Mostly True: Short Stories

by Arlene N. Cohen

In this potpourri of humorous, sometimes outrageous episodes involving actors, travelers, storytellers, madmen, hikers, hippies, flappers, boyfriends, cookies, castles, and credit cards, good intentions backfire. In The Livin' Doll, a dramatic senior lady joyfully entertains and engages a young girl, reliving her years as an actress, until she has a coiffure malfunction. Sixth grade boys believe they are too old for stories until the Storyteller turns into a witch with a fearsome cackle. Hippie Girls searching for Paradise in Hawaii instead meet madmen and steep inclines. A flapper generously trims the neckline of her dress and becomes Like Clara, the "It Girl" to catch a good-lookin' man at a dance, who turns out to be a mama's boy. An old woman goes in search of an elusive Almond Cookie in Chinatown, like the one she had 20 years ago and forgets where she parked her car. An elderly conscientious gent faces insomnia and unsympathetic groans from his dog as he tries to resolve the case of his compromised credit card. All the stories are based on true experiences where fact drifts into fiction.

98 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 14, 2019

About the author

I write books for both children and adults. My first book, Stories on the Move: Integrating Literature and Movement with Children from Infants to Age 14, is a compilation of programs that I did as an Artist-in-the-Schools Dancing Storyteller, the highlight of my life for 30 years. The book is still in print and available on Amazon. 1,500 copies have been sold internationally to Teachers, Librarians, and Parents who use it to develop all aspects of their children's development, particularly literacy skills and movement agility.

I have just published a series called Literacy on the Move, three fun picture books that integrate dance and stories to entertain children and develop their literacy skills. As they dance the words and images, they naturally understand their meaning. All the books are up on Amazon in kindle, hardback,and paperback editions: The Dancing Chameleons: Literacy on the Move, Book 1 for Ages 2-6, The Dancing Reptiles: Literacy on the Move, Book 2, for Ages 4-8; and The Dancing Dogs: Literacy on the Move, Book 3, for Ages 5-10. Companion Coloring and Activity books are also available on Amazon. My Adult book called Mostly True is a collection of funny, outrageous stories based on ultra real experiences. Please read, laugh, and enjoy my books. To find all of my books do one search "Arlene N. Cohen". Kindly leave a review at the bottom of the book's page. Thank you!

As a child, I loved to dance and write and had friends of all ages and species, including parrots, dogs, and reptiles. I lived in Hawaii most of my life where I earned degrees from the University of Hawaii: a Bachelor's in American Studies and a Master's in Children's Librarianship. I studied ballet, modern dance, yoga, T'ai Chi, Hula, and Creative Movement. I taught Creative Movement classes called Mirrors of Trees and The Dance of Life and Yoga classes for Honolulu Parks and Recreation and Storytelling in the Speech Department at the University of Hawaii. After Library School, with grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities, the Hawaii State Culture and the Arts, The Texas Heritage Musical Foundation, and The Regional Arts and Culture Council in Oregon, I performed as a Dancing Storyteller throughout the U.S. I also worked as an Academic and Public Librarian.

Reviews

[Pegboard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arlene N. Cohen uses her interests and passions to create Mostly True: Short Stories. Her love of dance is seen in many of her stories, as well as children. Personal experiences are sprinkled throughout the book. You can't make up some of these stories; the author would have had to experience them. She brings the people and terrain of Hawaii alive will colorful stories of someone whom would have lived there. She also reveals women who are strong enough to make tough decisions.

Mostly True: Short Stories is a delight to read. Arlene N. Cohen keeps her stories unique and refreshing. Often the stories end abruptly, leaving the reader to draw their own conclusion.
Overall, there is a short story for everyone. My personal favorite story is Earth Dance. Terry and Betty test their friendship. The trust they had in each other was refreshing and shows the importance of developing strong friendships that can take the test.

[CarlitasFox · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely and enthralling book
When it comes to an enjoyable piece of writing, I would say that this book is one of it. “Mostly True: Short Stories” is a really nice book written by Cohen, Arlene N. I dare say that she is a talented and created writer. This book has captivated my attention from the first short story.
As the title indicates, it is a complication of 13 short stories which are related to different characters. You will encounter with dancers, travelers, hippies, storytellers and hikers, among others. These stories are humorous, brief and leave a message to the readers. It goes without saying that they are so well-written and described that they hold your attention.
The reading is easy to follow and the pace flows smoothly and invites you to keep on reading each tale. I give it 5 stars out of 5 because I truly enjoyed it! For sure, I will keep on reading other books from this author.

[Carolina Solano · Rating 4 out of 5]

MOSTLY true: Short Stories by Arlene Cohen is a book that pleasantly surprises me. When I read the stories, I felt that they all leave a teaching or a reflection, and i wanted to go to the next story without hesitation.
The book has thirteen short stories told in a simple way and the characters in each of them are ordinary people with real feelings. While I liked all the stories, one of my favorites is "Girl in the hallway." In most stories, the protagonists are women who need to be recognized or make a radical change in their lives. In these stories they value the simple teachings that life gives them.
It is a clear and concise book, and that is why it attracts the attention of readers. It can be read by people of all ages.
I really enjoyed reading each of the stories in this book. It is a book to spend a pleasant time and highly recommended to read in our moments of leisure and relaxation.

[Rachel Kester · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book by Arlene N. Cohen provides readers with a handful of unique and catchy short stories that let you travel the world while meeting interesting characters. You’ll discover many fun, scary, and heartbreaking stories to enjoy inside. Some include The Sixth Graders, Hawaiian Girl, The Almond Cookie, and Time Lapse.

Most of these stories reflect events that occurred in Cohen’s life. As you read, you’ll find yourself not only enjoying a good story, but pondering more about life and what fate really means. The stories only last a few pages, so they’re somewhat brief, but have a powerful message. While not explicitly stated, the stories also include important life lessons that readers can take away with them.

Cohen writes with an engrossing style that will make putting the book down difficult to do. At 104 pages, it’s not necessarily that long of a read making it ideal for those who want something absorbing yet short.

[S Tyty · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Mostly True" is a set of 13 stories written by Arlene A. Colhen in a fun and reader-friendly manner. All the characters are well-described, what makes each one of the stories easy to read through.
The format of the stories is captivating since they are short and written in a way that helps readers quickly identify with the characters, most of whom have psychological issues to solve.
This memorable collection of quick reads seems to reveal how the author really is since she is able to portray some of her most inner feelings and ways of seeing life through the stories.
Each story has an inspiring short passage at the beginning which would either make readers think about or analyse simple aspects of life or would give them some piece of advice on topics of common concern.
A must for those interested in something smooth and fun to read!

[Mia C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Mostly True: short stories” is a book written by Arlene N. Cohen. It is a collection of short stories about actors, travelers, storytellers, madmen, hikers, flappers, hippies, lovers, cookies, castles and more. All these tales are between facts and fiction.
It is a quick and enjoyable read that after reading one story the reader is invited to continue with the next. I liked the author’s writing style very much and while reading I had that feeling of wanting to know what is true and what is not.
Characters and stories are well developed. These compilation of thirteen stories is the debut novel of the author. A very good beginning if I am asked.
I will certainly recommend reading these stories. For this reason, I am giving this book four out of five stars.