Review of The Library of Afro Curiosities by Ran Walker

Andrea R Huelsenbeck

May 30

I've recently become a fan of flash fiction (and have written some myself). I was intrigued by the premise of this volume of 100 100-word stories by Walker, author of 25 books and a creative writing instructor at Hampton University.

From reading The Library of Afro Curiosities, I learned that a 100-word story might not have a traditional story arc, with a beginning, a middle, and an ending. It might instead be a single incident; or it might be a realization, along with the backstory leading up to it. It might be a single sentence, as the story "Searching for Water Where It Never Rains" (which to me seems more like a prose poem than a story).

Some of the stories do not tie up neatly at the end, but leave the reader with an unresolved question. I like that; it's a technique I've used in my own short-short fiction.

Every word counts in writing this short. Walker is good at putting together words loaded with extra value. Here are three phrases from the story "Wishing." ". . . her Stan Smith Adidas white like lies . . . her soft lips tasted like the sweet syrup of purple popsicles on a Saturday in July." "My mind was a wheel of fortune . . ." Again, Walker's words hit me like poetry.

Despite the title, you don't have to be Black to derive meaning and enjoyment from the book. Some characters make multiple appearances among the stories. I recommend this book to anyone who likes short fiction and/or wants to write it. It's especially good for people with short attention spans or no time to read—you can read it all in a couple of sittings. Hey, this review is as long as three of the stories.

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