5.0 out of 5 stars Struggle & Strife
Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2021
Nick Gerrard's short story collection focuses on the personal and political struggles of everyday people from revolutionists and refugees to students and the homeless. Like Hemingway's style, Gerrard's is simple and direct, slicing away the fat. His dialogue is short and forceful, using the European convention of setting off speech with dashes. A fine collection--highly recommended!
4.0 out of 5 stars The human side of things
Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2022
I enjoyed the stories in this book of short stories. Nick has a knack for bringing personalities forward quickly. As a lifelong union member I very much enjoyed his stories of the various labor troubles and the effect they had on all workers. Definitely a good read.
4.0 out of 5 stars Struggle and Strife
Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2021
Good stories. Very much like Hemingway. Never bored.
Must read!
Punk Novelette
STEVEN LESTER CARR
Author and Editor of Sweety cat press.
Last night I finished a truly incredible collection of short stories. I read a lot, like many writers do, so it is difficult for an author to surprise me with their writing, how good it is, or how they write a short story, but Nick Gerrard has done that in spades with his collection of short stories, Graffiti Stories
Graffiti review...George Potter Author and editor of New Voices magazine.
Gerrard is a fine writer. Crisp, succinct prose renders a world few of us would likely visit in the flesh but ingratiates us with its genuine quality. I am reminded in each story of the avant-garde aftertaste of Jack Kerouac as well as the linguistic precision and depth of Ernest Hemingway
Martin Stevenson, Editor and Author of More than footprints?
Writers are often told to find their ‘voice’ and Nick Gerrard has taken this to heart. I have been pleased to publish several of Nick’s articles over the years and have spent more than a few nights sitting opposite him in a pub over a few beers listening to his often hair-raising travel stories. I can tell you that Nick writes exactly as he talks. He may play fast and loose with grammar but his stories are always fascinating.
If you think your gap-year spent backpacking across Asia was an adventure, read Nick’s book, and burn your Lonely Planet.
K Taylor Editor and Author
Original, edgy and revealing...
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A riotous journey to the darker side of some of the world's great cities and to some of the least travelled ones too. The author lays it all bare - the stories are deeply personal, and all the more enjoyable for it. As a travel guide it provides some interesting insights into places off the radar. As a collection of travel stories -- it's original, fun, and as spiky as the young punk rocker who set off on his travels all those years ago.
Highly recommended - honest experience and opinion and feeling spilled across the page
Reviewed in the United Kingdom
This collection really stayed with me. No matter what he's writing about, Nick's poems weave vivid images that by turns gripped me by the throat with unleashed emotion or brought a smile at a sweeter turn, or even inspired a few laughs at the quirkier poems