Prickly Pears: A Collection of Short Fiction
From Literary Titan
“Prickly Pears isn’t a book for comfort; it’s a book for feeling. It’s for readers who like language that stings a little, who aren’t afraid of stories that leave scratches. I’d recommend it to anyone who loves short fiction. If you enjoy authors like Carmen Maria Machado or Clarice Lispector, you’ll find something electric here.”
From K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite
“Author Isabelle B.L has produced a stunning collection of very personal, cathartic, and effective works that really feel as though you’ve been given a piece of her soul to look after and meditate with as you read her work.”
From author Mary L. Tabor who taught Isabelle and is the author of Who By Fire, re-released by Empress Editions, The Woman Who Never Cooked, (Re)Making Love…
“A collection of short pieces that strike the heart with the personal, that show Isabelle’s gift with imagery, her reading of Kafka and Flaubert, her love of Van Gogh and biblical allusions that ring like tinkling bells. The collection sings like the ‘Golden Oriole,’ one my favorites among poetic glimpses of life, existence, troubled childhood, parenting, love and marriage. Another striking piece is ‘My husband didn’t make it on Marcel Proust’s Questionnaire.’”
From Steve Kay, Published Poet and Songwriter
“… these short stories are full of life’s adventures, some happy, some sad, so many mixed emotions. … this is definitely a book that once you start reading it you won’t want to put it down.”
From Marianne Mersereau, author, “In the Grip of Grace”
“While the stories are rich in imagery and detail, they also have a grounded sensibility that appealed to me as someone who rarely reads fiction. One of my favorites in the collection, “The Jam Jar” is an especially delightful story of a granddaughter’s wish to preserve her grandmother’s history. “Prickly Pears” is a fun and quick read and beautifully showcases the writer’s literary skills and vivid imagination.”
Jeanne The Woman In Red
From Asher Syed for Readers’ Favorite
“The story continues at a slow simmer throughout and is definitely in the realm of literary fiction, particularly as the narrative leans toward symbolism. I loved the microcosm of power dynamics and the intertwining of ‘now’ and ‘then’ with a full-circle feel.”