Twyla Rose   Author

5.0 out of 5 starsThe Roses: An Anthology Review

By VC Remus on June 13, 2015

Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase

Blurb:
"These six authors, all previously involved in "The Tenants of Building 38," an anthology supporting the battle against cancer, now come together in this new anthology to raise money for a new cause, Cystic Fibrosis.
All the proceeds from "The Roses" will go to The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation."

The Short and Sweet:
"The Roses: An Anthology" is a collection of short stories from several different authors. Each author displays a unique voice in their writing, and their stories convey different morals and sentiments. Be forewarned: these are not happy reads by any means -- they are emotional, and I believe drawing attention to the problems mentioned within the book was its chief purpose.

What I Liked About the Book:
I'll be the first to admit it: I'm not a particularly emotional guy. With the exception of dogs dying or Batman's alluded death in "The Dark Knight Rises," I don't well up or feel many tugs on my heart strings. Now, I'm not bragging, that's just how I was raised. More so, it's perfectly natural if you are an emotional person. I'm currently involved in a relationship with an empath, and although it can be annoying at times, it's also fulfilling to know there're unique perceptions of the world that differ from my own.

From a reader's standpoint, when I find a book that forces me to yell at my Kindle screen, hoping an antagonist can hear me, I know I've found something worthwhile. As an author, it's a sign you've discovered quality reading in another author, and it's something to be proud of; if a writer evokes primal feelings within their readers, they're doing it [writing] right.
The writing was simple, avoided florid prose, and was mostly considerate of the reader's time. The most important part, however, was the subject matter. These are topics that are commonly explored in creative writing classes a couple months into the coursework, when trust has been established among peers. Dark stories, often involving death. It's nice to read about the taboo from time to time.

What the Book Lacked:
When it comes to indie writing, the room for making mistakes is extremely minimal -- close to none, actually. Indies start off with the entire literary world against them. Having engaged in a debate in one of the few Facebook groups I frequent (something I try not to do as much anymore, as it's considered "writer suicide"), I learned just how biased some folks can be toward indie writers. In the public eye, there are negative preconceptions against indies...

Here's just a few:

*Indie-produced books are devoid of actual content, and their pieces, as well as future indies', are perceived as a waste of time.
*Indies do not spend enough time researching their work, so they parrot false data or create unique fallacies.
*Typos and other grammatical errors galore.
*Indie books (paperback/hardcover) are often produced in poor quality due to poor funding.

Get the idea?

Well, I hate to say it, but sometimes those preconceptions are apt. In the case of "The Roses: An Anthology," the version I had reviewed was peppered with grammatical and formatting errors. After completing the read, I contacted one of the writers to let them know, and was informed there has since been updates addressing these issues. I don't know what the current edition looks like, but I'm sure these mistakes have been mended. This was a commendable move on part of the authors, and any writer who has the decency to admit and address that type of mistake is a writer worth reading.

The stories themselves are great, though. So it's a shame this had to happen in the first place. If you're an indie reading this right now, take notes: invest in a good formatting specialist to achieve valuable professionalism.

Will I Be Reading More From These Authors?
Like I'd mentioned earlier, I was moved by this book. More so, I was informed. Short answer: yes, I will be reading more from these authors.

Conclusion:
"The Roses: An Anthology" is an emotional read targeted toward the YA demographic, but carries adult themes. Everything from abusive relationships to dealing with a surprise diagnosis of cancer (which I felt heavily invoked "The Fault in Our Stars") in a loved one is explored. I was bummed out at parts, and I felt anger toward a few characters as well. All in all, it's a worthwhile read, so go check it out.