Broken Doll

by Neil Campbell

With both economy and compassion, Neil Campbell creates lyrical visions of loss and confinement. Children, teenagers, parents, single men and women all feature in the unflinching depictions of ordinary people coping with the difficulties of everyday life. In stories filled with both poetry and humour, he reveals how moments from both the past and the present can affect our lives forever. From Manchester to Magaluf, Campbell shows lives defined by work and circumstances. The lives of factory workers, labourers, drinkers, musicians, hikers, artists and sportsmen are all revealed in pared-down stories of tact and precision that have a haunting authenticity. In choosing to explore enduring aspects of the human condition he transcends the zeitgeist to leave us with stories that resonate with truth. His crafted stories reveal a sensitivity to the nuances of human behaviour, and suggest a bright future.

Genres: Short Stories

Paperback

First published March 1, 2007

Reviews

[Anne Brooke · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is an unremittingly grim short story collection that seems relatively meaningless. I really have no idea what the stories were supposed to show me, and, after struggling through them all somehow, I don't think I want to know either. Not recommended at all.