6 word reviews

For your reading pleasure

Greetings!

A little while ago I invited people to submit six-word reviews. Well here they are! Do have a look at that link, especially the comments, where there is a one-sentence story by

Tom Pendergast

and astute observations.

As I mentioned recently, when writing short-form I think it helps to think in terms of the minimum viable wordage, or MVW. This is the lowest number of words you need in order to get your message across. I borrowed the concept from that of the Minimum Viable Product. It doesn’t quite work because the latter is the product you can get to market with the least amount of investment of resources you can manage. Getting a story or a review down to six words is usually much harder than writing a longer piece.

With that in mind, I hope you will muster up the confidence to submit something to my next challenge, which I’ll announce shortly. In the meantime, enjoy the ones below, and do click on the links to explore people’s newsletters, and maybe even give them some love by subscribing.

Terry

The reviews

Presented in the order in which I received them.

Mine

Review of Portnoy’s Complaint by Philip Roth:

Disgusting, original, debasing, accurate, pathetic, hilarious.

Mary B

Mary wrote two six-word stories followed by a six-word review.

Turn around don't drown many lost (it's a Texas thing).

Puzzle deciphered, ransom paid, still missing.

Review of Botanical Inks by Babs Behan:

Create fantastic vegetable dyes, complete instructions.

Mary writes Thrivin’ not drivin’

Larisa Rimerman

A revolver to Carry at Night, by Monica Zgustova

(The book is about Vera Nabokov).

Whether Nabokov turned in his coffin?

Larisa writes Larisa’s Substack.

Helen Poore

Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen

Maidens, men, money, misunderstandings, most marry.

Helen writes Wonderings and Wanderings.

Rebecca Holden

Three Men in a Boat, Jerome K Jerome

Hilarious travelogue ahead of its time.

A Walk in the Woods, by Bill Bryson

Much more than just 'a walk'.

Understated title belies Bryson's considerable efforts.

Rebecca writes Dear Reader, I’m Lost.

Sharron Bassano

Sharon writes: “Terry, these are not exactly what you asked for. They are not book reviews, per se, but rather reviews of stories by Substack writers.”

Sounds good to me, because it’s a nice easy way of discovering writers and stories we might have missed otherwise.

The reviews

The Welcoming Committee By K.C. Knouse, Cactus Flowers

Moved to tears in 328 words.

Diana and The Sharks By Jim Cummings, All Day Long

Revenge with no repercussions. Deliciously satisfying. 

Wicked Worple and the Forget-Me-Nots By Alexander Ipfelkofer, Tales From The Defrag

Jabber jabs … claws … and beaky beaks. 

This Corner of the Universe By Justin Deming, Along the Hudson

Ancient past … distant future … beautifully collide. 

The Dollar Tree By Sharon Hudson, Gopher Farm

Retail Rabbit Hole — somebody stop me! 

Taking That Step By James Ron, Before I Forget

A hair-raising hike to hell — Help!

Sharron writes Leaves.

Drew Salzen

Waiting for Godot, by Samuel Beckett

No show tramp causes audience ennui.

Drew writes Hangover Hall and Others.

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I hope you enjoyed reading these. Do take a moment to share this post.

Thanks

Terry