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Off Center in the Attic: A Collection of Short Stories and Flash Fiction
Humor and nonsense, flights of fantasy into other realms, fright, disgust and disappointment, silliness and wonderment, and the sadness of reality and heartache. It's all here, and more, in stories that may leave you a little Off Center in the Attic. Acting in a Coffin - A director plays a prank that backfires on a movie set. The Wallflower - A woman compares herself to one who is the life of the party. Pupule - A neighborhood gets a lesson in humility from a crazy old Hawaiian man. To Soar - What a bird drops. Out of Body - A man is shot and his brain goes through a metamorphosis. Looking for Life - Never the right one. Most Wanted - The killer of young boys remains at large. Grandpappy's Cows - Antics of backward backwoods relatives. Boy at the Crossroad - The making of a monster. Cafeteria Science - How to lose your lunch. Indoctrination - A daring woman wants to experience something different and gets her wish. Explosive Day - No escape. The Smell of Death - A clue to the dying. Legacy - A woman in mourning changes her life to follow in her mother's footsteps. An Urgent Message - A plea to a writer. Rituals - Neurosis as a way of life. Watched - Being watched can kill. The Swimmer - A man losing his sanity. Thanatos - The urge to die. Alien Footprints - An invisible perpetrator. Vibratory Rates - Visitations from heaven and hell. The Voodoo Kit - A Jamaican hex follows a woman home. Pekoe - A newborn kitten abandoned in a portable toilet. Great Lady of Wisdom - A holy goat. The Last Thing I Do - The end of making memories. Future Winner - A little-known artist gets a break. Innocence - A high school girl on the verge of betrayal by her innocence. Sister Fly - Karma Homeless, Not Heartless - A man and his dog. Roots - What you may find when tracing your family tree. This is the large print edition of Off Center in the Attic, with a larger font / typeface for easier reading.
222 pages, Hardcover
First published September 8, 2011
18 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Mary Deal
24 books152 followersMary Deal is an Amazon International bestselling, award-winning, multi-genre author of suspense/thrillers, romance, a short story collection, writers’ references, and self-help. She is a Pushcart Prize nominee, Artist and Photographer, and former newspaper columnist and magazine editor. After losing her beloved partner of 31 years, she is has written a memoir about surviving the grief period. That book is meant to help others and is due out in a few weeks.
She has traveled and has a lifetime of diverse experiences, all of which remain in memory as fodder for her fiction. A native of California’s Sacramento River Delta, where some of her stories are set, she has lived in England, the Caribbean, the Hawaiian Islands, and now resides in Garner, No. Carolina. Also, her paintings and photography are used to create gorgeous personal and household products.
Her Website:
http://www.marydeal.com
Amazon Author Page: http://tinyurl.com/3z8pm31
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/MaryDeal
She has traveled and has a lifetime of diverse experiences, all of which remain in memory as fodder for her fiction. A native of California’s Sacramento River Delta, where some of her stories are set, she has lived in England, the Caribbean, the Hawaiian Islands, and now resides in Garner, No. Carolina. Also, her paintings and photography are used to create gorgeous personal and household products.
Her Website:
http://www.marydeal.com
Amazon Author Page: http://tinyurl.com/3z8pm31
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/MaryDeal
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
April 28, 2020
I've read all of Mary Deal's novels at this point, except for two non-fiction ones that I'll eventually dive into. Off Center In The Attic is a collection of ~40 short stories where the theme or characters are slightly askew or peculiar in a way that will entice and excite you. Some are just a few lines; others are ~15 pages. All are well-written and showcase her fantastic talent as a storyteller, author, and creator.
On the shorter side for a collection--ending up around ~125 pages in totality--you can devour these tales all in one sitting or over a few night before going to bed. A few frights, a few laughs, you'll undoubtedly love some more than others because of a character's description, the ingenious plot twist, or the clever and witty writing tone.
I recommend reading one of her novels first so you understand how strong of a writer she is, then hop to the short story collection so you can see the immense range of her work. Then hop back to her other books where you can travel the world and visit serial killers through her talented writing skills.
On the shorter side for a collection--ending up around ~125 pages in totality--you can devour these tales all in one sitting or over a few night before going to bed. A few frights, a few laughs, you'll undoubtedly love some more than others because of a character's description, the ingenious plot twist, or the clever and witty writing tone.
I recommend reading one of her novels first so you understand how strong of a writer she is, then hop to the short story collection so you can see the immense range of her work. Then hop back to her other books where you can travel the world and visit serial killers through her talented writing skills.
November 10, 2018
I'm a big fan of short stories, and in my oppinion Mary Deal really set the bar high with Off Center In The Attic! It's taken me a while to read it, but that isn't because it wasn't good enough to breeze through in one sitting, because it was! After reading the first story I knew that I could really connect with the writing style. As an author, short stories (good ones!) are a great way to taste a sample of characterizaion and writing flow in order to get my head in the game of a writting session of my own. This book has it all, and I've really enjoyed savoring one story at a time!
Mary has managed to present the world with such an outstanding variety of settings, voices, genres, and personalities... it's beyond impressive! Some of the stories are very short and can be devoured in a mere few minutes, and some are a bit longer. There wasn't one that I didn't like, and that says a lot! I think my favorite aspect of the book in general is genuine uniqueness. Hence the name 'off center' I supose. Dispite the far fetched story line of a couple of the stories, and the far from average situations, Mary as penned them each in a way that they seem real and completely beleiveable. The characters are actually developed, and in short stories that's impressive!
I'll definitly be reading more of Mary's stuff, likely sooner than later! This is the first of her works that I've read, and I've instantly become a fan. The only problem now, is deciding on which one to run with next!
Mary has managed to present the world with such an outstanding variety of settings, voices, genres, and personalities... it's beyond impressive! Some of the stories are very short and can be devoured in a mere few minutes, and some are a bit longer. There wasn't one that I didn't like, and that says a lot! I think my favorite aspect of the book in general is genuine uniqueness. Hence the name 'off center' I supose. Dispite the far fetched story line of a couple of the stories, and the far from average situations, Mary as penned them each in a way that they seem real and completely beleiveable. The characters are actually developed, and in short stories that's impressive!
I'll definitly be reading more of Mary's stuff, likely sooner than later! This is the first of her works that I've read, and I've instantly become a fan. The only problem now, is deciding on which one to run with next!
Read
January 18, 2019Whenever I write a book review I like to see what other reviewers have said, not to copy their thoughts, but to learn the diversity of impressions each has come away with. The reviews of Mary Deal’s book are both subjective and objective, and define this collection of short stories perfectly. Her writing is expert, captivating and technically flawless.
There is so much variety in the stories: some are just snippets of fleeting thought, perhaps a sentence or two long; others are luxurious in detail and rich in imagery. Some are disturbing in exposing the dark side of humanity, others transcend the earthly with mystical philosophies about death and near-death experiences. Bizarre voodoo or extraterrestrial superstitions are creatively explored. Some are written from the point of view of a wallflower, a bird, or - I kid you not - a pen! My favorite is “Out of Body,” with its roller coaster ride through a crime victim’s varying levels of consciousness, to an awakening of clarity and a new “reality.”
There is no escaping Deal’s love of art and her spiritual connection to the tropics, particularly Hawaii. These come from her personal and intimate experiences in those realms. And her stories certainly have a subject matter that will amuse, confound, or emotionally touch readers who have dissimilar literary tastes. You are certain to find one or more that will have you pondering the deeper meaning behind the words.
There is so much variety in the stories: some are just snippets of fleeting thought, perhaps a sentence or two long; others are luxurious in detail and rich in imagery. Some are disturbing in exposing the dark side of humanity, others transcend the earthly with mystical philosophies about death and near-death experiences. Bizarre voodoo or extraterrestrial superstitions are creatively explored. Some are written from the point of view of a wallflower, a bird, or - I kid you not - a pen! My favorite is “Out of Body,” with its roller coaster ride through a crime victim’s varying levels of consciousness, to an awakening of clarity and a new “reality.”
There is no escaping Deal’s love of art and her spiritual connection to the tropics, particularly Hawaii. These come from her personal and intimate experiences in those realms. And her stories certainly have a subject matter that will amuse, confound, or emotionally touch readers who have dissimilar literary tastes. You are certain to find one or more that will have you pondering the deeper meaning behind the words.
February 8, 2018
This is a different collection than others I have read. Mostly short stories, but some of the writing seems to be more of the writer's thoughts on a vast collection f assorted themes. I found the short stories interesting and would like to see many lengthened into novels. I wouldn't say the short stories have the usual twist that others have, but I found this book an interesting way to look at the author's writing, which is good and this collection is something readers should have a look at.
April 5, 2018
A whimsical collection
A whimsical collection of short stories and vignettes on various themes, some excellent and others, sadly, a little less polished. Mary Deal excels when she writes about the things that appear to interest her most: the stories set on Hawaii, and some fascinating spiritual pieces that reflect her wider writing; but some of the shorter stories feel more like writing experiments than finished works.
If every story in “Off Center In The Attic” had been as good as the lovingly crafted Hawaiian tales — full of the bright colours, hot winds, and the laid back attitude of the islands — then I am sure I would have awarded the book 4 stars, but there are simply too many filler pieces watering them down.
A whimsical collection of short stories and vignettes on various themes, some excellent and others, sadly, a little less polished. Mary Deal excels when she writes about the things that appear to interest her most: the stories set on Hawaii, and some fascinating spiritual pieces that reflect her wider writing; but some of the shorter stories feel more like writing experiments than finished works.
If every story in “Off Center In The Attic” had been as good as the lovingly crafted Hawaiian tales — full of the bright colours, hot winds, and the laid back attitude of the islands — then I am sure I would have awarded the book 4 stars, but there are simply too many filler pieces watering them down.
March 7, 2018
I’ve always liked short stories and Mary Deal delivers. Not all are off-centered, but a couple are far, far away from any center. I loved the one where an unseen alien leaves bloody prints. There is a love story. There is also flash fiction if your taste runs to really short stories. Some of the stories left you yearning for more, like several chapters more. That is always the sign of a good author. If you like short stories, you will enjoy this one.
February 17, 2019
Each story threw me in for a loop. This is a collection of short stories, but neither felt incomplete, and each left a lesson to be learned. Some more than others, because they REALLY stayed with you. Mary Deal’s got me hooked on her writing with this sample. My favourite was the “Homeless, Not Heartless” towards the end, but there were SO many more in between that had me laugh, cry, chuckle or shake my head at humanity! Beautiful, beautiful prose!
August 14, 2018
his book is a compilation of a number of short stories, some as little as one page. Each story is unique. I will not tell you what they are because that would spoil your read. If you want a short, very easy, several hours of enjoyable and FUN reading this one is for you. Mary Deal is a wonderful author whose mind explores many notions in this book. It is brilliantly written, presented extremely well, without any kind of distractions, and is very entertaining. What more could you want from an easy read. Get it, read it, have fun with it. Well worth the effort.
May 15, 2019
This ingenuous little book of short stories, a couple of them only a few sentences long, captivated me only after reading into them for some time in my living room, in my rocking chair, with a cold glass of tea in front of me, and laughing at the absurdity of the human condition. What I at first took for unconnected or unusual endings or conclusions is in fact a wry sense of humor! Easily finished in an evening, this novella is, I suspect, part fiction and part nonfiction, based on the author's extensive travel and experiences. Her writing is very visual, which corresponds with her other occupation as an artist and photographer. Loved it and look forward to more visual experiences in literature from this author and more of her individualized and dry take on the human condition, even in death. Nothing escapes this author's notice or her pen.
October 21, 2022
Not too bad....alot of the stories started off like you were watching paint dry, but actually had some pretty good twist endings. What I liked the best was the following poem:
In my teens I liked hunky guys
In my 20s I liked fun guys
In my 30s I liked "successful men"
In my 40s I liked men who still retained their physique
In my 50s I liked men who would have a great retirements
In my 60's I realized.....too late
I asked myself what I had to offer
Ironically I know alot of women who are falling into this categroy, but the poem makes you think about what people call "living life" might actually be a waste of life...
But a decent read
In my teens I liked hunky guys
In my 20s I liked fun guys
In my 30s I liked "successful men"
In my 40s I liked men who still retained their physique
In my 50s I liked men who would have a great retirements
In my 60's I realized.....too late
I asked myself what I had to offer
Ironically I know alot of women who are falling into this categroy, but the poem makes you think about what people call "living life" might actually be a waste of life...
But a decent read
March 31, 2019
This is a great collection of stories, each one long enough to reel you in but short enough to finish over a cup of tea. Wild children in a trailer park, an out of body experience & strange deaths in a small town, all as different as could be, with many more besides. I won’t go into too much detail as the reader needs to appreciate this gem for themselves but there are tales inside to suit everyone. Now that I’ve got a taste of Mary Deal’s writing, I’ll be purchasing one of her full-length novels.
November 1, 2019
Off Centre in the Attic: by Mary Deal
A collection of short stories with such a variety in storyline and genre it is impossible to pigeonhole the writer´s style. Some are dark and disturbing, others are written from the viewpoint of animals, and even inanimate objects. The stories vary in length and for this reason I believe this would make a good holiday read. It´s the type of book you could read anywhere, even on your lunch break. Wherever you are and whatever free time you have, you´re bound to find a story which will fit the bill and fit into your time line. An interesting read.
A collection of short stories with such a variety in storyline and genre it is impossible to pigeonhole the writer´s style. Some are dark and disturbing, others are written from the viewpoint of animals, and even inanimate objects. The stories vary in length and for this reason I believe this would make a good holiday read. It´s the type of book you could read anywhere, even on your lunch break. Wherever you are and whatever free time you have, you´re bound to find a story which will fit the bill and fit into your time line. An interesting read.
February 23, 2024
Short Vignettes
This book is amazing with a collection of short vignettes. One is but one paragraph, and others are many pages. They all speak about life and the eccentricities of some characters. Real life has the same types of characters and more 'normal' types as well. Normal in the sense of your own perception of normal. From a wallflower to darker themes and HIV to floating above one's body, you will want to read each story and see how they turn out.
This book is amazing with a collection of short vignettes. One is but one paragraph, and others are many pages. They all speak about life and the eccentricities of some characters. Real life has the same types of characters and more 'normal' types as well. Normal in the sense of your own perception of normal. From a wallflower to darker themes and HIV to floating above one's body, you will want to read each story and see how they turn out.
May 22, 2023
these are short stories that aren’t necessarily scary, just more towards the mystery genre, some of the stories are located in hawaii
November 29, 2024
“Off Center In the Attic” is exactly that. Some fine writing and truly some out there snippets. Now I really need to go center myself. Deep breath and release.
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December 13, 2019Book Review
Basic Details:
Book Title: Off Center In The Attic
Subtitle:
Author: Mary Deal
Genre:
Part of a series? No
Order in series:
Best read after earlier books in series?
Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
Overall score:
I scored this book 4/5
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Short Summary of the book:
This book is a collection of several short stories. Some good, some not so.
What I liked about the book:
The collection of short stories contained some which were good quality.
What I didn’t like about the book:
Some of the stories I did not like so much.
My favourite bits in the book:
The unexpected twists and turns.
My least favourite bits in the book:
I enjoyed the entire book.
Any further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?
This author has written several other books.
What books could this be compared to and why?
Difficult to compare it to other books.
Recommendation:
In summary, I would recommend this book for the following readers:
Children No
Young Adult Probably
Adult Yes
If you like short stories this book may be the book for you.
I look forward to reading more books by this author.
Book Description by Author:
Humor and nonsense, flights of fantasy into other realms, fright, disgust and disappointment, silliness and wonderment, and the sadness of reality and heartache.
It’s all here, and more, in stories that may leave you a little Off Center in the Attic.
Acting in a Coffin - A director plays a prank that backfires on a movie set.
The Wallflower - A woman compares herself to one who is the life of the party.
Pupule - A neighborhood gets a lesson in humility from a crazy old Hawaiian man.
To Soar - What a bird drops.
Out of Body - A man is shot and his brain goes through a metamorphosis.
Looking for Life - Never the right one.
Most Wanted - The killer of young boys remains at large.
Grandpappy’s Cows - Antics of backward backwoods relatives.
Boy at the Crossroad - The making of a monster.
Cafeteria Science - How to lose your lunch.
Indoctrination - A daring woman wants to experience something different and gets her wish.
Explosive Day - No escape.
The Smell of Death - A clue to the dying.
Legacy - A woman in mourning changes her life to follow in her mother’s footsteps.
An Urgent Message - A plea to a writer.
Rituals - Neurosis as a way of life.
Watched - Being watched can kill.
The Swimmer - A man losing his sanity.
Thanatos - The urge to die.
Alien Footprints - An invisible perpetrator.
Vibratory Rates - Visitations from heaven and hell.
The Voodoo Kit - A Jamaican hex follows a woman home.
Pekoe - A newborn kitten abandoned in a portable toilet.
Great Lady of Wisdom - A holy goat.
The Last Thing I Do - The end of making memories.
Future Winner - A little-known artist gets a break.
Innocence - A high school girl on the verge of betrayal by her innocence.
Sister Fly - Karma
Homeless, Not Heartless - A man and his dog.
Roots - What you may find when tracing your family tree.
About the Author:
Mary Deal is an Amazon bestselling, award-winning, multi-genre author of suspense/thrillers, romance, a short story collection, writers’ references, and self-help. She is a Pushcart Prize nominee, Artist and Photographer, and former newspaper columnist and magazine editor. She is currently writing the third story in her Sara Mason Mysteries.
She has traveled and has a lifetime of diverse experiences, all of which remain in memory as fodder for her fiction. A native of California’s Sacramento River Delta, where some of her stories are set, she has lived in England, the Caribbean, The Hawaiian Islands, and now resides in Scottsdale, Arizona. Her paintings and photography are also used to create gorgeous personal and household products.
Her Website:
http://www.marydeal.com
Amazon Author Page: http://tinyurl.com/3z8pm31
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/MaryDeal
Basic Details:
Book Title: Off Center In The Attic
Subtitle:
Author: Mary Deal
Genre:
Part of a series? No
Order in series:
Best read after earlier books in series?
Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
Overall score:
I scored this book 4/5
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Short Summary of the book:
This book is a collection of several short stories. Some good, some not so.
What I liked about the book:
The collection of short stories contained some which were good quality.
What I didn’t like about the book:
Some of the stories I did not like so much.
My favourite bits in the book:
The unexpected twists and turns.
My least favourite bits in the book:
I enjoyed the entire book.
Any further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?
This author has written several other books.
What books could this be compared to and why?
Difficult to compare it to other books.
Recommendation:
In summary, I would recommend this book for the following readers:
Children No
Young Adult Probably
Adult Yes
If you like short stories this book may be the book for you.
I look forward to reading more books by this author.
Book Description by Author:
Humor and nonsense, flights of fantasy into other realms, fright, disgust and disappointment, silliness and wonderment, and the sadness of reality and heartache.
It’s all here, and more, in stories that may leave you a little Off Center in the Attic.
Acting in a Coffin - A director plays a prank that backfires on a movie set.
The Wallflower - A woman compares herself to one who is the life of the party.
Pupule - A neighborhood gets a lesson in humility from a crazy old Hawaiian man.
To Soar - What a bird drops.
Out of Body - A man is shot and his brain goes through a metamorphosis.
Looking for Life - Never the right one.
Most Wanted - The killer of young boys remains at large.
Grandpappy’s Cows - Antics of backward backwoods relatives.
Boy at the Crossroad - The making of a monster.
Cafeteria Science - How to lose your lunch.
Indoctrination - A daring woman wants to experience something different and gets her wish.
Explosive Day - No escape.
The Smell of Death - A clue to the dying.
Legacy - A woman in mourning changes her life to follow in her mother’s footsteps.
An Urgent Message - A plea to a writer.
Rituals - Neurosis as a way of life.
Watched - Being watched can kill.
The Swimmer - A man losing his sanity.
Thanatos - The urge to die.
Alien Footprints - An invisible perpetrator.
Vibratory Rates - Visitations from heaven and hell.
The Voodoo Kit - A Jamaican hex follows a woman home.
Pekoe - A newborn kitten abandoned in a portable toilet.
Great Lady of Wisdom - A holy goat.
The Last Thing I Do - The end of making memories.
Future Winner - A little-known artist gets a break.
Innocence - A high school girl on the verge of betrayal by her innocence.
Sister Fly - Karma
Homeless, Not Heartless - A man and his dog.
Roots - What you may find when tracing your family tree.
About the Author:
Mary Deal is an Amazon bestselling, award-winning, multi-genre author of suspense/thrillers, romance, a short story collection, writers’ references, and self-help. She is a Pushcart Prize nominee, Artist and Photographer, and former newspaper columnist and magazine editor. She is currently writing the third story in her Sara Mason Mysteries.
She has traveled and has a lifetime of diverse experiences, all of which remain in memory as fodder for her fiction. A native of California’s Sacramento River Delta, where some of her stories are set, she has lived in England, the Caribbean, The Hawaiian Islands, and now resides in Scottsdale, Arizona. Her paintings and photography are also used to create gorgeous personal and household products.
Her Website:
http://www.marydeal.com
Amazon Author Page: http://tinyurl.com/3z8pm31
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/MaryDeal
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews