Literature │Hold On Tight

This myriad collection of stories include; “The Birds” , “Monte Verita”, “The Apple Tree”, “The Little Photographer”, “Kiss Me Again, Stranger” and “The Old Man”. “The Birds” conjure up a terrifying battle between man and nature as the latter turns on the former. The most beautiful and docile of birds turn on human beings as they become thirsty for human blood. Daphne depicts a family hiding out in their house as the birds attempt to break they’re way in, it is a story which tests every strength attainable by man. Whilst nature turns on man in “The Birds”, “Monte Verita” is about the human need to know a power greater than oneself, and in the search of immortality at any price. “The Apple Tree” has to be one of the most spine chilling tales of the collection. “The Apple Tree” and “The Little Photographer” have a very strong Edgar Allen Poe essence, particularly with his story “The Tell-Tale Heart.”

“The Apple Tree” is the story of a husband who has just lost his wife, one would expect him to be in the pits of despair, but he isn’t, in fact, he is rather relieved. He finds peace at last, he is able to breathe and live the life that he had lost. But he soon discovers that his wife has not left his side, she has in fact, never been so very present in his life.

This collection is like a beautiful bouquet of flowers, each stem leads to an incredible flower, each different in their own right, and not one petal lets down the entire bouquet. It may be odd referring to such horrific stories akin to flowers, but to the reader, that is what they are. Fear not, you shan’t be let down by this wonderful collection, and it is the perfect read in time for winter and Halloween. It’s certainly a book that one wants to curl up with on a grey day, with cup after cup of good tea.