Always Never, Rarely Sometimes ~ A Review
Overview
An aspiring magician who gets a sinister pleasure playing all kinds of tricks on those around him. Two strangers running into each after 20 years and wondering what they’ve missed. A long-suffering husband who decides it’s time he started making big decisions. An unhappy child at Christmas struggling to deal with his new surroundings before a wonderfully surprising encounter. All this and more within the seven stories of Always Never, Rarely Sometimes, where a wide range of characters are forced to challenge long-held beliefs and powerful memories, accompanied by a sprinkling of magic. Always Never, Rarely Sometimes is the third book from Alexander Raphael, following on from his short story The Summer of Madness and his set of conceptual short stories Illusions, Delusions.
Available to buy here: Amazon (UK) — Amazon (US)
Review
‘Always Never, Rarely Sometimes’ is a compilation of varied short stories. An easy to read selection, the book contains a range of ideas which the author explores in some detail. There is a consistency of tone throughout the pages, making the pace relatively steady throughout. You know more or less what to expect after reading whichever story you come to first.
For short stories, a couple had – for my liking – a few superfluous characters. And some of the tales provide a stage for thoroughly unlikeable types. Don’t expect to feel much warmth or empathy for certain people within the book. But do expect some joy in the final entry in particular, which introduces a bit of Christmas magic.
The background notes at the end of the collection provide an interesting overview of the origin of each piece.
About The Author
Half-Welsh, half-Mexican and growing up in London, Alex Raphael was surrounded by different influences and interests. But it was always books that spoke to him most and had the greatest impact.
He started writing when at college, where his love of reading evolved into a desire to write, in particular focusing on poetry and short stories. Studying English and American Literature at university meant he took a break from writing, as well as giving him the chance to see more of Mexico on his travels. He concentrated on his journalistic career while working on different writing projects, but his favourite genre of literature has always been short stories as they are what first inspired him to write.
That’s why his first book was The Summer of Madness, a romantic short story that tells of a guy who goes out to try to win his ex-girlfriend back. Will you be rooting for Kurt and his big public gesture or is it more complicated than that and you don’t want her to date him again? Either way you’ll get to know a memorable set of characters along for the ride.
His second book Illusions, Delusions reflects Raphael’s love of alternative short stories from the writers of his childhood and challenges the idea of the narrative. Will your favourite be the story in the form of a questionnaire, a poem or a set of jokes, among the seven very different styles?
Alexander Raphael’s latest offering is Always Never, Rarely Sometimes, featuring original premises and distinctive characters with his trademark imagination, humour and memorable dialogue. Among others, meet a sinister magician with an array of pranks, a long-suffering husband finally becoming more decisive, and a group of young men intrigued by an attractive woman on another table.
Many thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for hosting this one day book blitz, and offering me the chance to review Always Never, Rarely Sometimes. Thank you to Alexander Raphael for gifting me a copy of the book, in return for an honest review. All views expressed are my own.
