126. Down to a Sunless Sea

Down to a Sunless Sea by Mathias B. Freese


Pages: 134
Finished: July 14, 2008
First Published: 2007
Genre: short stories
Rating: 4/5

Reason for Reading: The author sent me a review copy.

First sentence:

While a young child growing up in Brighton Beach, Adam would go shopping with his mother on Brighton Beach Avenue.

Comments: This collection of short stories written by a clinical social worker and psychotherapist is unlike any other collection I have read. The writing is compelling and the stories are deep and dark. It is hard to call each story a "story" as most of them do not have a plot in the general sense but are more like character studies or as it says in a blurb on the back "case studies". Each tale takes the reader inside the life or inside the mind of a person who suffers, whether it be physically, mentally or from trauma, but each character is either a victim or a tormentor. Some stories were disturbing, some were enlightening, some were sad, and I admit a couple I just didn't get. A couple of stories hit me personally as I related to certain events. One story that particular stays with me is Little Errands which places the reader inside the mind of an individual with OCD as he obsesses over his small daily compulsions. If you are looking for happy endings this is not the book for you. If you like delving into the minds of people who do not fit the societal "norm" this is a treasure. Recommended.