Gary, the Four-Eyed Fairy and Other Stories [Kindle Edition]

Frank Mundo (Author)

Book Description

Frank Mundo has had more than 30 short stories published in literary magazines, journals and anthologies over the last fifteen years. Gary, the Four-Eyed Fairy and Other Stories represents only his very best work, a dozen interconnected tales that follow the life and times of J.T. Glass, a Los Angeles security guard with an uncanny knack for finding trouble and falling in love -- often at the same time.

An Amazon bestseller for short fiction in the U.S., the U.K., Germany, Italy and Spain, this collection tackles serious topics with humor and pathos that adult audiences everywhere can appreciate.

This special edition also includes the first chapter of The Brubury Tales, where the story of J.T. Glass continues in Frank Mundo's award-winning and Amazon bestselling novel-in-verse.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"When Carolyn See wrote her dissertation on the Hollywood novel in 1963, she could find only three Los Angeles writers who were not writing about the movie business. When she published her first novel in 1970, her editor told her Joan Didion was her main competition. Today, as she sorts through candidates for the anthology, she's coming across scores of new writers: Michael Jaime Becerra, whose new book, "Every Night Is Ladies' Night," is set among Latino immigrants in El Monte...Or Frank Mundo, a security guard who works the graveyard shift and has published his tales of overnight security. See guesses there may be several hundred serious writers in the region..."   - Los Angeles Times

"Ordinarily this was supposed to be the time when students were supposed to helpfully venture 'constructive criticism,' since part of the class was about learning to do just that, but there was no constructive criticism that I remember, because Frank Mundo was the kind of person who already knew how to write and what to write -- knew it in his bones. You could say his prose was perfect, and you'd be absolutely right on the money." - Carolyn See of The Washington Post (from the foreword to The Brubury Tales)

"Well worth a read...A sharply observed take on the human condition, it's full of off-beat humour, life lessons and moral dilemmas." Named a "Favourite Read for April 2012" - multi-story.co.uk

Product Details

• File Size: 268 KB
• Print Length: 114 pages
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005D7KFHI
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #557,372 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Nailing the "Voice" November 4, 2011

By Tui Allen

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Warning! Spoiler. (but only for one little story from this collection.)
Only read the first half of the stories but had to do a review. Enjoyed the first few stories and thought he was fantastic at conveying literary "voice." At first I thought I might find the mood too unrelentingly sombre but then I read the story called "Day at the Beach." It gives the balance and one of the most uplifting stories I've read. They say that one of the greatest skills an author can possess is to nail the "voice" of childhood. Frank Mundo has done it in this story. It will haunt me for a long time in a delightful way. If I were still teaching I'd go straight to school and try this one out on kids. I think they'd love all the BS from the big brother. I reckon they'd totally crack up. But don't get me wrong - these stories are for adults, though kids might enjoy that one.
The unpredictability! After all the preceding stories, I thought the big brother intended to half drown him. WRONG! These kids are so real, so cool and so lovable yet wicked. I'm a convert.
The "sensing" of the sea is perfect. This so nails the wildness, the scariness, the beauty of the ocean and all through the wondering eyes of childhood.
Now I'm off to read the stories I haven't even got to yet.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An exciting series of short stories which reads like a novel January 6, 2012

By Nathan Kross

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is ostensibly a series of short stories, but because of the common theme and character of the narrator J.T. Glass, it feels much more like a novel. The reader is led through a series of situations J.T. finds himself in --- sometimes from childhood, sometimes adolescence, and sometimes adulthood --- and sees those situations through J.T.'s eyes. Those eyes are ironic, intelligent, and full of humor about things that would otherwise be impossible to cope with.

Reading this book is something of an emotional adventure. The situations are so shocking, and so varied, that there's never a point at which you can guess what's coming next. But the heart of the book --- the tone which is maintained throughout --- is kind enough that the ride can be endured, and is worth going on.

Oh, and most importantly. This book is written with an artist's eye (a fact which is hinted at in the very first story). Phrases are used symmetrically, popping up meaning one thing at one moment, and something much richer at another. The language, the pacing, and the mood are all established carefully.

If you ignore the attention poured into it, the end result is a book which reads smoothly and easily. If you care to, though, it's also a book worth studying.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars These stories are so full of Soul! September 9, 2011

By ?wazithinkin

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was totally drawn into these realistic, heartwarmingly, and sometimes tragic human stories. I suspect these are semi-autobiographic; they are so full of soul. These are stories from J. T. Glass' life, a night security guard in Los Angeles, who has ambitions to be a writer. Frank Mundo has definitely succeeded here in this book. I look forward to reading The Brubury Tales, although I must admit that I am a little intimidated by his utilizing iambic pentameter. I will most likely read anything Frank Mundo writes; he has real talent, and a great future ahead of him.

edited to correct a word, LOL, I really do need an editor!

More About the Author

Frank Mundo is a full-time writer in Los Angeles. He has a BA in English from UCLA, where he also completed the Creative Writing Program. His stories, poetry, and essays have appeared in dozens of journals, magazines and anthologies in print and online. For over a decade, Mr. Mundo has also been reviewing books for the San Diego Union-Tribune, The New York Journal of Books, Westside Today, The Swamp, The Journal of Cultural Conversation and many more. Frank Mundo is the author of the award-winning novel in verse, The Brubury Tales (foreword by bestselling author and critic Carolyn See), a modern version of The Canterbury Tales, set in Los Angeles; and Gary, the Four-Eyed Fairy and Other Stories, an interconnected collection of his very best short stories published over the last 15 years.