Book reviews by: R. S. Leergaard

A collection of seven short stories by five different authors, A Step Outside of Normal can easily be read during any cross country or other extended flight. I'm not going to write extended reviews of each story since, in some cases, such a review would challenge the story itself in length. Below are short blurbs about each story (except my own) that hopefully will make them sound interesting enough to check them out.

Hell of a Day by Laurie Axinn Gienapp: A very short tale – about four pages – that shows it's sometimes a very bad idea to take your work home with you. Especially when your job is in Hell.

Sunnybrook Acres by Catherine Valenti: A ten page and rather fun tale about the antics of various aging and eccentric super heroes at a certain retirement home.

Pirates by Kathleen Terrell: This one is a cute little tale about a young girl who spends a lot of time daydreaming about all of the men (pirates) who try to date her mother and wishing the father who left when she was five would return.

Always by Theresa Thompson: A heartbroken woman contemplates the end while attending her cheating husband's funeral. About ten pages.

The Book of Xyxyx by R.S. Leergaard: This one is mine so I'm not going to try to describe or review it. I'll only say this is a weird idea that came to me during a midnight to eight am shift as a security guard. About nine pages.

The Double by Laurie Axinn Gienapp: A flower shop owner comes to believe she's being stalked by her doppelganger double, who thinks she's being stalked by her doppelganger double. Eight pages

Rage by Catherine Valenti: At seventeen pages, this is by far the longest story in the book. It's a violent tale of anger, murder and betrayal. It only goes to show that sometimes a little vengeance is good for the soul.

All-in-all this is an interesting and unusual set of stories that should capture and hold the readers attention during an otherwise boring trip. Best of all, you should be able to finish it in that one sitting.

RSL