On Traigh Lar Beach

by Dianne Ebertt Beeaff

Eric Winchat, a young writer overwhelmed by the stress of her first book contact, discovers thirteen curious items tangled in the flotsam on the Scottish beach of Traigh Lar. Inspired by the objects, she tells the intriguing story of the owner of each one, uncovering a series of dramatic events -- from a Chicago widow's inspiring visit to Quebec City to a shrimper's daughter facing Tropical Storm Ruby in North Carolina.

The thirteenth item, a concert laminate badge, gives rise to novella Erica calls an Girls, in which the separate stories of four fans of the Sottish rock band Datha unfold in first person culminating in their reunion at a concert in Chicago -- a show where a shooting takes place

Genres: Short Stories

235 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1999

About the author

Dianne Ebertt Beeaff is the award-winning author of six books. She began her writing career in magazine journalism. Her poetry, watercolors, graphite drawings, and magazine articles have been featured for decades throughout the United States and Canada.

Reviews

[Jypsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Smith Publicity for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

On Traigh Lar Beach
By: Dianne Ebertt Beeaff


REVIEW ☆☆☆☆

On Traigh Lar Beach is an excellent collection of twelve short stories and one novella by Dianne Ebertt Beeaff. She takes a simple, relatable idea, random objects found on a beach, and cleverly crafts a story about each object. The stories are unique from one another but create a cohesive picture overall. Things are random but also not random at all. That is one thing I like about story collections-they can be interpreted in so many ways. This group of stories are beautifully written, accessible and appealing because of their foundational concept. I have read several collections this year, and On Traigh Lar Beach is a favorite!

[Rowena · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Stories as thick as clotted cream spring out of these Harris peat bogs.”- Dianne Ebertt Beeaff, On Traigh Lar Beach

Those of you who follow me on Twitter might know about my contribution to Clare Carlin’s Pieced Work. One of the premises of the project is that there are often stories behind objects, and those stories might surprise you. Since I submitted my piece I’ve been thinking a lot about the histories surrounding objects so it felt serendipitous that I came across this book where stories behind objects was a theme.

This book introduces us to a writer who won a prize for her book but since then has had issues with writer’s block. After coming across some objects that have been washed up on a Scottish beach, she is inspired to write a short story that explores the story behind each object. And from writing those short stories she is inspired even further to write a novella based on a fictional Scottish band named Datha.

The stories in the book to be very powerful, shocking at times. There is often the sense of tragedy and all sorts of strong emotions, things you wouldn’t guess by just looking at the object. Whenever I read a book I often pay attention to the thoughts and ideas that go through my head, and this one got me thinking about humankind on the whole, and how we are all connected, as cliché as it may sound. The objects that washed up on the Scottish beach come from various parts of the world, another reminder.

The author’s writing is very beautiful and I especially loved the way she described nature, which is always there amidst the tragedy, the sadness:

“How I treasured the velvet dampness of black loam crumbling in my hands. Spring earth sliced with fresh shoots as snappy as wintergreen, autumn’s crunch and rustle, the chilled sea greens of deep summer– those long sunlit afternoons when sweet peas popped like limey jewels into colanders and new potatoes cracked the earth like nuggets of gold.”

The novella, Fan Girls, took me back to my teenage obsession with the Backstreet Boys. I hadn’t really thought about the emotions that go behind being a serious fan of a group for a while, so it was interesting to read the thoughts of the fans of Datha, some of whom remind us just how cathartic and life changing art can be. As one of my favourite characters, Emily, says, “Datha’s words and the power of their music had ignited a glimmer of my own potential. Isolation melted away with an intensity so intoxicating I could still ball it up in my fist like lightning. I’d stretched my soul out into the glittering darkness, released from expectation, from dependence and fear, determined that whatever threads still held together the thin fabric of my existence, being beaten could not possibly be one of them.”

This was definitely one of my favourite reads of year, especially welcome in a year in which I couldn’t find much to maintain my attention. Thanks so much for Smith Publicity for the complimentary copy!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Erica is a young writer who can't seem to get an idea for her next book after the success of her first book. On vacation in Scotland, she discovers thirteen items on an isolated beach. The items are random and there is no connection between them. Erica writes a short story about 12 of the items and a novella about item 13 based on where the items could have come from. The items range from an empty ketchup holder to a child's bucket and a jar of pickled onions. Each item results in a highly emotional story that makes the reader want to mull over each story before they go to the next. 13 unrelated items become part of a cohesive collection of stories. I don't read a lot of short story collections but this is a book that may change my mind - I definitely recommend it.

[Billy Buttons · Rating 5 out of 5]

A WISHING SHELF BOOK REVIEW
17th December 2020
TITLE: On Tráigh Lar Beach
AUTHOR: Dianne Ebertt Beeaff
Star Rating: 5

‘Richly written, thought-provoking and utterly compelling. Highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf

REVIEW
For me, a good book, a really good book, needs a hook. Not a complicated hook, just a simple hook pulling me into the story. And this set of shorts by Dianne Ebertt Beeaff has it. The story of thirteen bits of flotsam discovered on a beach. Pow! That’s it – and I loved it! I think I'm a bit of a romantic; over the years, I've often wandered along a beach and wondered where the things I see there originated from. An empty bottle of wine; who drank it and why did the bottle end up in the sea?
In this book, the author is exploring the different characters. And it is in this respect that she is very talented. She knows all her characters, even the secondary, very well, and this shows in the individual way they act. There is a lot of self-discovery going on and, I must say, it is very well-written. It can get a little drawn out here and there, slowing the pacing slightly. But, overall, it’s insightful and very much helps the reader to not only understand the characters, but also start to care about what happens to them. In many ways, this is a character study. And, in every way, it is a compelling read.
There is plenty of ‘plotting’ going on here too. Every story is full of tiny twists and turns, and every story has a thoughtful ending. In many ways, this is the sort of book that would go down well with a reading group; there's so much to discuss, so many links to explore. All in all, it's a bit of a gem.
Enjoy!

A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
www.thewsa.co.uk


This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: On Tráigh Lar Beach
Author: Dianne Ebertt Beeaff

Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 17
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 9/10
Cover: 6/10
Of the 17 readers:
17 would read another book by this author.
9 thought the cover was good or excellent.
17 felt it was easy to follow.
17 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 9 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
15 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
17 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.

Readers’ Comments
‘What a fun idea! Loved the premise and I loved the writing style. Very harmonic with wonderful literary rhythm.’ Female reader, aged 54
‘A strong writer who knows how to deliver a gripping story with complex and interesting characters. I very much enjoyed this, only let down very slightly by a poor cover.’ Male reader, aged 67
‘I read a story a night over two weeks and I looked forward to every chapter. Always plenty to think about after closing the book. I will never look at flotsam and not think of this author’s work.’ Female reader, aged 38
‘I read 9 books in December 2020. This was my favorite.’ Female reader, aged 46

To Sum It Up:
‘A thought-provoking set of shorts with strong characterisation. A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards

[Story Circle Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first half of On Traigh Lar Beach* (Traigh, pronounced “try,” is Gaelic for Sandy, and Lar means Floor), is about a Scottish writer who wins the prestigious British Comstock Writing Contest. “Erica Winchat, First Place, Short Fiction: A book of towering achievement, equal parts critique and passion.” Erica’s elation is short lived as she can’t imagine what to write her next story about. Self-doubts and feelings of inadequacy overwhelm her. Her husband refuses to accept her pessimism.

He takes her to their favorite beach for a week to celebrate her achievement. On the last day, as they walk along the beach, they come across a jumbled cache flotsam (debris) tangled in seaweed: a cigarette lighter, a jar of pickled onions, the handle of a child’s bucket, a rock-concert laminate badge, and nine more random items. Erica creates a unique story about each of the thirteen eclectic items, each story completely different from the others. But then, with her husband telling her every day, ‘You can do this, Erica,’ how could she not?

Twelve of these stories go into the first half of the book. The second half is a novella titled Fan Girls, created around the thirteenth item. The author uses famous quotes to introduce Part One and Part Two of Fan Girls. These set the tone for the story.

Fan Girls has a well-developed, engrossing plot involving four women of similar ages but differing backgrounds who are obsessed with Raine, the lead singer in a fictional 80s rock band called Dartha. Layers of social problems are woven into each character’s story.

Dartha’s music gives courage to rural Ohio’s Emily, an abused wife and young mother. Will it be enough for her to escapes her raging husband with her two teenage children?

Annie is handicapped, requiring the use of crutches and a leg brace, and is very unhappy. So she lives in a fantasy world as Raine’s girlfriend. She travels from Chicago to Edinburgh, Scotland to try to make it real. Her friend Chelsea hangs on Annie’s every word of her romance with Raine. Then Dana, the tough, foul-mouthed editor of the longest-lived fanzine, Conversations spills the beans about Raine’s upcoming marriage to a beautiful young woman. Annie becomes unglued and chaos briefly reigns.

On Traigh Lar Beach is a fun and engrossing book of connected short stories. The pacing keeps the reader turning the pages and these characters stay with the reader long after the last page. All fourteen stories are excellently crafted. This book will appeal to anyone who’s ever been a super-fan, as well as those who enjoy variety in their reading.

Story Circle Book Reviews thanks Ann McCauley for this review.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An assortment of thirteen objects washed ashore on Traigh Lar Beach inspired this collection of short stories and a novella as the author explores the stories of the people behind the objects and how the objects found their way to the water.  Every story had very well developed characters and I felt immediately transported to each of the different settings.  In many instances, the objects were not the main focus of the story, rather the character's interactions with the object.  The stories were tied together by the emotional impact, the objects held memories of grief, sadness or melancholy and releasing those feelings. The last object, a concert badge, led to a novella called The Fan Girls.  I was absorbed into this story that centered around four women's varying degrees of obsession with the lead singer of a Scottish band, Datha.  The four women all came from different backgrounds and led very different lives, but were all able to bond and come together surrounding Datha's music.  However, obsession has many forms and some can be dangerous. Overall, On Traigh Lar Beach is a thoughtful, moving and genuine short story collection.  

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

[Heidi Daniele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like many other people, I’ve often wondered about the odd things found on ocean shore beaches.
Dianne Ebertt Beeaff has taken the mystery a step further.
Her book includes thirteen short stories that reveal the situations surrounding thirteen different items that have travelled by sea to Traigh Lar Beach. The stories have their own eclectic voice, setting and style. Each of the main characters and thier circumstances left me with food for thought and the desire to know more.
On Traigh Lar Beach ends with a novella, Fan Girls. Fan Girls gives the reader a glimpse into the lives and thoughts of four very different young women; their only common thread is a connection to the music of a band called Datha. Beeaff weaves the unexpected into the closing chapters, reminding the reader that nothing is certain in life, and only a fine line separates us from life and death.
On Traigh Lar Beach is a great summer read!

[Wally Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's how good Dianne Eberett Beeaff can be:

The narrator is a young woman who's been sleeping around as a way to protect herself from commitment and potential pain. She's agreed to go out with a man who is both right for and interested in her:

"As a rule, I avoid Seaport Village. Too much unmanageable romance. Too many overstimulating sea breezes, babbling brooks, and so forth. Tonight, a riot of last summer flowers and mellowed lamplight suffuse the place with a fairy-tale expectancy, and calf-eyed couples drift down the cobblestoned walkways, meandering past balloon stalls and soda fountains, carousels and book niches. All of this threatens my objectivity."

In one paragraph we learn a great deal about the character and her feelings, the place and the time (late summer, evening), and the author's done it without breaking a sweat.

The author's book is On Tràigh Lar Beach, a collection of stories. You can visit Tràigh (pronounced "try") Lar beach on the west coast of Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides. Beeaff writes that flotsam is carried on the Gulf Stream from the New World and dots the sand.

She says, "I have written professionally for many years beginning in the area of magazine journalism. I self-published two books: the memoir A Grand Madness, Ten Years on the Road with U2 and Homecoming. More recently, I had two other books traditionally published: Power's Garden and Spirit Stones. I was always inspired by some personal experience that lead me to explore a specific area, era, subject or personality."

She says that years ago she visited the Outer Hebrides. "We stayed just down the road from Tràigh Lar Beach, in the hamlet of Rodel. Walking on beach one afternoon, I noticed several items tangled in the seaweed and jotted them down in my journal. Years passed and, as I finished up the sequel to my memoir [A Grand Madness, U2 Twenty Years After], I began working on these stories."

It's an interesting book, unusually well-designed and attractive. It consists of 14 short stories—some very short—and a novella. As a framing device, an unnamed narrator is vacationing in the Outer Hebrides with her husband. She has just won a prize for her novella and had "a two-book contract flung across my shoulders like a length of chain mail." Casting about for a subject she visits the beach and inspiration is waiting in the sand.

Each story involves a different object, character, and (mostly) place. The objects include an empty ketchup holder, a packet of arthritis pills, the handle of a child's bucket, a disposable syringe, a wine bottle cork, a plastic laundry basket. (It struck me that this could make a writing class assignment: Write about a jar of pickled onions . . . a camera lens cap . . . an artificial lotus blossom.)

These stories are mostly short, six or eight printed pages, and they are as different from one another in form and voice as the objects that inspired them, and while I responded more positively to some than others they are all well-written. For example:

"Adelaide, Eden's mid-forties owner, usually buzzed around the room in a short-skirted power suit at least one size too small, her long rust-colored hair free as flames. She radiated a sensuality as juice and seductive as her neon-red lip gloss, and when the mail-dominated dive club was in session, she struck me as honey to a swarm of bees."

At times, however, her ability to create metaphor can get away from her. "He had a face like polished driftwood." That's fine, but half a page on the same character's eyes "gleamed like buffed sandalwood," which is a bit much. Still, many of us wish we could do as well.

The second half of the book is novella, Fan Girls. An unnamed narrator introduces the reader to four young woman at a rock concert. Annie, Emily, Dana, and Chelsea are all Datha fans, one of whom is dangerously fanatic. Their individual stories are all very different but all linked to the band and its music in some way. Given Beeaff's experiences as a twenty-year U2 fan, which must have exposed her to other fans, their stories and obsessions, I have a sense she's writing from the inside and the reader benefits from it.

On Tràigh Lar Beach is an engaging collection by a writer who's been around the block more than once and seems to have recorded the most intriguing people and sights along the way

[David Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful prose and detailed settings.
Erica's recent novella won a prestigious award and is now contracted to write two more books. She's at a loss for ideas and words but while on a trip to Traigh Lar Beach she comes across thirteen items on the sand and asks herself 'where did these come from'. What follows is a series of twelve short stories she creates in which she associates both a flower and a history for each item. With the thirteenth item, a concert laminate badge, she writes a novella called Fan Girls that tells the story of four women who are fans of the fictional band Datha. Told in the first person POV of each of the four you learn about their individual lives and then it all comes together in the final chapters where they all meet at a concert.
I really enjoyed the way this book unfolds and how personable the characters are. There's a lot packed into the shorts and the final novella is a compelling story on its own. With a keen eye and concise writing the author created a story that pulled me in and then delivered a blow at the end with a twist I never saw coming.
I highly recommend this one!
.
Thank you to the author, She Writes Press and Suzy Approved Book Tours for the gifted copy and including me on this tour.

[M. K. French · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stressed by her first book contract, Erica Winchat finds thirteen items on the Scottish beach Tràigh Lar. She tells the story of each item, and the thirteenth inspires her novella.

Any writer would be plagued with impostor syndrome, feeling like awards won are nothing but a fluke. This is what keeps her from being able to write, even though she has landed a two-book contract. This sets up the framework for this novel, several stories, and a novella inspired by the flotsam and jetsam found on Tràigh Lar, which is Gaelic for Sandy Floor. Admittedly, I rushed through Erica’s opening chapter, finding her indecision less interesting than the idea of stories built up around trash washed up on a beach. The stories themselves are built out of moments, small slivers of time where they can feel quick with staccato descriptions, or drawn out a bit with longer or repetitive ones. Each chapter is also headed by an illustration of a flower, the name of which coincides with the short story associated with the found object. The descriptions serve as an epigraph as well, subtly addressing aspects of the story that follows.

I really enjoyed Brook’s voice in the story associated with the arthritis pills, as if she’s in a conversation with the reader as she goes along with her duties as a CNA in hospice care. Ella’s attempt at meditating in the next story for the artificial lotus blossom made me laugh, and then I was dragged down into grief for “Robin,” an epistolary tale where the real story is told between the e-mails of the text. Similarly, I felt grieved by the senselessness of the tragedy in “Red,” where the narrator didn’t even know her name. Some stories, such as Belle’s, don’t have a conclusive ending.

On Tràigh Lar Beach closes out with Erica’s novella “Fan Girls,” a story where four fans of the Scottish band Datha tell their stories leading up to a reunion at a Chicago concert. The four friends’ lives didn’t necessarily go well after the first concert. There is domestic violence, theft and abuse of an elderly employer, emotional distance and self-sabotage in relationships, and sexual assault in college. Their lives sometimes intertwined, and the music was always a common theme for all four of them. When they met for the concert at the end of the novella, it didn’t end the way I expected it to.

We don’t hear from Erica after the close of the novella, and I had hoped to see her character arc by the end show more confidence in her storytelling skills and the ability to pull off the contract. Overall, this is an interesting collection of stories about women of various ages and backgrounds, and the ways ephemera can sometimes give inspiration for more than we think they will.

[Aspen H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually don't go for short story collections, but this one attracted my eye and it was just a gem! I absolutely loved it!

Erica Winchat, a young writer who is on a deadline to complete a book contract after winning a grand prize in short fiction, is searching for the next great idea for her writing. Overwhelmed, she tours Scotland in hopes of finding inspiration. Traigh Lar Beach proves to be the perfect spark to ignite her writing passion. There, she finds thirteen objects that inspire stories from Prince Edward Island to North Carolina.

Each story starts with a flower drawn on the first page, a definition of the flower and the item that inspired the story in parentheses, giving an additional detail to the story which I found to be really great. The plot twists in each story left me wanting more and thinking about what could happen next. Gripping and captivating, Dianne Ebertt Beeaff demonstrates her gift for writing in this collection of short stories.

The only critique I have to give is that there was a lot of name dropping of places in Scotland during Erica’s story at the start and not enough descriptions. It got me to search up the places and discover Scotland, which was great, but I did wish that there was a bit more descriptions of these locations. Otherwise, I had no problems with this book.

I must mention the TRIGGER WARNINGS within this book that show up in one story or another: drug use, suicide, physical/mental abuse, rape and a shooting. These subjects were approached respectfully and in my opinion, were not glorified, which I really appreciate.

*I was generously given a copy of this book from the publisher Smith Publicity in exchange for an honest review.*

[BooksCoffee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beeaff probes the many meanings of life in this revelatory collection of short stories and novella about love, loss, and otherness.

After winning a prestigious award in short fiction, the very talented Erica Winchat lands a 2-book deal but finds herself struggling to come up with anything worthwhile to write. Seeking inspiration, she sets on a trip to Scotland with her husband. The Traigh Lar Beach proves to be the perfect spark to kindle her writing passion, where she finds her inspiration in thirteen objects scattered on the beach such as a packet of arthritis pills, a cigarette lighter, a jar of pickled onions, the handle of a child’s bucket, among them a rock-concert laminate badge among others.

In “Melody Rose,” a broken, old man finds temporary happiness in his bond with a little girl, who feels neglected by her mother after her baby brother’s birth. In “Brook,” a CNA working in hospice care finds her own way of ending the patients’ sufferings. The absurd tragedy in "Red" is heartbreaking. The novella, “Fan Girls,” explores the liberating, life-aletring power of art as it follows four women’s obsession with Raine, the lead singer in a fictional 80s rock band called Dartha.

The complex themes of self-discovery, grief, physical violence, mental abuse, suicide, rape, murder, and addiction underline the various stories. Beeaff handles difficult topics with sensitivity, making for a heart-tugging read, and her expert use of language enhances the realities of her characters’ lives.

Readers are sure to be sucked in.

[Sublime Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall Rating = 4.83

Storyline & Concept = 4.5
Writing & Delivery = 5
Editorial = 5

On Traigh Lar Beach is a collection of short stories tied together by an author’s finds on a beach in Scotland. Each short story is related to one of the items Erica has found, and each story is set in a different waterside location. A separate novella is included that tells the stories of four women united by their love of a rock band’s music and its lead singer.

This is an exceptionally well-written collection with an interesting method of tying the stories to a woman who has travelled to Scotland in an effort to rid herself of feelings of inadequacy as a writer. The author superbly describes the various settings, both in North America and in Scotland, and her characters are real and relatable. I was left yearning for another tie-in at the end of the collection.

The novella was a captivating bonus as the author used the same technique to tell different stories related to four women. She tied them together at the beginning and the end of the novella while they were at concerts of their favorite rock band, highlighting the changes the period of time in between had wrought upon each of them. Again, outstanding writing skills, story flow, and descriptions shine through in this work, making it a joy to read.

Sublime Line: “On Traigh Lar Beach is an exceptional collection of short stories and a novella delivered with a skill and technique rarely experienced.”

[Ghada · Rating 5 out of 5]

#OnTraighLarBeach #NetGalley
Published on 13 Oct 2020...5 Solid stars
Thanks NetGalley, She Writes Press and Dainne Ebertt Beeaff for a copy to review.
I have never read a book like this before. Its structure is unique and interesting. The first book's idea is so intriguing, I loved how every little item portrayed a life story of its own varying from just a single shot like Melody Rose and the empty ketchup holder to emotionally intense The handle of a child's bucket passing by shocking like The packet of Arthritis pills and The disposable syringe. So creative and original.
Then comes the fan girls novella, starting with Plato's words " Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything".
Annie, Emily, Dana, Chelsea and our narrator are a group of hardcore devoted fans of Datha band, the novella follows how the band with its music, lyrics and band lead singer affected their lives. Since we first witness them in April's concert till they gather again in September's concert. We monitor the changes through their own account of their life related to favorite lines from the music they are passionate about.
I loved this book and will definetly seek more of Dianne's books.

[Christopher German · Rating 5 out of 5]

This week on The Author's Exchange, Host Capt. Chris German sits down with Dianne Ebertt Beeaff, author of On Traigh Lar Beach.

Tune in here on YouTube or download and listen to the podcast on your favorite platform.

You can find more info about Dianne and her novel at https://www.theauthorsexchange.com/th...

This episode is sponsored by
Whither We Tend, a novel by the host of the show Captain Christopher German. It is available in print, e-book, and audio versions wherever you find good books to read or listen to. https://www.theauthorsexchange.com/th...
and by
The Great Loop Movie: Coming in 2021 For more info go to https://www.theauthorsexchange.com/th...

and by
The Sailboat, A Novel Order your advance copy today at https://www.thechartedlife.net/Thesai.... Scheduled for Publication in May 2021

and by
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Brought to you by The Charted Life. #DianneEberttBeeaf #OnTraighLarBeach #AGrandmadness #U2 #thechartedlife #captchrisgerman #theauthorsexchange #thegreatloop #whitherwetend S1Ep8

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[Zoe L.]

This was such a unique and interesting book! I don’t even know where to begin with my review, but I can honestly say I haven’t read anything like this one before. It just had that flow that draws you in and leaves you thinking about it long after you’ve read it.

I love how this story unfolded. Everything was both interconnected and yet singular in its own manner. And as you read it you felt as if it was both something brand new and something you can relate to. And I just really love the idea behind these seemingly ordinary items almost taking on a life of their own.

I really enjoyed this book, it’s one where you don’t see coming but once you read it it sticks with you. And I love the feeling of reading a book and then just stewing in it long after I’ve finish it.

You can view my full review on my blog! I also post about a lot of different types of books!

Reader | Bookstagrammer | Blogger | Reviewer
@ya.its.lit - https://www.instagram.com/ya.its.lit/
Blog - https://yaitslitblog.wordpress.com/

[Heidi McCrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes the best stories are told through the voices of many, as reflected in the novel, On Traigh Lar Beach, by Dianna Ebertt Beeaff. The first series of short stories introduces readers to a variety of characters whose lives are eerily connected through a random collection of items washed ashore on a beach in Scotland. Told through a variety of voices, the multi-narrative is sharp, authentic, and vivid. Whether comical, (She had a pump in her kitchen. Can you believe it? A pump. In the kitchen.) or clever, (“Women split when they can’t take it anymore,” I say. “Men only leave if they’ve got somewhere else to go.” We twirl our cocktail sticks through another lengthy silence.), the stories keep readers wanting to learn the fate of each character. While the second series of stories takes a turn by focusing on a group of women, the collection of voices remains genuine and heartfelt. Readers are also rewarded with a satisfying entertaining ending.

With her sixth book, On Traigh Lar Beach, Dianna Ebertt Beeaff delivers with fast-paced writing, colorful narrative, and captivating story-telling.

[Rebecca D’Harlingue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every once in a while a book of short stories really shines, and reminds me that I should read more of them. Such is the case with On Traigh Lar Beach. The twelve short stories have a spare beauty that makes me hope that Beaff will write more stories like these. Beaff deftly reveals telling aspects of the personality of her characters, such that we feel that we know them. The endings of the stories are wonderful. Beaff does not explain everything, but she has given us enough. We are left with a sense of wonder, as we imagine for ourselves why things happened the way they did.

The second part of the book is a novella about a group of women who are devoted fans of a rock band. Each is unique, with her own background, relationship to, and view of the band. Beaff has published two memoirs about her experiences with U2, and she shares some fascinating details of that life. The novella seems very different from the short stories, but it is equally satisfying.

[Wendy Voorsanger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't usually pick up short story collections. They usually leave me feeling like I missed something. Not so with On Traigh Lar Beach. This is a super creative collection of 12 stories + a novella, linked together by objects the narrator, Erica, finds on a beach in Scotland. The story within a story is that Erica writes a story about each found item. Then comes the novella, Fan Girls, connecting the last found item in a longer narrative about four women (groupies). I found the structure clever and each story filled with unique characters and tone. Her language is gorgeous and the settings so rich with a sense of place, I felt like I was in Scotland. At the end of the linked novella, I wasn't left with a feeling of want, but a feeling of satisfaction.

Story Circle Book Reviews called On Traigh Lar Beach a "TOWERING ACHIEVEMENT." I couldn't agree more!

[Valerie Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Gift that Keeps on Giving

Recently I read On Tràigh Lar Beach by Dianne Ebertt Beeaff (She Writes Press). This collection of twelve stories and a novella captures a myriad of flotsam and jetsam discovered on a sandy beach in the first story and then incorporates each item into a unique storyline. While I have my favorites among the stories, I was impressed at how cleverly the author interweaves arthritis pills, a jar of pickled onions, and a cigarette lighter, and so on, into singular stories that will surely trigger the reader’s personal experiences and memories.

Ms. Beeaff is an exceptionally talented writer. I highly recommend you buy On Tràigh Lar Beach for yourself and for discerning readers in your life, as it’s a gift that keeps on giving. They will thank you for it.

[Christopher German · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the chance to read this as I prepared to interview Ms. Beeaff as part of my podcast, The Author's Exchange on May 7, 2021. I cannot more highly recommend this book as it was masterfully written and a thoroughly enjoyable read. It is a collection of 12 interrelated short stories with a novella at the end making up the 13th where the author uses the mechanism of the world plastic pollution problem to weave a tale of the people who once held those items before casting them into the watershed.
No spoilers from me , but the crafting of these tales makes this one of my favorite of the 18 books I featured this season on The Author's Exchange Podcast. Available for download on Fridays and on Youtube.

[Sally Cole-Misch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unrelated, everyday items found on the beach are the starting point for the twelve short stories and one novella, a unique way to connect the characters through very different plot lines. The writing is smooth, thoughtful and instantly engaging, to the point that I savored over each story as if it was a gift. The novella was a creative way to end the book, telling the narrator's and four other women's life experiences and with a band they adore. The characters and their stories continue to sit with me, a testament to the excellent writing and vivid descriptions of nature and people. A lovely, worthwhile read.

[Florence Kraut · Rating 5 out of 5]

On Traigh Lar Beach is a vivid collection of stories, each with a distinct sense of place and unique voice in the telling. A writer, suffering from writers block, beach combing in Scotland finds objects in the flotsam--for instance a green plastic laundry basket, a black camera lens cap, a cork from a wine bottle--and from each she constructs stories set in such diverse places as Quebec, a theater in New York City, an island in a hurricane on the Carolina coast. The tales are sad, funny, always surprising. Somehow they are all connected as they trace the lives of the characters and the objects found and lost. This lovely collection is a treat for those who love short stories.

[Karen Lateiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author, naturalist, and artist, Dianne Beaff, skillfully choreographs a series of short stories inspired by objects and flowers found along the beach. Impeccably drawn botanicals introduce each chapter, piquing our curiosity. The narrator, a writer seeking inspiration as she walks along Traigh Lar Beach in Scotland, finds objects either discarded or washed up on the shore. Contemplating each object, she conjures up a character and an imaginative story emerges, exquisitely developed and lyrically described. Halfway through the book, we switch gears from short stories to an equally captivating novella. All in all a delightful read.

[Sheila Grinell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Readers who like form as much as content will appreciate the braided short stories in this collection featuring (mostly) young women in a wide range of life circumstances. Author Dianne Beeaff paints with words, using short, pigmented strokes to fill in the scenes. I particularly enjoyed the novella that ends the book, in which four groupies who follow a fictional rock band tell us about their lives—and their obsessions—in their own words. I could practically see the action at the Datha concert in my mind’s eye. Give it a whirl!

[Rutuja Ramteke · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an amazing and fast paced read it is, I recently completed it and I still am in the world created by the author and I feel it's definitely one of those books that have the potential to make the reader think and shiver, so it's a very short yet gripping story where you come across a lot of things, twists and turns. It definitely turned out amazing and I will surely recommend it. It's a book for curious readers.
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Rating: 4🌟

[Jill Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dianne Ebertt Beeaff’s page-turning short story collection is inspired by unexpected items found along a Scottish beach. Magnificently filled with an abundance of world settings and absorbing characters the compelling and heartbreaking plot lines, revealed in close points of view, divulge intimate character idiosyncrasies. I will long remember these stories about women trying to find their place in the world.

[Linda Ulleseit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of short stories centered around a dozen objects found on a beach. The stories are individual, not related to each other. My favorite was Scilla, about a cork from a wine bottle. Although I did enjoy the stories as presented, part of me wanted to see the narrator walk along the beach and find the objects.

[Linda Henley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of stories, mostly inspired by beach findings and illustrated with the author's pleasing drawings of wildflowers found at the site, tells tales of mostly dysfunctional characters from all walks of life. The descriptions ring true and each story is a complete vignette. The writer's considerable writing skills make the collection memorable.

[Marie Fasano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ordinary objects become the basis for stories

Intriguing women and how their lives intersect. Dianne pulls objects from the sea and weaves them into stories you won't forget. Her descriptions come alive in every word.