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Fast Food Fiction: Short Short Stories to Go
Fast Food Fiction is a collection of quick reads for people always on the go. Savor with relish these miniature fictions from voices young and old, new and established. Dip into this collection and experience masterful storytelling from distinguished writers in the Philippine literary scene, including Gemino H. Abad, Jaime An Lim, Gregorio C. Brillantes, Rofel G. Brion, Jose Y. Dalisay Jr., Scott Garceau, Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, Fran Ng, Floy C. Quintos, Nadine Sarreal, Lakambini Sitoy, Ramon C. Sunico, Jessica Zafra, and many more.
198 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
About the author
Noelle Q. de Jesus
12 books11 followersNoelle Q. de Jesus was born in the US, grew up in Manila, and spent most of her adult life as a writer, wife and mother in Singapore. She has published short stories in the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and the US.
Noelle is also author of a chicklit novel, Mrs MisMarriage (Marshall Cavendish International 2008) under her married name, Noelle Chua. She also conceptualized the literary anthology series Fast Food Fiction Short Short Stories To Go (Anvil Publishing Philippines, 2003, 2014), and will edit a Singapore edition in 2016.
She has an MFA in Creative Writing from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, and a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies, with a concentration in English Literature from Ateneo de Manila University. Blood Collected Stories is her first book of short fiction.
Noelle is also author of a chicklit novel, Mrs MisMarriage (Marshall Cavendish International 2008) under her married name, Noelle Chua. She also conceptualized the literary anthology series Fast Food Fiction Short Short Stories To Go (Anvil Publishing Philippines, 2003, 2014), and will edit a Singapore edition in 2016.
She has an MFA in Creative Writing from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, and a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies, with a concentration in English Literature from Ateneo de Manila University. Blood Collected Stories is her first book of short fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 13, 2013
The challenge is set - write a beautiful/ nerve racking/ thought provoking/ non repulsive/ sublime story in less than 500 words.
This has caused many shuddering moments by most of the contributors the editor admitted in her preface. It was not easy cutting down their works of art. I guess real writers never run out of words to let's say, describing a falling leaf. I imagine that they could write a novel, publish it, sell a million copies then draft a second book while thinking of a prequel before the leaf actually falls to the ground. But I also imagine half of the writers bitching around a coffee shop at 2 AM stuck with a writer's block, wondering if starting the novel with, "I see a leaf fall" was a good statement or go third person and generalize, "leaves fall" was better.
In one way or another, they have succeeded to trim it down to just 500 words, painstakingly letting go of those extra words that was supposed to spice up the tone while avoiding to hurt the imagery, without hurting the reader's voracious need for the written language and dismissing the development of an all too confusing air of wondering where the plot went.
This is a collection of short stories. Some stories I enjoyed more than the others, some that gave me an after taste, some that provoked my emotions of anger and those that made me go back to my memory lane. There is a story that challenged my belief of the unknown and another story that made me embrace my faith. It was really a buffet more than fast food, a smorgasbord of literature from some of the finest writers of our country today. You nibble a bit of everything as each writer's style is presented to you such that when you find a favorite you go out and devour more of this writer's work.
And when you find yourself in the last page of the book, you tell yourself what a great fill it gave you and best part, there were no calories added to your weight (and no leaf suffered from its fall).
This has caused many shuddering moments by most of the contributors the editor admitted in her preface. It was not easy cutting down their works of art. I guess real writers never run out of words to let's say, describing a falling leaf. I imagine that they could write a novel, publish it, sell a million copies then draft a second book while thinking of a prequel before the leaf actually falls to the ground. But I also imagine half of the writers bitching around a coffee shop at 2 AM stuck with a writer's block, wondering if starting the novel with, "I see a leaf fall" was a good statement or go third person and generalize, "leaves fall" was better.
In one way or another, they have succeeded to trim it down to just 500 words, painstakingly letting go of those extra words that was supposed to spice up the tone while avoiding to hurt the imagery, without hurting the reader's voracious need for the written language and dismissing the development of an all too confusing air of wondering where the plot went.
This is a collection of short stories. Some stories I enjoyed more than the others, some that gave me an after taste, some that provoked my emotions of anger and those that made me go back to my memory lane. There is a story that challenged my belief of the unknown and another story that made me embrace my faith. It was really a buffet more than fast food, a smorgasbord of literature from some of the finest writers of our country today. You nibble a bit of everything as each writer's style is presented to you such that when you find a favorite you go out and devour more of this writer's work.
And when you find yourself in the last page of the book, you tell yourself what a great fill it gave you and best part, there were no calories added to your weight (and no leaf suffered from its fall).
December 4, 2011
There is one thing I really love about this anthology of short fiction they're are short stories having not more than 1000 words and yet they are not that easy to digest.
I read this book in between traffic jams whenever I will come to my work( well actually I'm still a trainee, flipping patties and frying chips and building up burgers) and just finished it yesterday when I was killing my time inside a convenience store while waiting for someone. This book is easy to read, like what I have said above, they are not that easy to digest. I'm not sure how many short fiction this book has. 50+? I'm not sure. Quick reads as the books says, if you like short fiction, you will definitely love this one.
I read this book in between traffic jams whenever I will come to my work( well actually I'm still a trainee, flipping patties and frying chips and building up burgers) and just finished it yesterday when I was killing my time inside a convenience store while waiting for someone. This book is easy to read, like what I have said above, they are not that easy to digest. I'm not sure how many short fiction this book has. 50+? I'm not sure. Quick reads as the books says, if you like short fiction, you will definitely love this one.
October 5, 2020
When done right, I adore short stories. Here we have sixty short short stories, or what Sawi calls flash fiction (must be a new phrase, as this is not mentioned anywhere in the book's introduction)--fiction served in tiny, matchbox servings. Twenty-one were good, very engaging, and out of these 21, 8* stood out for the deft storytelling, with a buildup that made this reader react--I speak of the kind of stories that warms, or deadens the heart.
* The SSS by Dalisay, Sunico, Clemente, Khan, An Lim, de la Cuesta Capiz, Quintos, and Laya were standouts. I wouldn't mind having seconds.
* The SSS by Dalisay, Sunico, Clemente, Khan, An Lim, de la Cuesta Capiz, Quintos, and Laya were standouts. I wouldn't mind having seconds.
August 9, 2010
The title of the book describes it perfectly: fiction you can digest in as short a span of time as possible. This collection presents to us a different kind of short story: the bite-sized (yet not-too-easy-to-gulp) one. The stories here are in all shapes and forms, but all give their message in roughly 800 words or less. This is honestly a great concept, and a simply lovely read.
(Of all the stories in this book, I have to take note of Tan's "And All Things Nice". It is simply marvelous.)
(Of all the stories in this book, I have to take note of Tan's "And All Things Nice". It is simply marvelous.)
August 14, 2016
3.5 stars
We should have more of these collections. It's a great way to showcase the writing prowess of authors. These are also great if you need short quick fixes of literature, same satisfaction as when you go to your usual fast food joint. Now I find myself craving for more!
Around the year in 52 books: A book with a type of food/drink in the title - 22/52
We should have more of these collections. It's a great way to showcase the writing prowess of authors. These are also great if you need short quick fixes of literature, same satisfaction as when you go to your usual fast food joint. Now I find myself craving for more!
Around the year in 52 books: A book with a type of food/drink in the title - 22/52
June 8, 2017
I've been hearing about flash fiction but I never got to sample it until today. I'm a big fan of novels and other long reads so I was surprised that I really enjoyed these very short, short stories. It's a very interesting genre/form and very encouraging for those who want to try writing fiction.
Some of my favorites from this collection are:
Cypraea leucodon
A Torn Shirt
The Centaur
Some of my favorites from this collection are:
Cypraea leucodon
A Torn Shirt
The Centaur
March 13, 2015
Loved this so much!
(Budjette Tan's "And All Things Nice" was my favorite.)
(Budjette Tan's "And All Things Nice" was my favorite.)
March 12, 2012
I admire Noelle Q. de Jesus her efforts to compile Filipino authors short stories, this way all of us will have a chance to know the works of these authors and from there we can start reading their books.
All in all it was ok. I had a hard time finishing this book maybe because if there are stories that I don’t get it, I stopped reading. But I don’t want to just stop without reading all the stories, it would not be fair to the authors.
I would still recommend the book to fellow readers. I might not liked all the stories but this one is a good medium to know our own authors (“,)
All in all it was ok. I had a hard time finishing this book maybe because if there are stories that I don’t get it, I stopped reading. But I don’t want to just stop without reading all the stories, it would not be fair to the authors.
I would still recommend the book to fellow readers. I might not liked all the stories but this one is a good medium to know our own authors (“,)
January 15, 2020
We studied a few of the short short stories in this book in one of my creative writing classes back in college, and I knew it featured some good Filipino talent. This book shows that some well-written stories can be under 500 words.
March 29, 2015
The anthology of short stories are great.. it is very hard to write to a short story with a maximum of 500-900 words I applaud those writers.
Fast Food Fiction is worth reading
Fast Food Fiction is worth reading
April 7, 2015
I love these stories. Every story is so telling, it makes perfect sense... in 500 words or less.
November 4, 2014
I'm really bad at anthologies. They slow me down. But I tell you people, this one's really good.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews