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Collected: The Complete Short Stories
This omnibus edition, Collected, brings together the complete stories from the first three volumes by Dreena Collins, and features additional, bonus material.
Listed in Mslexia; The Bridport Prize; Eyelands International, Fish Publications, Flash 500, Furious Fiction and Retreat West competitions, Dreena Collins lives in Jersey, Channel Islands.
The Blue Hour: a collection filled with lost voices and authentic characters waiting to be heard.
The Day I Nearly Drowned: an exploration of the challenges faced by ordinary people, at pivotal moments in their lives. A father is reunited with his daughter; a woman attends a funeral; a child almost drowns.
And Bird Wing: a powerful flash fiction collection exploring love, loss - and revenge.
Collected: Short Stories for the modern world.
Listed in Mslexia; The Bridport Prize; Eyelands International, Fish Publications, Flash 500, Furious Fiction and Retreat West competitions, Dreena Collins lives in Jersey, Channel Islands.
The Blue Hour: a collection filled with lost voices and authentic characters waiting to be heard.
The Day I Nearly Drowned: an exploration of the challenges faced by ordinary people, at pivotal moments in their lives. A father is reunited with his daughter; a woman attends a funeral; a child almost drowns.
And Bird Wing: a powerful flash fiction collection exploring love, loss - and revenge.
Collected: Short Stories for the modern world.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 3, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 12, 2021
The Blue Hour, The Day I Nearly Drowned, Bird Wing and a little bit more are contained within this volume. It illustrates the authors gift for short stories and flash fiction all in one place.
June 2, 2021
Breathtaking short stories. Dreena is a master of short fiction. Don't miss this.
October 4, 2020
In her forward to the collection, Collins writes of her mission to include the experiences of as many people as possible, and this is clear as story after story unfolds, painting a fascinating portrait of humanity. Characters are very much the driving force behind Collin's storytelling. Through a cast of young and old, privileged and struggling voices, she weaves poignant snapshots of life that are moving, thought provoking and cleverly rendered. The stories touch on a wide range of issues both time worn and contemporary - everything from happiness and infidelity to gas-lighting and internet trolls.
The whole collection feels incredibly coherent, with a strong authorial style running through the wide range of narratives. There were so many stories that really stood out to me that it's hard to choose which to spotlight in this review.
The opening story, Little Gems and Riches, packs an emotional punch, deftly capturing the trauma of loss and the hope that our loved ones never truly leave us. It sets the tone for the collection which goes on through it's varied tales to reveal the many hidden facets of humanity - how we hide the best and worst of ourselves, how what's hidden sometimes comes to light, the missed opportunities to tell those truths ourselves and the moments those truths are taken from us.
Another story that really stuck with me long after the reading is Social Animals. The way it captures the power and dangers of internet anonymity, as well as the habits and intentions hidden behind the posts we see on our social media feeds, is incredibly powerful. It feels particularly pertinent given the surge in 'fake news', cancel culture and online abuse, and serves as both a warning and a philosophical reminder of the disparities between our 'real' and digital worlds.
Collins also manages to give a voice to the voiceless with a deft compassion in stories like Let Me Tell You A Story and (Not) Prone To Winking. In the first, we are invited into the inner world of a child with a learning disability, hearing the words they cannot speak aloud and given a glimpse into the pain, the confusion, the love and the hope that they are unable to communicate. A beautiful reminder that just because our society expects everyone to communicate in the same way doesn't mean it's the only way to communicate, the only way to be. In (Not) Prone To Winking, the main narrative is delivered in a confident male voice which Collins cleverly intersperses with brief bracketed asides from a female voice. Through this simple but effectively used device, the story the male narrator is telling us is undermined by the revelations of this second perspective, highlighting the very real dangers of gaslighting and controlling relationships. I loved this story and thought it was brilliantly executed, bringing a whole new meaning to the idea of unreliable narration.
Towards the end of the collection are several much shorter stories, some barely half a page long. One of my favourites from this section is This Is Where She Died, which showcases Collin's talent for creating moments of emotional connection perfectly. Less than two pages in length, it nevertheless brought a lump to my throat and tears to my eyes, and left me suffused with comfort and hope.
This is truly a wonderful collection which felt reminiscent of Julia Armfield's Salt Slow. Collins captures with grace the pinnacles and pitfalls of human relationships, provides both critical and empathetic examinations of the inner self, and does it all through compelling characters and neatly turned plots. She is a skilled wordsmith indeed and I look forward with great anticipation to reading more of her work in future.
The whole collection feels incredibly coherent, with a strong authorial style running through the wide range of narratives. There were so many stories that really stood out to me that it's hard to choose which to spotlight in this review.
The opening story, Little Gems and Riches, packs an emotional punch, deftly capturing the trauma of loss and the hope that our loved ones never truly leave us. It sets the tone for the collection which goes on through it's varied tales to reveal the many hidden facets of humanity - how we hide the best and worst of ourselves, how what's hidden sometimes comes to light, the missed opportunities to tell those truths ourselves and the moments those truths are taken from us.
Another story that really stuck with me long after the reading is Social Animals. The way it captures the power and dangers of internet anonymity, as well as the habits and intentions hidden behind the posts we see on our social media feeds, is incredibly powerful. It feels particularly pertinent given the surge in 'fake news', cancel culture and online abuse, and serves as both a warning and a philosophical reminder of the disparities between our 'real' and digital worlds.
Collins also manages to give a voice to the voiceless with a deft compassion in stories like Let Me Tell You A Story and (Not) Prone To Winking. In the first, we are invited into the inner world of a child with a learning disability, hearing the words they cannot speak aloud and given a glimpse into the pain, the confusion, the love and the hope that they are unable to communicate. A beautiful reminder that just because our society expects everyone to communicate in the same way doesn't mean it's the only way to communicate, the only way to be. In (Not) Prone To Winking, the main narrative is delivered in a confident male voice which Collins cleverly intersperses with brief bracketed asides from a female voice. Through this simple but effectively used device, the story the male narrator is telling us is undermined by the revelations of this second perspective, highlighting the very real dangers of gaslighting and controlling relationships. I loved this story and thought it was brilliantly executed, bringing a whole new meaning to the idea of unreliable narration.
Towards the end of the collection are several much shorter stories, some barely half a page long. One of my favourites from this section is This Is Where She Died, which showcases Collin's talent for creating moments of emotional connection perfectly. Less than two pages in length, it nevertheless brought a lump to my throat and tears to my eyes, and left me suffused with comfort and hope.
This is truly a wonderful collection which felt reminiscent of Julia Armfield's Salt Slow. Collins captures with grace the pinnacles and pitfalls of human relationships, provides both critical and empathetic examinations of the inner self, and does it all through compelling characters and neatly turned plots. She is a skilled wordsmith indeed and I look forward with great anticipation to reading more of her work in future.
September 16, 2020
A beautifully rich collection of short stories about the human condition, which focus on the intricate relationships people can form with others and more importantly, with their own selves. I've always been drawn to detailed descriptions of a character's inner life and internal conflicts. Psychologically accurate prose, however, tends to be character heavy and light in plot, but the author always manages to strike a perfect balance.
When we read a novel, we are locked in one separate, self-contained bubble. With short stories, we get to delve into individual worls, one after another. It requires more effort on our part but let's not forget how difficult it is to write a good short story, let alone several dozens.
If you're looking for meaningful prose written in a beautiful, modern style, look no further.
When we read a novel, we are locked in one separate, self-contained bubble. With short stories, we get to delve into individual worls, one after another. It requires more effort on our part but let's not forget how difficult it is to write a good short story, let alone several dozens.
If you're looking for meaningful prose written in a beautiful, modern style, look no further.
May 28, 2024
"Collected: The Complete Stories" by Dreena Jane Collins is a compelling anthology that compiles her first three volumes: The Blue, The Day I Nearly, and Bird. This collection, featuring additional bonus material, showcases Collins' vivid storytelling and emotional depth. Her stories explore themes of love, loss, and pivotal life moments, with characters that resonate with authenticity. Praised for her evocative use of language, Collins' work has been recognized in prestigious competitions. This omnibus is a must-read for fans of contemporary short fiction, offering poignant narratives that reflect the struggles and triumphs of ordinary people.
August 4, 2020
I read each of these books in their original, stand alone volumes. All three are are filled with snapshots of stories revealing more in a few words than some authors achieve in many. Highly recommend!
March 8, 2024
Collected is an amazing collection of almost 70 short stories by the very talented Dreena Collins, and brings together stories published separately in shorter collections. They vary in length from flash fiction to longer stories but all draw you in through the quality of the writing and the complexity of the characters. Each story gives a glimpse into a world that feels much larger than the story told and leaves you wanting more. Many left me thinking long after I’d finished reading. Some are open-ended, and made me wonder what happened, but that’s a strength. Something I’d noticed in Dreena Collins’ longer fiction was how she has the confidence to allow the reader to bring their own experience and expectations to a story and come to their own conclusions about what it means and how it ends. Masterly! I can’t recommend this collection enough to anyone who enjoys great writing or who aspires to write literary fiction.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews