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Body Language
Life-changing moments. Impassioned encounters. Twelve stories at the crossroads of heartbreak and desire.
When a long-lost love comes knocking, a loyally wedded rancher is tempted by old passions. A bartender wrestling with sobriety is pushed to the edge by a familiar barfly. After her husband's death, a famous composer struggles to write a single note.
From international flights to hidden grottoes and a nude beach, twelve wayward souls seek to satisfy their deepest hungers and escape their fears.
Body Language explores our often-misguided quest for happiness and connection. If you like vulnerable explorations of carnal cravings, challenging moral quandaries, and transformative self-reflection, then you'll love these heartbreaking and unforgettable portraits of people yearning for the solace of human touch.
When a long-lost love comes knocking, a loyally wedded rancher is tempted by old passions. A bartender wrestling with sobriety is pushed to the edge by a familiar barfly. After her husband's death, a famous composer struggles to write a single note.
From international flights to hidden grottoes and a nude beach, twelve wayward souls seek to satisfy their deepest hungers and escape their fears.
Body Language explores our often-misguided quest for happiness and connection. If you like vulnerable explorations of carnal cravings, challenging moral quandaries, and transformative self-reflection, then you'll love these heartbreaking and unforgettable portraits of people yearning for the solace of human touch.
220 pages, Paperback
First published January 18, 2020
24 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Marylee MacDonald
17 books373 followersAre you looking for info on how to write fiction and get it published? If so, go here. https://maryleemacdonaldauthor.com
If you're curious about who I am and what kinds of books I write, then head to a different website.
https://maryleemacdonald.com
I'm an award-winning author, writing coach, and caregiver advocate, although doing anything in the latter realm is taking a backseat to the writing itself.
Body Language, the most recent collection of my short fiction, allowed me to share my thoughts, both in the introduction and in the stories themselves, about the importance of human touch. The stories were fun to write and reminded me of how much pleasure I've derived from Solzhenitsyn's A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich., a book that has now lost its cover from having been read so many times. I admire how vividly he invites us into the world of the gulag and the protagonist's Herculean battles with starvation, illness, and freezing weather.
Another of my short story collections, Bonds of Love and Blood was a finalist in Foreword Reviews INDIEFAB Awards. My novel, Montpelier Tomorrow, won a Gold Medal for Drama from Readers' Favorite, and was a finalist for the Eric Hoffer Prize and for many other awards. My memoir, Surrender won a Bronze Medal from Wishing Shelf Book Awards and a Gold Medal for Memoir from the Independent Book Publishers of New England. The honor of winning the Jeanne M. Leiby Chapbook Award for The Rug Bazaar touched me deeply by Jeanne was an extraordinary writing teacher and mentor to those lucky enough to cross her path.
I'm very grateful that my work has gained this recognition, but I'm even more grateful when readers connect with me on Bluesky, Substack, or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MaryleeMacD.
Like many writers, I began to build a writing resume by publishing in literary magazines, such as American Literary Review, Bellevue Literary Review, The Chattahoochee Review, Folio, Blue Moon Literary & Art Review, Broad River Review, Folio, Four Quarters, New Delta Review, North Atlantic Review, Raven Chronicles, Reunion: The Dallas Review, River Oak Review, Ruminate, StoryQuarterly, The Briar Cliff Review, Yalobusha Review. My hope was that an agent would see one of my stories and fall in love with my work.
That didn't happen, and, of course, the world of publishing has changed so rapidly in the last ten years that no one knows what to expect, especially not for writers getting their start late in life.
Over my lifetime as a writer, many other things have changed. Readers' tastes, for one. Who knew that romance writing would take off or that fan fiction or Horror would carve out such large niches in the literary landscape? I'm intrigued by the energy and enthusiasm of writers who've seized the controls, and I'm endlessly curious about what makes readers "fall in love" with books.
I'd far rather write fiction than blog about writing fiction, but I'm finding some pluses there, too. I've made some amazing connections with readers who've found their way to my books, and I'm always excited when readers take the time to leave a review.
If you're curious about who I am and what kinds of books I write, then head to a different website.
https://maryleemacdonald.com
I'm an award-winning author, writing coach, and caregiver advocate, although doing anything in the latter realm is taking a backseat to the writing itself.
Body Language, the most recent collection of my short fiction, allowed me to share my thoughts, both in the introduction and in the stories themselves, about the importance of human touch. The stories were fun to write and reminded me of how much pleasure I've derived from Solzhenitsyn's A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich., a book that has now lost its cover from having been read so many times. I admire how vividly he invites us into the world of the gulag and the protagonist's Herculean battles with starvation, illness, and freezing weather.
Another of my short story collections, Bonds of Love and Blood was a finalist in Foreword Reviews INDIEFAB Awards. My novel, Montpelier Tomorrow, won a Gold Medal for Drama from Readers' Favorite, and was a finalist for the Eric Hoffer Prize and for many other awards. My memoir, Surrender won a Bronze Medal from Wishing Shelf Book Awards and a Gold Medal for Memoir from the Independent Book Publishers of New England. The honor of winning the Jeanne M. Leiby Chapbook Award for The Rug Bazaar touched me deeply by Jeanne was an extraordinary writing teacher and mentor to those lucky enough to cross her path.
I'm very grateful that my work has gained this recognition, but I'm even more grateful when readers connect with me on Bluesky, Substack, or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MaryleeMacD.
Like many writers, I began to build a writing resume by publishing in literary magazines, such as American Literary Review, Bellevue Literary Review, The Chattahoochee Review, Folio, Blue Moon Literary & Art Review, Broad River Review, Folio, Four Quarters, New Delta Review, North Atlantic Review, Raven Chronicles, Reunion: The Dallas Review, River Oak Review, Ruminate, StoryQuarterly, The Briar Cliff Review, Yalobusha Review. My hope was that an agent would see one of my stories and fall in love with my work.
That didn't happen, and, of course, the world of publishing has changed so rapidly in the last ten years that no one knows what to expect, especially not for writers getting their start late in life.
Over my lifetime as a writer, many other things have changed. Readers' tastes, for one. Who knew that romance writing would take off or that fan fiction or Horror would carve out such large niches in the literary landscape? I'm intrigued by the energy and enthusiasm of writers who've seized the controls, and I'm endlessly curious about what makes readers "fall in love" with books.
I'd far rather write fiction than blog about writing fiction, but I'm finding some pluses there, too. I've made some amazing connections with readers who've found their way to my books, and I'm always excited when readers take the time to leave a review.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
May 11, 2020
This book is a collection of twelve short stories. Each story is interesting and down to earth with real people and real emotions. The characters in the book tell a story with their body and thoughts. There is self discovery, revelations, judgements, and reflections.
In A Body of Water a man never forgets his first love. Ink tells the story of a man with tattoos and how you can’t always judge a book by its cover. In Hunger an angry old woman is never satisfied. Another story is the Memory Palace. A bartender stores pictures in his memory room to keep track of the people he meets.
These are just a few of the stories that held my attention. I’m not a big fan of short stories but this book was well worth reading!
In A Body of Water a man never forgets his first love. Ink tells the story of a man with tattoos and how you can’t always judge a book by its cover. In Hunger an angry old woman is never satisfied. Another story is the Memory Palace. A bartender stores pictures in his memory room to keep track of the people he meets.
These are just a few of the stories that held my attention. I’m not a big fan of short stories but this book was well worth reading!
April 1, 2020
Once again, Marylee MacDonald creates a host of highly realistic characters from many different walks of life. She delves into their inner struggles, revealing yearnings for connection and significance that echo in every human heart.
April 17, 2020
In one of the forwards to one of the collections of short stories he worked as an editor, Stephen King said there is a rhythm to a short story that is different from longer works and difficult for many to catch. I add, there is a different rhythm to reading short stories.
In my experience, there are three types of short story collections. There is the one with multiple authors, generally around a theme. There is the one by one author where the stories concentrate around one location or one character. Then there is the collection by one author with each story separate from the others. This collection of short stories is the third style. I don't read many shorts. I've been concentrating on novels and series. So I have to remember the rhythm of the short story. Otherwise, when I get to the end of one, I don't expect those characters to continue. In this collection, there were two stories that I did expect to continue. I won't say which ones, because when you read these stories, you may not feel that way about them.
If you are experienced in reading short stories, you will enjoy this group. They cover a lot of the emotional ground people exist on. I thought they were well worth the time I spent on them. If you are new to short stories, this is a good collection to start with.
I received the copy of this book for this review from BookishFirst.
In my experience, there are three types of short story collections. There is the one with multiple authors, generally around a theme. There is the one by one author where the stories concentrate around one location or one character. Then there is the collection by one author with each story separate from the others. This collection of short stories is the third style. I don't read many shorts. I've been concentrating on novels and series. So I have to remember the rhythm of the short story. Otherwise, when I get to the end of one, I don't expect those characters to continue. In this collection, there were two stories that I did expect to continue. I won't say which ones, because when you read these stories, you may not feel that way about them.
If you are experienced in reading short stories, you will enjoy this group. They cover a lot of the emotional ground people exist on. I thought they were well worth the time I spent on them. If you are new to short stories, this is a good collection to start with.
I received the copy of this book for this review from BookishFirst.
April 15, 2020
As a rule, i don't enjoy short stories. Too many are weird and/or experimental, in ways I don't like. This book, however, was different. I enjoyed all the stories. The characters in each story come alive. Each story captures a real or possible moment in someone's life. The next steps may be suggested, but are not yet written in stone - possibilities abound.
The writing is good and realistic, the characters well-developed for the short period of time we spend with them. This is not experimental fiction, as so many short stories are. The title of the collection comes from one of the stories in the book. These stories are connected by the theme of relationship, but the type of relationship varies from story to story: family, friend, stranger, self, past or present. Definitely worth a read.
The writing is good and realistic, the characters well-developed for the short period of time we spend with them. This is not experimental fiction, as so many short stories are. The title of the collection comes from one of the stories in the book. These stories are connected by the theme of relationship, but the type of relationship varies from story to story: family, friend, stranger, self, past or present. Definitely worth a read.
April 20, 2020
jill1121
I was intrigued by the premise of this and liked the first look. Short stories about loss and desire.
All of the stories had a tinge of sadness to them as they portrayed in many of the stories significant changes the in their character’s lives. There were stories about growing older and dealing with the loss of independence and loss of their home. There were stories about losing the one you love.
I really liked that the stories portrayed every day situations that are relatable. What I didn’t like was that some of the stories were kind of boring and just drawn out. They are short stories but I felt that they could have been more succinct. I got bored with a few of the longer ones. Give this one a try if it sounds interesting.
I was intrigued by the premise of this and liked the first look. Short stories about loss and desire.
All of the stories had a tinge of sadness to them as they portrayed in many of the stories significant changes the in their character’s lives. There were stories about growing older and dealing with the loss of independence and loss of their home. There were stories about losing the one you love.
I really liked that the stories portrayed every day situations that are relatable. What I didn’t like was that some of the stories were kind of boring and just drawn out. They are short stories but I felt that they could have been more succinct. I got bored with a few of the longer ones. Give this one a try if it sounds interesting.
December 14, 2020
"Body Language" by Marylee MacDonald is a collection of twelve short stories. I enjoyed all of them. With each story, the author skillfully created a unique, perfect world. In many cases, I wished I had been reading the first pages of a full-length novel instead of a short story. Ms. MacDonald is able to draw the reader in to each new set of characters and circumstances very quickly, and often I wanted to read more about them.
My favorite stories were:
"All I Have", a seven-page vignette about one incident in a woman's life. I was amazed at how such a complete portrait and so much insight could be packed into so few pages.
"Body Language", a story about family relationships, both mother/daughter and brother/sister. It also addressed the very personal need for closure in a way that was simultaneously beautiful, sad, and insightful.
"The Blue Caboose", which addressed a difficult father/daughter relationship, and provided a different perspective on closure.
I highly recommend this collection to anyone who enjoys quality writing. Regardless of who or where you are in life, you're bound to find something in this volume that truly speaks to you.
Five out of five chunks of provolone!
My favorite stories were:
"All I Have", a seven-page vignette about one incident in a woman's life. I was amazed at how such a complete portrait and so much insight could be packed into so few pages.
"Body Language", a story about family relationships, both mother/daughter and brother/sister. It also addressed the very personal need for closure in a way that was simultaneously beautiful, sad, and insightful.
"The Blue Caboose", which addressed a difficult father/daughter relationship, and provided a different perspective on closure.
I highly recommend this collection to anyone who enjoys quality writing. Regardless of who or where you are in life, you're bound to find something in this volume that truly speaks to you.
Five out of five chunks of provolone!
April 13, 2020
Marylee MacDonald has written 12 beautiful stories that reflect human behavior and thoughts when seeking love, forgiveness, or a reflection in aging. My favorite were A Body of Water and Year by Year for the simplicity of how descriptive the feelings in the story were told in the characters. Beautiful stories to reread again and again.
April 9, 2020
Books that have short stories are always interesting because you get to read more than one story by an author or authors. It gives you an idea on how bigger stories by them can be written. These stories are very interesting because you see how these characters follow thier instincts and how it will shape them and how it will affect their lives. The author also shows how attraction can affect the characters and thier lives which I think is very interesting as well. I also like how some of the stories just end and you have to kind of guess what will end up happening. That's another thing that's very interesting about short stories. It kind of lets you guess and have a little fun with it.
March 18, 2020
Each one of these stories resonates with a presence and pulses with life in a very real way. I liked that each story was complete yet made me reflective in some way. I would love to read more stories from this author in the future and loved the variety and sense of adventure in this book.
April 13, 2020
I recently read somewhere that it is natural for self-described "readers" to have trouble reading in times of severe stress and anxiety such as what we are currently facing with COVID-19. The article suggested picking up short stories to help overcome the inability to read full novels. It is for this reason Body Language came to me at the PERFECT time!
I couldn't motivate myself to pick up a book. I usually cannot be found without a book in my hand, reading 2 or even 3 books a week, but lately I wasn't "feeling it." Body Language is exactly what I needed, when I needed it and how I needed it. With stories about love, loss, pasts and futures, each character and each story captivated me. With 12 stories roughly 10 to 20 pages each, I flew through this book and can't brag enough about how perfect these short stories are in our current times of stress.
*Disclaimer: a review copy of this book was provided. All opinions are my own.
I couldn't motivate myself to pick up a book. I usually cannot be found without a book in my hand, reading 2 or even 3 books a week, but lately I wasn't "feeling it." Body Language is exactly what I needed, when I needed it and how I needed it. With stories about love, loss, pasts and futures, each character and each story captivated me. With 12 stories roughly 10 to 20 pages each, I flew through this book and can't brag enough about how perfect these short stories are in our current times of stress.
*Disclaimer: a review copy of this book was provided. All opinions are my own.
April 27, 2020
Generally speaking I don't go for short stories that often. I like to dig a bit deeper into the characters and lose myself in another world. However, once in awhile, a great short story collection comes along and grabs me. Body Language did not disappoint. Right off the bat, the Preface talks about neuroscience and human behavior and you realize very quickly that this book is more than it initially appears. Reading the stories through the lens of "instinct" and watching how each character is revealed in their passions, their fears, and their sorrows gives a depth to this book that I hadn't expected. Watching the way that these characters interact with loved ones and strangers based off of their gut instincts provokes thought. How often do I follow my own gut instincts? Am I driven by my heart or my mind? Are my relationships true gauges of my core feelings? It's fascinating how deep a ten page story can take you in introspection. Of course there were some that ended much too soon for me and some that I would have loved to see fleshed out more. I think that's a direct effect of my love for novels though, and wouldn't hold that as a criticism of this book. I knew from the First Look that I would enjoy this book, so I can't say that it surprised me that I did. But I definitely got more out of it than I expected to, and that's high praise for this genre of work.
April 18, 2020
Short story collections have never really been on my TBR before. In fact, to my memory, this is the first collection that I have read from start to finish. But I am so glad that I took the time to read Body Language.
I've been in a bit of a reading rut since the stay-at-home orders have come down and my usual tricks to get myself reading full length novels were not working. Apparently, a collection of short stories was exactly what I needed to enjoy reading again!
Beautifully written, Body Language has a little bit of something for everyone. The characters and their actions are very real and in some cases raw. Each story and character are unique in their own way and the time spent with them will have you wanting more! In many cases, I would love to see the stories expanded to longer works.
Thank you to Bookish First and the author for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I've been in a bit of a reading rut since the stay-at-home orders have come down and my usual tricks to get myself reading full length novels were not working. Apparently, a collection of short stories was exactly what I needed to enjoy reading again!
Beautifully written, Body Language has a little bit of something for everyone. The characters and their actions are very real and in some cases raw. Each story and character are unique in their own way and the time spent with them will have you wanting more! In many cases, I would love to see the stories expanded to longer works.
Thank you to Bookish First and the author for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 17, 2020
"Body Language" by Marylee MacDonald is a great collection of short stories that span topic and space. It's quite impressive actually that MacDonald has the writing ability to accurately capture life in the Midwest, the Pacific Northwest, the Southwest and other parts of the United States so accurately along with other parts of the world.
What she also does so well is seen in her ability to tell a great short story. Each story develops its characters superbly and allows for the reader to melt into and get lost in the story. Even when less than desirable actions occur one cannot help but root for the protagonists so skillfully does MacDonald paint them as individuals to root for.
This is not the type of book I would normally consider that I would go for. It's romantic and passionate. But it's so engaging and gripped me from the beginning. It's so rare to find well written short stories with wonderful and memorable characters that you just want to learn more and more about. Marylee MacDonald has done this in her collection "Body Language." I highly recommend.
What she also does so well is seen in her ability to tell a great short story. Each story develops its characters superbly and allows for the reader to melt into and get lost in the story. Even when less than desirable actions occur one cannot help but root for the protagonists so skillfully does MacDonald paint them as individuals to root for.
This is not the type of book I would normally consider that I would go for. It's romantic and passionate. But it's so engaging and gripped me from the beginning. It's so rare to find well written short stories with wonderful and memorable characters that you just want to learn more and more about. Marylee MacDonald has done this in her collection "Body Language." I highly recommend.
April 17, 2020
I absolutely loved and adored that this book was made up of short stories. It put a spin on a novel, but made it completely new and different. Each story held my interest, and even though there were different characters, it didn't deter from keeping my interest nor did it confuse me having different stories.
I thought each story held a valuable lesson and something to be learned was taken from each one. Because it was so well written, I found it very easy to to learn from each one, it didn't make me struggle to read and didn't seem so "Self help" like some books tend to that have similar information in them.
All in all, I thought this book was great, and well written!
I thought each story held a valuable lesson and something to be learned was taken from each one. Because it was so well written, I found it very easy to to learn from each one, it didn't make me struggle to read and didn't seem so "Self help" like some books tend to that have similar information in them.
All in all, I thought this book was great, and well written!
April 14, 2020
Collection of human stories written with emotional intelligence. This book contains a collection of separate stories that will make you laugh, cry and make you feel a whole spectrum of emotions. Each story deals with a different vulnerability and we see a different, often familiar human emotion play out in a compassionate, empathetic manner, handled brilliantly by the author. Her insight and understanding of the human desire to be loved come through in all her stories. Whether the story calls for tender-through-to-vivid handling of hope or desire at any age or exploring the emotion of sadness and fear, the author seems to leave you with a conclusion that has a sense of wonder and calm. I would most definitely recommend this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 17, 2020
I really enjoyed reading all the short stories on this book. I liked some more than others but over all I loved almost all of them. My favorite was definitely Voices. That one was a bit sad and even had a twist that I wasn't expecting. I think my second favorite might be the very last one Year by Year with the twin sisters, also sad. I gotta say that this book is definitely worth reading, it was really good and enjoyable. It is also a quick read but I did take my time and enjoyed the stories one by one without rushing.
I would definitely recommend it.
I would definitely recommend it.
April 17, 2020
Arc provided by publisher through BookishFirst for review. All opinions are my own.
Short stories can be a bit tricky to get into or even feel any emotion towards but that was not the case for this book.
The first story was the one that grasped my attention when I had a chance to read a snippet from this book before winning the copy I received. There is so much emotion and words left unsaid between the two characters. I would love a book just about those two! It deals with heavy topics and where passion could lead. Definitely quite intriguing!
There were others that I really enjoyed as well. With twelve stories it’s easy to find more than a few that get you thinking and trying to understand the characters and their decisions.
Of course with that many stories there will also be a couple that fall a bit short (no pun intended, ha). They still were a decent read and that’s another thing that is great about short stories, you don’t have to worry about continuing on for tons of pages.
Overall, it was a good read. I enjoyed getting to read snippets from each character’s life and trying to understand the emotions they may have been feeling.
Short stories can be a bit tricky to get into or even feel any emotion towards but that was not the case for this book.
The first story was the one that grasped my attention when I had a chance to read a snippet from this book before winning the copy I received. There is so much emotion and words left unsaid between the two characters. I would love a book just about those two! It deals with heavy topics and where passion could lead. Definitely quite intriguing!
There were others that I really enjoyed as well. With twelve stories it’s easy to find more than a few that get you thinking and trying to understand the characters and their decisions.
Of course with that many stories there will also be a couple that fall a bit short (no pun intended, ha). They still were a decent read and that’s another thing that is great about short stories, you don’t have to worry about continuing on for tons of pages.
Overall, it was a good read. I enjoyed getting to read snippets from each character’s life and trying to understand the emotions they may have been feeling.
April 9, 2020
This is an interesting and unexpected book. Focusing mostly on action as opposed to dialogue, each new chapter is a new story. Every story is touching and deep. Each story feels like it ends a little too early, but when you pay attention you realize that it ends at the perfect time to deliver the message. As the chapters progress they seem to get longer, each story/chapter becoming a little more involved than the previous one.
The real beauty of this book is the writing style, which is unique. Sometime you read a book and the dialogue is key, sometimes you read a book and the descriptions are key, in this case, the actions are more powerful and thought provoking and it causes the book to stand out.
The writing style and structure mean that each chapter puts a whole novel in to a few pages and it is beautiful.
The real beauty of this book is the writing style, which is unique. Sometime you read a book and the dialogue is key, sometimes you read a book and the descriptions are key, in this case, the actions are more powerful and thought provoking and it causes the book to stand out.
The writing style and structure mean that each chapter puts a whole novel in to a few pages and it is beautiful.
April 11, 2020
What a fitting cover for a book about body language. You really wonder what this woman could be thinking. What does her body language say about her? What does your body language say about you? This book is a collection of short stories about love, loss, and living. It was a quick read, and I enjoyed being able to read only a few pages, yet feel like I had completed a story. Some of the stories in the book made me want to know more about their lives, and I was left wanting more, but such is the case when you’re reading short stories! This allows you to jump into the lives of different characters. Thank you so much to @bookishfirst and #maryleemacdonald for my copy! This one comes out April 17! #RebeccaReviewedIt
April 8, 2020
Very Touching Collection of Stories!
Body Language by Marylee MacDonald is a moving collection of stories that has the power to touch your heart. You share what the characters go through because it often hits home in how they deal with real life and situations that average people experience as a part of living. As a result, you gain insight about your own life as well as you read these different stories and often relate. You find yourself wondering how would you have dealt with what just happened? Would you react in the same way or differently? I enjoyed the portrayal of the characters and how the author brought them so clearly to life. I am looking forward to reading more from Marylee MacDonald because I admire her remarkable writing style.
Body Language by Marylee MacDonald is a moving collection of stories that has the power to touch your heart. You share what the characters go through because it often hits home in how they deal with real life and situations that average people experience as a part of living. As a result, you gain insight about your own life as well as you read these different stories and often relate. You find yourself wondering how would you have dealt with what just happened? Would you react in the same way or differently? I enjoyed the portrayal of the characters and how the author brought them so clearly to life. I am looking forward to reading more from Marylee MacDonald because I admire her remarkable writing style.
April 8, 2020
Marylee MacDonald has written twelve short but unforgettable stories about human connections. Each story is very different but in the end, they reveal the same message. Marylee is intrigued by human behavior. Each story has a life of its own, a message of trials and tribulations. Within these stories is something for everyone, no matter where you live or where you come from. Social class has nothing to do with human emotion and the need to be loved and belong. Body Language will make you take a long hard look at your own life. It will make you see your family and friends in a different light. You may even begin to change your behavior. This book has that much of a effect on the reader. It is very well done.
April 7, 2020
Each story was very interesting and some even kept you on the edge of your seat. It was interesting to see how each character reacted to what was happening and how they followed thier instincts. It was interesting how each story ended without a definet ending. It was also interesting how there were single events that could shape the characters lives in some of the stories. In one story we were given to a bartenders thoughts and he struggled with sobriety so by the end you could see some hope that he could resist temptation. The way Salinas childhood poverty shaped her personality in one story was intense. Reading a series of short stories compared to reading a novel is very interesting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2020
Body Language is the perfect book to read during these uncertain times. Each story is ten to twenty pages long and quickly invites you into the lives of the various characters. One can read one story at a time, all at once, or jump around and read out of order.
The book contains twelve different short stories, each focusing on one character. The characters and their situations are extremely realistic. They are heartwarming, uncertain, life-changing.
The book contains twelve different short stories, each focusing on one character. The characters and their situations are extremely realistic. They are heartwarming, uncertain, life-changing.
April 21, 2020
Characters have always been as important to me , if not more so, as plot in a story. With Marylee MacDonald’s book BODY LANGUAGE the reader is given the opportunity to catch a glimpse of characters in many different life situations and evaluate, perhaps, the good and bad of how each character handles his/her life situation. Two of my favorite stories from the twelve included in the book were “ Tito’s Descent” and “Body Language”.
In “Tito’s Descent” the excitement of exploring a cave and finding ancient drawings is matched with the sorrow of a friend’s death. As with the narrator of the story, , the reader ponders how the miraculous and tragic can coexist. Every moment in life is precious.
In “Body Language” a young Lady is searching for more information concerning her brother’s death, primarily to appease her mother. Both the narrator and her brother were adopted with the brother Danny having numerous problems with addiction. The reader gets a sense of guilt on the part of the mother and wanting to have some reassurance Danny was okay at the end. I would hope most mothers want to feel they were good mothers and did not fail their children, that things really were okay at the end. Danny’s sister tries to give their mother this last hope.
I think people who enjoy character studies and don’t expect all stories to be wrapped up nicely at the end will enjoy this book.
In “Tito’s Descent” the excitement of exploring a cave and finding ancient drawings is matched with the sorrow of a friend’s death. As with the narrator of the story, , the reader ponders how the miraculous and tragic can coexist. Every moment in life is precious.
In “Body Language” a young Lady is searching for more information concerning her brother’s death, primarily to appease her mother. Both the narrator and her brother were adopted with the brother Danny having numerous problems with addiction. The reader gets a sense of guilt on the part of the mother and wanting to have some reassurance Danny was okay at the end. I would hope most mothers want to feel they were good mothers and did not fail their children, that things really were okay at the end. Danny’s sister tries to give their mother this last hope.
I think people who enjoy character studies and don’t expect all stories to be wrapped up nicely at the end will enjoy this book.
April 15, 2020
I loved that this book is made up of short stories. I feel like each story can give you a life lesson and illustrate what our body language can reveal to others.
I liked that there were short stories because if you don’t enjoy a story, there are others that you might enjoy and connect with. Some stories I feel like were a perfect length, whereas others I wished there was more. Also, some of the stories end on a bit of a cliffhanger, leaving some of the ending up to interpretation and imagination.
Overall, the book was very well-written with a similar style throughout. But each story varied in language. Some stories were written in first person, and some in third, and even some second person was used. Since each story was different, with variations in language, it’s better to take a break after finishing one before starting the next to mentally prepare yourself for a new story. I tried reading straight through some of the stories, and I found myself getting confused and forgetting that this was a new story.
My favorites stories were “All I Have” and “Body Language”. With the diverse situations of each story, there’s bound to be a story that connects with everyone!
I liked that there were short stories because if you don’t enjoy a story, there are others that you might enjoy and connect with. Some stories I feel like were a perfect length, whereas others I wished there was more. Also, some of the stories end on a bit of a cliffhanger, leaving some of the ending up to interpretation and imagination.
Overall, the book was very well-written with a similar style throughout. But each story varied in language. Some stories were written in first person, and some in third, and even some second person was used. Since each story was different, with variations in language, it’s better to take a break after finishing one before starting the next to mentally prepare yourself for a new story. I tried reading straight through some of the stories, and I found myself getting confused and forgetting that this was a new story.
My favorites stories were “All I Have” and “Body Language”. With the diverse situations of each story, there’s bound to be a story that connects with everyone!
July 29, 2020
Having read just about everything Marylee MacDonald has published, I must tell you that this collection of stories is my favorite so far. Dip your toe into one of these tales and before long you’ll be swept along on rafts of little literary gems. If that watery analogy is too chilly or turgid for you, but you love great story-telling, think of Body Language as the literary equivalent of easing yourself into a hot bath at the end of a hard day. You get the idea.
Some of my favorite stories from this collection are these. MacDonald opens with “A Body of Water”. Here, passion denied and passion delayed must overcome a reckless act of bravery. The consequences of success are left for us to ponder.
In “Mongoose”, MacDonald throws a dying father, his adult daughter and his fourth wife (the two women are the exact same age) into confined spaces to see what happens. Here, it is the throes of conflict, not conviviality, where we learn the most about human nature.
For the spelunkers in the audience, there’s “Tito’s Descent”. In the inky depths of a Spanish cave where the way down is deadly and the way back uncertain, we are taught to live each day as if it were our last, for one day, we are sure to be right.
Finally, here is a bit of MacDonald’s superb use of imagery. In one story, a character’s father dies unexpectedly. As the surviving daughter rummages through his empty home, we hear this: “The loaf of Wonder Bread in the bread box had not yet hardened. Squeezing it, she suddenly felt the freshness of his death.”
I could have written something about each story, they are all so good. But long reviews are…well…lengthy, so waste no more time and read this book.
Some of my favorite stories from this collection are these. MacDonald opens with “A Body of Water”. Here, passion denied and passion delayed must overcome a reckless act of bravery. The consequences of success are left for us to ponder.
In “Mongoose”, MacDonald throws a dying father, his adult daughter and his fourth wife (the two women are the exact same age) into confined spaces to see what happens. Here, it is the throes of conflict, not conviviality, where we learn the most about human nature.
For the spelunkers in the audience, there’s “Tito’s Descent”. In the inky depths of a Spanish cave where the way down is deadly and the way back uncertain, we are taught to live each day as if it were our last, for one day, we are sure to be right.
Finally, here is a bit of MacDonald’s superb use of imagery. In one story, a character’s father dies unexpectedly. As the surviving daughter rummages through his empty home, we hear this: “The loaf of Wonder Bread in the bread box had not yet hardened. Squeezing it, she suddenly felt the freshness of his death.”
I could have written something about each story, they are all so good. But long reviews are…well…lengthy, so waste no more time and read this book.
November 2, 2020
MacDonald’s remarkable insights and exquisite storytelling echo her characters’ longing to connect to others, and to life in her remarkable latest collection of twelve stories of love and longing.
The vivid imagery of rural existence is a brilliant blend of stark details and poetic evocations of the country life in “Body of Water,” a story that evokes the rhythms of a love long-lost as the married protagonist sets aside his caution after an old flame turns up for help. “All I have,” an eloquent account of a troubled young woman and a convicted criminal’s unexpected bond, illuminates the possibilities of grace.
A moment of physical connection brings an awareness of self in the teenager protagonist’s life in “Tito’s Descent,” which features a young girl’s wide-eyed first-person narration of a daring cave expedition with her late friend. The compelling “Body Language” explores a mother’s grief and sister’s guilt after the latter sets on to find the truth surrounding the circumstances of her younger brother’s accidental death.
“Mongoose” explores abandonment, guilt, and blood ties that bind together an estranged father and daughter. In “Year by Year,” a compelling story of aging, loneliness, and bereavement, MacDonald captures her ninety-year-old protagonist’s aching sense of all that’s passed with stark honesty and perception. MacDonald breathes life into her flesh and blood characters, their relationships, and their traumas through carefully crafted situations. All the stories in the collection differ in form, but share the common theme of people yearning for the solace of human touch.
This is a tender and unforgettable collection.
The vivid imagery of rural existence is a brilliant blend of stark details and poetic evocations of the country life in “Body of Water,” a story that evokes the rhythms of a love long-lost as the married protagonist sets aside his caution after an old flame turns up for help. “All I have,” an eloquent account of a troubled young woman and a convicted criminal’s unexpected bond, illuminates the possibilities of grace.
A moment of physical connection brings an awareness of self in the teenager protagonist’s life in “Tito’s Descent,” which features a young girl’s wide-eyed first-person narration of a daring cave expedition with her late friend. The compelling “Body Language” explores a mother’s grief and sister’s guilt after the latter sets on to find the truth surrounding the circumstances of her younger brother’s accidental death.
“Mongoose” explores abandonment, guilt, and blood ties that bind together an estranged father and daughter. In “Year by Year,” a compelling story of aging, loneliness, and bereavement, MacDonald captures her ninety-year-old protagonist’s aching sense of all that’s passed with stark honesty and perception. MacDonald breathes life into her flesh and blood characters, their relationships, and their traumas through carefully crafted situations. All the stories in the collection differ in form, but share the common theme of people yearning for the solace of human touch.
This is a tender and unforgettable collection.
June 5, 2020
TWELVE STORIES OF LIFE. I felt like a voyeur peeping into lives I hardly know when I began this book of twelve short stories. This book takes readers to different places, to the homes and lives of different characters. Many stories are sad, people dying, saying goodbye to loved ones. Some are about those who lost loved ones, but are getting back to enjoy life. They are not dead. The characters are old, young, in between. There is much to say about all the stories,different, but good. I do not have a favorite, I enjoyed reading the choices of others.
A middle aged man visits his widowed stepmother living in a senior city apartment. She is falling apart, a hoarder, dementia and will be evicted from her apartment. A young woman, who is trying to get free from using drugs, her parents are helping her, gives a man, who is also a drug user and has been abandoned by his family, gives the man almost all the money she has.
Some of the stories are very short, longer ones bring the reader more into the story and the characters.
The stories are filled with pain, anger, sadness, happiness, joy, excitement, amazement.
A nun leaves her convent to reconnect with her elderly father, an elderly widow, too old to trave, asks her daughter to go out to California to find out more about her son's death. A man and woman, late 30s, who had been friends in their teens, go on a rough trip into California's back country and talk about how their lives are going.
Just a few of the stories. Read the book, recommended.
A middle aged man visits his widowed stepmother living in a senior city apartment. She is falling apart, a hoarder, dementia and will be evicted from her apartment. A young woman, who is trying to get free from using drugs, her parents are helping her, gives a man, who is also a drug user and has been abandoned by his family, gives the man almost all the money she has.
Some of the stories are very short, longer ones bring the reader more into the story and the characters.
The stories are filled with pain, anger, sadness, happiness, joy, excitement, amazement.
A nun leaves her convent to reconnect with her elderly father, an elderly widow, too old to trave, asks her daughter to go out to California to find out more about her son's death. A man and woman, late 30s, who had been friends in their teens, go on a rough trip into California's back country and talk about how their lives are going.
Just a few of the stories. Read the book, recommended.
April 8, 2020
Solid 3.5 star review. I really love the short stories and writing styles but some of the stories took me 4 to 5 pages to figure out what was going on and I became confused. Body language was my favorite short story because it was the most complete. I would definitely recommend to friend.
The stories include:
1. A body of water: about a guy who wants to cheat on his very pregnant wife with his highschool sweetheart.
2. Hunger: Drug rep gets a seat in first class next to a real piece of work.
3. Mongoose: girls father is dying and she realizes that she's seen things wrong.
4. Ink: racism
5. The memory palace: staying sober
6. All I have: helping the homeless
7. Body language: investigation of missing brother
8. The blue caboose: a nun goes home to her family house
9. Tito's decent: discovering a new cave
10. Long time no see: visiting relatives and realizing something is wrong
11. Voices: a composer finds herself after the death of her husband
12. Year by year: visiting a dying relative while being old and dying
The stories include:
1. A body of water: about a guy who wants to cheat on his very pregnant wife with his highschool sweetheart.
2. Hunger: Drug rep gets a seat in first class next to a real piece of work.
3. Mongoose: girls father is dying and she realizes that she's seen things wrong.
4. Ink: racism
5. The memory palace: staying sober
6. All I have: helping the homeless
7. Body language: investigation of missing brother
8. The blue caboose: a nun goes home to her family house
9. Tito's decent: discovering a new cave
10. Long time no see: visiting relatives and realizing something is wrong
11. Voices: a composer finds herself after the death of her husband
12. Year by year: visiting a dying relative while being old and dying
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2020
Body Language--The Gap Between Body and Mind
In these twelve short stories, Marylee MacDonald introduces us to powerful characters, focusing on the themes of love and loss, aging and death. All of them are portraits of how we remember and how we retell those memories, especially to ourselves. Yet things remain unsaid.
Dissecting what human connection means to any of us, the author tackles the dynamics of family. "Body Language" is, in the most primal way, our very existence inherited through the bodies created and bequeathed by our parents. We are all born into a family and that family is born into us.
The majority of these short stories deal with the death of a parent. In the end, many of the dying are friendless and alone, even with their adult child present: "At my age you don't make friends", Klara says. You bury them." [from the story "Year by Year".] But the survivor is also orphaned by the impact of a parent's death.
My favorite short stories are: "Mongoose", "Body Language", "Long Time No See" and "Year by Year". The reader is brought into these narratives where tiny seams in the lives of each family reveal how they can see themselves differently, even for a moment. The author writes poetically and with compassion--each of these vignettes is a treasure!
In these twelve short stories, Marylee MacDonald introduces us to powerful characters, focusing on the themes of love and loss, aging and death. All of them are portraits of how we remember and how we retell those memories, especially to ourselves. Yet things remain unsaid.
Dissecting what human connection means to any of us, the author tackles the dynamics of family. "Body Language" is, in the most primal way, our very existence inherited through the bodies created and bequeathed by our parents. We are all born into a family and that family is born into us.
The majority of these short stories deal with the death of a parent. In the end, many of the dying are friendless and alone, even with their adult child present: "At my age you don't make friends", Klara says. You bury them." [from the story "Year by Year".] But the survivor is also orphaned by the impact of a parent's death.
My favorite short stories are: "Mongoose", "Body Language", "Long Time No See" and "Year by Year". The reader is brought into these narratives where tiny seams in the lives of each family reveal how they can see themselves differently, even for a moment. The author writes poetically and with compassion--each of these vignettes is a treasure!
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