm wetness.
Last sentence: Must be the anesthesia.
Goodreads Challenge 2024: 73. book
June 28, 2019
First of all, thank you to the author Lucian, for giving me a review copy of the book.
I have never read Flash fiction before, and this was a great book to get my eyes open for the genre.
I was so caught up in every single story, it had so much feeling and so much emotion, which for me is very impressive when the stories are so short.
The short story, however, was my favorite. I really loved 'Bad strategy' I found it so honest and real, and very emotional to read.
I would definitely recommend this book to everyone!
I have never read Flash fiction before, and this was a great book to get my eyes open for the genre.
I was so caught up in every single story, it had so much feeling and so much emotion, which for me is very impressive when the stories are so short.
The short story, however, was my favorite. I really loved 'Bad strategy' I found it so honest and real, and very emotional to read.
I would definitely recommend this book to everyone!
February 8, 2019
Lucian is a keen observer of the human condition with much passion for details. In every short story he spends "ten seconds" with his characters giving the possibility to the reader to do as well. I found the 1st and the last chapter very inspiring as metaphors of the beginning and the end of life and why not of a writer and his book! Well done, Lucian! I truly enjoyed your book and hope that you will continue writing.
October 14, 2019
The concept behind this collection is ambitious and heartfelt: to portray in sequence the course of life from birth to death through various moments, mundane yet intense, that end up defining that life. Though there is a poignancy to many of these moments, all of which involve either miscommunication, mixed messages, things left unsaid, and a general isolation and sadness; the abiding poignancy for me as a reader, was to see sincere heartfelt intentions and feelings of the author fall short due to awkward language, cliché, and a lack of specificity. Too much of the language read like an awkward translation, and too many of the moments felt borrowed from other works, or were melodramatic tropes, rather than arising from specific personal experiences.
I will focus on one story, the title story, as an illustration. It is about a middle-aged man who lives alone and seems to exist only between his residence and his office. The story takes place during a single day. On this day he is hoping to get a promotion. While walking to work he becomes enraptured with the sight of raindrops in a woman’s raven hair. He is so enraptured during the ten seconds he is looking at this woman that she becomes a veritable goddess, and he feels a love and adoration for this woman that he has never felt in his life. Then it’s over and he is at work. He does not get the promotion and that night he goes to sleep dreaming of the woman.
There are a number of sentences in this story that read awkwardly to me. He was moving through the same streets for twenty-five years, since he was hired… Smith’s parents were dead, and he lived alone now, but his predicament suited him equally… The woman coughed with a strong voice… The story also lacks the details that would define it as a specific place. Street names and other descriptors are used as the man walks to work, but the setting reminds me more of The Truman Show than any place real. Even the description of the man’s lunch struck me as very odd and unreal: At noon he went to the restaurant on Fourth Street, ordering a medium-rare steak with baked potatoes on the side. I could not help but wonder who eats a steak and multiple baked potatoes for lunch? It struck me as perhaps something seen in a movie or TV show from the 1950’s, or maybe is the kind of lunch Truman Burbank ate. Still, though, even through this awkwardness and unreality the poignancy of the character’s yearning for something more managed to come through, as I could identify with the ten seconds of near-hallucinatory details as he stared at the woman and the raindrops in her hair. The fantastical sequence was the truest part of the story for me.
The author was, I am sure, aspiring to make the reader feel a poignant sadness, but not in the way I felt this poignant sadness. I could feel the emotion behind the work, but to feel it myself I had to practically ignore the work itself. That I felt the author falling so short of his goal made me feel sad for him, rather than his characters. At times I almost reached the point that I thought there was a meta-intent behind the work: that the work itself was a larger example of the miscommunication and disconnect illustrated in each story, and that the author had intended the work to have the failings it has, and that I was intended to feel a sadness for the author rather than the characters, that the author was the real main character of the work. I am not trying to be convoluted or cleaver here. I am honestly portraying my own internal acrobatics as I wrestled with how to evaluate the collection.
Since the author contacted me to ask if I would honestly review his work, I ended up having some back and forth with him, and so the author became a person to me, rather than just a faceless author on the internet, and so my interpersonal emotions came into play as I evaluated the book. I began asking myself: is Lucian attempting to distill a lifetime of wisdom into a collection of flash fiction, and since he mentions Stoner by John Williams as a major influence of his, are Lucian’s stories not only trafficking in the same sublime sadness, dogged isolation, and poignant personal failure of the Williams novel, but also is Ten Seconds Lucian’s own version of the book authored by Stoner, which was for all intents and purposes a failure, but which nevertheless was the crowning achievement and essence of Stoner’s life? I began feeling for Lucian as I felt for Stoner and his book, which unfortunately was the only way I could experience the emotions I think Lucian was attempting to get into the stories themselves, with no metacritical acrobatics required.
I will focus on one story, the title story, as an illustration. It is about a middle-aged man who lives alone and seems to exist only between his residence and his office. The story takes place during a single day. On this day he is hoping to get a promotion. While walking to work he becomes enraptured with the sight of raindrops in a woman’s raven hair. He is so enraptured during the ten seconds he is looking at this woman that she becomes a veritable goddess, and he feels a love and adoration for this woman that he has never felt in his life. Then it’s over and he is at work. He does not get the promotion and that night he goes to sleep dreaming of the woman.
There are a number of sentences in this story that read awkwardly to me. He was moving through the same streets for twenty-five years, since he was hired… Smith’s parents were dead, and he lived alone now, but his predicament suited him equally… The woman coughed with a strong voice… The story also lacks the details that would define it as a specific place. Street names and other descriptors are used as the man walks to work, but the setting reminds me more of The Truman Show than any place real. Even the description of the man’s lunch struck me as very odd and unreal: At noon he went to the restaurant on Fourth Street, ordering a medium-rare steak with baked potatoes on the side. I could not help but wonder who eats a steak and multiple baked potatoes for lunch? It struck me as perhaps something seen in a movie or TV show from the 1950’s, or maybe is the kind of lunch Truman Burbank ate. Still, though, even through this awkwardness and unreality the poignancy of the character’s yearning for something more managed to come through, as I could identify with the ten seconds of near-hallucinatory details as he stared at the woman and the raindrops in her hair. The fantastical sequence was the truest part of the story for me.
The author was, I am sure, aspiring to make the reader feel a poignant sadness, but not in the way I felt this poignant sadness. I could feel the emotion behind the work, but to feel it myself I had to practically ignore the work itself. That I felt the author falling so short of his goal made me feel sad for him, rather than his characters. At times I almost reached the point that I thought there was a meta-intent behind the work: that the work itself was a larger example of the miscommunication and disconnect illustrated in each story, and that the author had intended the work to have the failings it has, and that I was intended to feel a sadness for the author rather than the characters, that the author was the real main character of the work. I am not trying to be convoluted or cleaver here. I am honestly portraying my own internal acrobatics as I wrestled with how to evaluate the collection.
Since the author contacted me to ask if I would honestly review his work, I ended up having some back and forth with him, and so the author became a person to me, rather than just a faceless author on the internet, and so my interpersonal emotions came into play as I evaluated the book. I began asking myself: is Lucian attempting to distill a lifetime of wisdom into a collection of flash fiction, and since he mentions Stoner by John Williams as a major influence of his, are Lucian’s stories not only trafficking in the same sublime sadness, dogged isolation, and poignant personal failure of the Williams novel, but also is Ten Seconds Lucian’s own version of the book authored by Stoner, which was for all intents and purposes a failure, but which nevertheless was the crowning achievement and essence of Stoner’s life? I began feeling for Lucian as I felt for Stoner and his book, which unfortunately was the only way I could experience the emotions I think Lucian was attempting to get into the stories themselves, with no metacritical acrobatics required.
October 8, 2018
I should start by saying that I rarely read short stories. And I enjoyed Lucian’s stories to the point I would have liked to read more :) A warm voice, very considerate with the words, a background for the stories that is somewhat familiar, but not from the “local” reality, rather from American TV series. I think there’ s good potential to add more nuances and flavors to these stories and I’m looking forward for more.
May 19, 2019
It only takes a moment – savoring the mysteries of being
Romanian author Lucian Lupescu is a freelance translator, providing his services in English, French, Italian and Romanian. He is a proponent of flash fiction and uses that propinquity in this fine book TEN SECONDS. His other published book, IMPROVING ANKLE AND KNEE JOINT STABILITY, suggests his spectrum of interests is broad.
Ten shared moments – most in flash fiction format but adding one short story – opens a portal for contemporary times: everything now is focused on instant gratification, both in daily life style with Alexa leading the mind away from communicating with each other, texting, the omnipresent cell phone, streaming news or information or visual entertainment, fast food now delivered with an app, etc. In this rushed existence Lucian bridges the mental gap in proving that the written word, carefully articulated, still remains a viable connection to the greater human mind world.
In these superb stories Lucian accompanies us from birth to death by pausing for a moment to gel the magic of being. His opening flash fiction, ONSET, describes in utero pre-existence as well as any writer to date: ‘ In the beginning there was warm wetness, You move your limbs slowly, in a continuous dream-like state, in which you feel you belong, where memory is indistinguishable from reality, You feel safe, secure. Nourished. At home. A home that can be smothering, but you don’t perceive that right now. You hear muffled sounds, words that might appear as déjà entendu much later on, in your day night fancies. Startlingly, you feel your swathing cocoon and your tranquil, languid existence are about to be brought to naught. So much pressure, on your head, on your body. The bright light almost blinds you. The extremely loud noises almost deafen you. There is confusion. Fear. And cold. So cold. You will not remember any of this, even though you will relive it again and again, until the end.’
Moving from that sensitive birthing Lucian shines lights on siblings with arguing parents, threatening games youngsters play, loss of pets, happenstance encounters and their impact, thoughts during dysfunctional intercourse, the significance of love tokens, thoughts on retirement and aging and death – each rendered with few words that convey significant moments in the life process.
Readers alert! Lucian Lupescu is a burgeoning artist whose work demands our attention. Highly Recommended.
Romanian author Lucian Lupescu is a freelance translator, providing his services in English, French, Italian and Romanian. He is a proponent of flash fiction and uses that propinquity in this fine book TEN SECONDS. His other published book, IMPROVING ANKLE AND KNEE JOINT STABILITY, suggests his spectrum of interests is broad.
Ten shared moments – most in flash fiction format but adding one short story – opens a portal for contemporary times: everything now is focused on instant gratification, both in daily life style with Alexa leading the mind away from communicating with each other, texting, the omnipresent cell phone, streaming news or information or visual entertainment, fast food now delivered with an app, etc. In this rushed existence Lucian bridges the mental gap in proving that the written word, carefully articulated, still remains a viable connection to the greater human mind world.
In these superb stories Lucian accompanies us from birth to death by pausing for a moment to gel the magic of being. His opening flash fiction, ONSET, describes in utero pre-existence as well as any writer to date: ‘ In the beginning there was warm wetness, You move your limbs slowly, in a continuous dream-like state, in which you feel you belong, where memory is indistinguishable from reality, You feel safe, secure. Nourished. At home. A home that can be smothering, but you don’t perceive that right now. You hear muffled sounds, words that might appear as déjà entendu much later on, in your day night fancies. Startlingly, you feel your swathing cocoon and your tranquil, languid existence are about to be brought to naught. So much pressure, on your head, on your body. The bright light almost blinds you. The extremely loud noises almost deafen you. There is confusion. Fear. And cold. So cold. You will not remember any of this, even though you will relive it again and again, until the end.’
Moving from that sensitive birthing Lucian shines lights on siblings with arguing parents, threatening games youngsters play, loss of pets, happenstance encounters and their impact, thoughts during dysfunctional intercourse, the significance of love tokens, thoughts on retirement and aging and death – each rendered with few words that convey significant moments in the life process.
Readers alert! Lucian Lupescu is a burgeoning artist whose work demands our attention. Highly Recommended.
September 19, 2018
I got this book from the author as an exchange for a fair review. So here we go! this book basically was sort of short stories and written quite well. the plots were also what happened in our daily life with similar characters.
I would like to score it five stars if it's not its short stories. I mean, the written was well, the plots were similar with our daily basis, so I hope the Author would considerate to develop these short stories into a whole book for each story.
One of my Favorite was the story of Bad Strategy. you really need to read it carefully so you get the point and the twist was..... unbelievable.
after all, this is a good flash short stories to read.
I would like to score it five stars if it's not its short stories. I mean, the written was well, the plots were similar with our daily basis, so I hope the Author would considerate to develop these short stories into a whole book for each story.
One of my Favorite was the story of Bad Strategy. you really need to read it carefully so you get the point and the twist was..... unbelievable.
after all, this is a good flash short stories to read.
October 26, 2019
Lucian Lupescu's Ten Seconds, is a beautifully written TEN flash fiction. This collection is not themed, so every new story will surprise the reader with its unique, and thought-provoking issues. My personal favourite was A Day Like Any Other, which is about the loss of a cat. Losing a pet can have profound affect on its owner. I lost my dog at grade one, and I know from experience that it is unforgettable. Other stories are also equally affective, and memorable with surrealistic undertones. Well done, Lucian.
March 10, 2019
These stories reside in a nexus of conflict where hopeful humanity meets harsh reality. Neither is prepared to yield.
June 30, 2019
First of all I wish Goodreads had a 3.5 rating. My three seems too low, but a four seemed too high. I guess I went with the three rating because of length, and because of my disappointment of wanting to read more of the author's work.
This is why I felt this: In the realm of flash fiction Lucian does very well on the narrative end of the genre, the ability to reduce a short story into a very short story while successfully maintaining a plot--and motivations. If the book was, say, thirty seconds (or thirty stories) I'm sure I'd find him playing with the form, being more whimsical or having more outrageous pieces. Also I'd see more narrative poetry type stories, like the opening story. Lupescu showed he had the ability to do all of this, and do it well, but with a book of nine flash and one longer piece, just a small sample size, every single word needed to hit, and in the case of this book there were a few missed chances to be economical or to stick an ending. Also the order of the stories could have been more thought out, as the work with the biggest hooks, and best plots were found after the first two, which, in my opinion, didn't honor all that the author does well.
I will say that I enjoyed many of the stories greatly. His strengths in the shorter form carried over in what I considered to be the strongest story of the book, "Bad Strategy." This was a longer piece which developed characters and situation within a gaming scenario. Also, "A Day Like Any Other," was a very human endearing story, where Lupescu carried a "just another day metaphor" into a day in the life of a girl, which wasn't, in reality, just another day. Denial was nailed by the author in this one. But, let's get to that in comparison to the other strengths. The really main strength the author has as a writer, is the ability to hit you over the head with pure irony, and also the portrayal the pure mundane of repetition and routine, and the roles they have in our lives. The point made by Lupescu was that this is what we focus on, the good, bad, inquisitive, or even ugly---the day starts, begins, and ends simply with just the ability to get through it. I enjoyed how Lucian created the somethings out of the nothings.
So, in conclusion, it's a short book, something for a reader try, which I would recommend in order to get to know the author Lucian Lupescu. I look forward to more, and larger amounts, of his work.
This is why I felt this: In the realm of flash fiction Lucian does very well on the narrative end of the genre, the ability to reduce a short story into a very short story while successfully maintaining a plot--and motivations. If the book was, say, thirty seconds (or thirty stories) I'm sure I'd find him playing with the form, being more whimsical or having more outrageous pieces. Also I'd see more narrative poetry type stories, like the opening story. Lupescu showed he had the ability to do all of this, and do it well, but with a book of nine flash and one longer piece, just a small sample size, every single word needed to hit, and in the case of this book there were a few missed chances to be economical or to stick an ending. Also the order of the stories could have been more thought out, as the work with the biggest hooks, and best plots were found after the first two, which, in my opinion, didn't honor all that the author does well.
I will say that I enjoyed many of the stories greatly. His strengths in the shorter form carried over in what I considered to be the strongest story of the book, "Bad Strategy." This was a longer piece which developed characters and situation within a gaming scenario. Also, "A Day Like Any Other," was a very human endearing story, where Lupescu carried a "just another day metaphor" into a day in the life of a girl, which wasn't, in reality, just another day. Denial was nailed by the author in this one. But, let's get to that in comparison to the other strengths. The really main strength the author has as a writer, is the ability to hit you over the head with pure irony, and also the portrayal the pure mundane of repetition and routine, and the roles they have in our lives. The point made by Lupescu was that this is what we focus on, the good, bad, inquisitive, or even ugly---the day starts, begins, and ends simply with just the ability to get through it. I enjoyed how Lucian created the somethings out of the nothings.
So, in conclusion, it's a short book, something for a reader try, which I would recommend in order to get to know the author Lucian Lupescu. I look forward to more, and larger amounts, of his work.
October 10, 2019
I won a Mobi.file copy of this book from the author through a recent giveaway he had on LibraryThing, and the following is my honest opinion.
Those of you who have read my reviews know that I’m a rather voracious book reviewer and in addition to this I’m also an author who has written a book containing Flash Fictions, the majority are only 5 sentences long, so I can appreciate the effort it takes to write short stories like the ten stories the author has included in the pages of this book.
These short stories are great since they’re able to be read in doctors' waiting rooms, or any other time when a reader only has a brief allotted time to read something in and doesn’t want to be left wondering how the story ends. While each story might be brief, each story makes a definitive statement regarding a certain matter and has a beginning, middle and the all-important ending.
The myriad of the types of stories the author has written for this book, along with a multitude of characters, storyline settings, along with a broad range of emotions regarding small moments of a person’s life is sure to please a broad audience of readers.
Given the complexity of his stories, as well as for entertaining his readers, I’ve given the author, Lucian Lupescu, the 5 STARS he’s received from this reviewer.
Too bad the author didn’t have any additional stories to give his readers.
Those of you who have read my reviews know that I’m a rather voracious book reviewer and in addition to this I’m also an author who has written a book containing Flash Fictions, the majority are only 5 sentences long, so I can appreciate the effort it takes to write short stories like the ten stories the author has included in the pages of this book.
These short stories are great since they’re able to be read in doctors' waiting rooms, or any other time when a reader only has a brief allotted time to read something in and doesn’t want to be left wondering how the story ends. While each story might be brief, each story makes a definitive statement regarding a certain matter and has a beginning, middle and the all-important ending.
The myriad of the types of stories the author has written for this book, along with a multitude of characters, storyline settings, along with a broad range of emotions regarding small moments of a person’s life is sure to please a broad audience of readers.
Given the complexity of his stories, as well as for entertaining his readers, I’ve given the author, Lucian Lupescu, the 5 STARS he’s received from this reviewer.
Too bad the author didn’t have any additional stories to give his readers.
May 24, 2020
The author provided a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
Ten loosely connected micro-fictions, leading us from the delivery room, through youth, middle age, old age, and our final moments. Lucian gives us some tender feelings of an unpopular child, an unhappy marriage, the drudgery of the working world, and the loneliness of le troisième âge. Throughout, the uneasiness and pains of existence are balanced with a glimmer of hope for better times.
These stories show promise, but to be fair, they can use some editing to sharpen the prose - perhaps a few less adjectives. That being said, the feelings are strong and worth the read.
Ten loosely connected micro-fictions, leading us from the delivery room, through youth, middle age, old age, and our final moments. Lucian gives us some tender feelings of an unpopular child, an unhappy marriage, the drudgery of the working world, and the loneliness of le troisième âge. Throughout, the uneasiness and pains of existence are balanced with a glimmer of hope for better times.
These stories show promise, but to be fair, they can use some editing to sharpen the prose - perhaps a few less adjectives. That being said, the feelings are strong and worth the read.
February 10, 2019
Before I start the review, I want to confess that Lucian Lupescu has a style characterized by simplicity, fluency, empathy and descriptions that convey the reader instead of the characters for this. It is worth to congratulate him. Perfectly crafted personalities, stories stamped with details, who ventures into expression, the only reproach that they can bring is the renunciation of quantity. If you want to relax in an insipid evening, I recommend Ten Seconds.
November 12, 2019
I received this book through the LibraryThing Member Giveaway.
This book received three out of five stars for me. It was enjoyable, but not my favorite piece. I thought that some of the stories were hard to follow and felt out of place.
However, I enjoyed most of them. My favorite was “Perfect Marraige.” The tension of two people, utterly dissatisfied yet unwilling to speak out about it, felt all too real and left a lasting impression on me.
This book received three out of five stars for me. It was enjoyable, but not my favorite piece. I thought that some of the stories were hard to follow and felt out of place.
However, I enjoyed most of them. My favorite was “Perfect Marraige.” The tension of two people, utterly dissatisfied yet unwilling to speak out about it, felt all too real and left a lasting impression on me.
November 16, 2022
Lucian Lupescu's Ten Seconds is a compelling collection of flash fiction that explores the depths of human experience with brevity and poignancy. Each piece captures a fleeting moment, often balancing between the mundane and the profound, offering a glimpse into lives shaped by loss, love, regret, and fleeting joy.
The titular story, "Ten Seconds," exemplifies Lupescu’s talent for weaving vivid imagery with introspection, portraying a life-altering moment that lingers long after the page is turned. Similarly, "Perfect Marriage" and "Birthday" delve into emotional complexity, revealing unspoken truths of relationships and aging. Lupescu’s style is crisp, often evoking visceral reactions through precise and evocative language.
What stands out is the thematic cohesion despite the diversity of scenarios. From childhood memories to adult disillusionment, the stories are united by their exploration of fleeting yet defining moments.
Ten Seconds is a striking reminder of the power of flash fiction to distill the essence of life into snapshots. Readers who appreciate subtlety and reflection will find much to admire in this introspective collection. It’s a testament to how much can be said in so little time.
The titular story, "Ten Seconds," exemplifies Lupescu’s talent for weaving vivid imagery with introspection, portraying a life-altering moment that lingers long after the page is turned. Similarly, "Perfect Marriage" and "Birthday" delve into emotional complexity, revealing unspoken truths of relationships and aging. Lupescu’s style is crisp, often evoking visceral reactions through precise and evocative language.
What stands out is the thematic cohesion despite the diversity of scenarios. From childhood memories to adult disillusionment, the stories are united by their exploration of fleeting yet defining moments.
Ten Seconds is a striking reminder of the power of flash fiction to distill the essence of life into snapshots. Readers who appreciate subtlety and reflection will find much to admire in this introspective collection. It’s a testament to how much can be said in so little time.
November 16, 2022
Lucian Lupescu’s Ten Seconds is a collection of stories that dives into the messy, beautiful, and sometimes heartbreaking moments of life. Each piece is short but packed with emotion, giving you quick yet vivid snapshots of different lives. One moment you’re inside the mind of a gamer grappling with childhood trauma, and the next, you’re feeling the bittersweet pang of losing a lifelong companion.
The writing is sharp and evocative, making every word count. Some stories, like "Perfect Marriage" and "Ten Seconds," hit hard with their raw honesty, while others leave you with lingering questions. The mix of everyday experiences and deeper introspection keeps things interesting, though a few stories could use a little more fleshing out.
Overall, Ten Seconds is a quick but powerful read that reminds you how much emotion and meaning can fit into just a few pages.
The writing is sharp and evocative, making every word count. Some stories, like "Perfect Marriage" and "Ten Seconds," hit hard with their raw honesty, while others leave you with lingering questions. The mix of everyday experiences and deeper introspection keeps things interesting, though a few stories could use a little more fleshing out.
Overall, Ten Seconds is a quick but powerful read that reminds you how much emotion and meaning can fit into just a few pages.
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