L. Philipp Naughton’s Bits and Bobs is a collection of thoughts, short stories and poetry covering a range of topics and an even wider range of genres.
It’s difficult to comment on character development from a book of short stories and poetry. Each story has a different set of characters who bring something special to the collection.
The young woman on the omnibus in Naughton’s story Travellers, remains un-named but has a profound effect on her fellow traveller. Naughton paints her as a beautiful young woman in worn, homespun clothing, carefree, yet hard working, as evidenced by her hands. She captivates the young man travelling in the carriage with her because of her charm, and her inadvertent innocent exposure of her body underneath the worn clothing as she reaches down to retrieve something he has dropped. It is a selfless, caring act of a noble young woman of a rustic background.
Worried John is on his way to a job interview and encounters obstacles on the way, including one when he enters the building for his interview. Where on earth is the fourth floor? Right after the third floor and before the fifth, right? Not at all! John, however, takes all his obstacles in his stride, but what is the outcome of his interview.
Written for Halloween, Beware the Ashes in the Wind sees Claire Medizza take a job at a post office in a little village that seems to have been left in medieval times, despite the modern amenities such as the internet. But what is this sleepy little village hiding, and will Claire survive the Trial?
Dialogue is put to good use within the short stories. It is used sparingly, and each conversation adds to the story. It is well-crafted and believable.
The stories travel along at a steady pace, ramping it up to create tension and slowing down with more exposition to give the necessary background.
Naughton is a talented short story writer. He is also a talented poet, as evidenced by those he has added to the collection.
One I enjoyed immensely, The Wicken Tree takes the reader on a journey through the seasons, from winter through the first stirring of the new buds of spring, through the summer, and autumn with its falling leaves and red berries feeding the birds before turning back to the cold of winter. He tells the story of the tree through its many names in different cultures and the importance different people have placed on it, of the myth and magic encased in its branches. It is an emotive history of a humble tree that has touched so many lives over so many centuries, and Naughton captures that importance in this poem.
The book’s bright red cover commandeers the attention of the would-be reader, inviting them to simply “pack your things and step inside”. Inside is a collection of short stories, that take the reader on an emotive journey of hope, showing that a determination to succeed will win out, even in the most unusual of situations.
Overall, Bits & Bobs is a thoroughly enjoyable read, either in one sitting, or over several as the mood takes you. I have awarded this book 4.5 stars.
