Customer Reviews

Nothing Like an Ocean: Stories (Kentucky Voices)

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Jim Tomlinson is a master of the short story form. He creates little worlds within a few pages, sometimes more completely than other authors do in a novel. He writes from the point of view of the old, the young, male and female and the voice rings true each time.

Jim Tomlinson is a masterful writer. His voice is authentic whether his characters are male or female, young or old. He draws the reader into the Kentucky/Appalachian world he's recreated. A regional gem, beautifully written. This one will endure.

Jim Tomlinson's new book of short stories, Nothing Like An Ocean, is wonderful, subtle, quiet storytelling of a type that has nearly dissapeared. Deep empathy, unique voices, and lives that I recongnize, and appreciate- these are the characters that live in this book. Some of the stories share characters, and the setting, the mountain country in western Kentucky, wraps its arms around the characters and rocks them to sleep like a grandmother with a fussy child. Wonderful stories from a master. Don't miss this one.

The best testament that I can give to Jim Tomlinson's craft as a writer is that yesterday on the train into the city I was reading and by the time I got to the end of one story I was tearing up and had to set the book down. It was not a terrible tragedy, it was that Jim has an extraordinary talent to calmly explore and reveal the emotional depths of his character's lives... even when they are not quite aware of it themselves. Jim is a masterly writer; his stories come smooth to the reader but it is obvious that good honest labor, with a dose of pain and compassion has gone into creating them. For those who share an interest in Kentucky, in Appalachia, and who enjoy real good honest story about people we might know ourselves, and those stories written real well, I recommend you check out this book.