The common theme of the 18 short stories in this book is that money - or wealth of some kind - is found, not earned. It can be as little as a single coin, or as massive as a win on the lottery. The subjects jostle for attention, from the aristocrat who made his fortune in the South Sea Bubble, to a baker struggling to turn a financial corner in the midst of a popular uprising in this present time. There are two boy heroes, and a fluffy rabbit in a children's tale. There is a nun wondering if the picture in the attic is worth anything. The tales show the best and bravest of us and those we could well do without. And then there is love - there had to be including the love of money, of course..
Some people like to write about one important idea or tell stories that are of a well-known type, romantic novels are one example. My life has been very varied and I have chosen to write in a variety of ways. Some examples are: my recent collection of short stories, "Found Money," in which I set out to explore the idea of wealth coming to people in totally different ways. Then a Young Adult book "Saved by a Tweet" that is about teenage romance and a thrilling and dangerous episode the two lovers go through. One of my best books is "How I died, and what I did next." Before 2013 is out I will have added a book on spirit guides and what they have to tell us; "Fine Writing" a book of poetry and prose; "Spiritual Walkabout," my memoirs; and a sci-fi novel. They have not all been written in the past few months, of course, but happen to be coming out in a burst of activity. My favorite book took the longest to research and write. It is called "Training for the Marathon of Life" and is about the central core of Jesus’ teaching and how he explained the way that leads us for a fulfilled life and the creation of a good society
I've just finished Peter Watson Jenkins' Found Money; Eighteen Short Stories by a Master Wordsmith and the first words that come to mind are 'excellent' and 'entertaining'. Writing is difficult work under any circumstance, but to weave a short tale takes a true master. Jenkins is one of those masters. All but one of these short stories has the theme of money. You'd expect that finding so many stories with the same motif would be tiresome. Not so. The tightly woven fabric of each story displays a unique pattern, setting it apart from all the others. I especially like that the stories cross all boundaries, settings, and historical periods. There's something here for everyone! I thoroughly enjoyed reading Found Money and give it my highest recommendation. You'll find happiness and sorrow, laughs and tears. Most of all, you'll be swept away!
This delightful collection of stories will not set your heart pounding with excitement nor keep you on the edge of your seat. It reads like a set of memoirs, and you may be tempted to do a Google search to see if these people are real. Some of the stories will make you smile, and the endings will bring a nod of satisfaction.
Jenkins' eighteen stories are diverse in setting, age of narrator, time period. Many are set in significant historical times: the reign of Queen Victoria, WW II, 911, the Gulf War.
Stories I particularly liked include "Lucky Penny," the touching story of a soldier who arrives home from Kuwait to find tragedy and a miracle; "The Picture," where we meet a nun carrying around a portrait of a nearly nude girl; "Interrupted Journey," the adventure of a mother and her young children fleeing from Hurricane Katrina; and "for breakfast," a story of a homeless alcoholic who begins receiving an anonymous gift every morning.
If you enjoy reading short stories and a laid back style, this is definitely the collection for you. An excellent and enjoyable read!
I received this book as a free Goodreads give-away. Over all I really enjoyed it. It was better in the beginning and got a little weak at the end. Out of 18 short stories, there was only about 2 that I just didn't like (both towards the end) and another one I thought was ok. I enjoyed the short story format, it was easy to pick up and read during breaks throughout the day.