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The War is Language: 101 Short Works
Winner of the 2013 Eric Hoffer E-book Fiction Award
The War is Language is a destruction of narrative, an experimental collection of flash fiction. These often humorous pieces exist at story's amorphous limit of spoken word and deconstruction. This disordered collection makes a mosaic with cathartic, inflammatory language.
About the On Impulse eBook Series:
We each have an impulse to share our experience. These four collections of short works explore storytelling from catharsis to craft. Over the course of this series Nath Jones's writing style develops from the raw, associative, tyrannic rambles of cathartic non-fiction, flash fiction, and rant in The War is Language and our digital domains, to the delightful rough-hewn vignettes of 2000 Deciduous Trees, into the compact characterizations of the fictionalized tellings in Love & Darts, and finally toward How to Cherish the Grief-Stricken's fully-crafted short stories that use literary devices and narrative elements to reveal a world well-rendered.
The War is Language is a destruction of narrative, an experimental collection of flash fiction. These often humorous pieces exist at story's amorphous limit of spoken word and deconstruction. This disordered collection makes a mosaic with cathartic, inflammatory language.
About the On Impulse eBook Series:
We each have an impulse to share our experience. These four collections of short works explore storytelling from catharsis to craft. Over the course of this series Nath Jones's writing style develops from the raw, associative, tyrannic rambles of cathartic non-fiction, flash fiction, and rant in The War is Language and our digital domains, to the delightful rough-hewn vignettes of 2000 Deciduous Trees, into the compact characterizations of the fictionalized tellings in Love & Darts, and finally toward How to Cherish the Grief-Stricken's fully-crafted short stories that use literary devices and narrative elements to reveal a world well-rendered.
230 pages, ebook
First published December 1, 2010
About the author
Nath Jones
18 books34 followersBest New American Voices nominee Nath Jones received an MFA in creative writing from Northwestern University. Her publishing credits include PANK Magazine, There Are No Rules, and Sailing World. She lives and writes in Chicago.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 28, 2011
When I was first asked to review this book by the author I was a little bit unsure, it did sound interesting but I was put off by the synopsis which used statements like; "Flash Fiction", "Anti-Authority Conformists" and "Prose Poetry". This all sounded a little bit too "arty" for me; however I decided to have a read anyway in the hope that I could expand my horizons and read something that I normally wouldn't have picked up.
Overall, I have to admit that in the end I didn't find this collection very different from many other short story collections I have read, in that I enjoyed some stories but there were also some that left me cold. I did feel that my brain had been given a workout by the end of the collection which is probably a good thing to do now and then. If you are after a thought-provoking and at times amusing read then you should give this collection a go, the final section alone I think is worth picking it up.
My full review can be found on my blog : Books & Things - http://killie-booktalk.blogspot.com
Overall, I have to admit that in the end I didn't find this collection very different from many other short story collections I have read, in that I enjoyed some stories but there were also some that left me cold. I did feel that my brain had been given a workout by the end of the collection which is probably a good thing to do now and then. If you are after a thought-provoking and at times amusing read then you should give this collection a go, the final section alone I think is worth picking it up.
My full review can be found on my blog : Books & Things - http://killie-booktalk.blogspot.com
September 11, 2012
Overall Feedback: I found this to be more of an opinion piece than short stories. The author has obvious talent and does well to show it in this work and I would recommend reading more of her work but this one would be for those that like to hear arguments about one's opinion. Although this was presented in fictional form I still had the feeling of a non-fiction.
Point of View: I felt the stories were more like a personal blog, so it felt 1st person.
Voice: Although the author does well to voice their opinions I felt it was more or less propaganda.
Plot: Although there are pieces that a tied together in commonality, most of the work is presented in what feels to be blog posts.
Pacing: The pacing is hurt by the feeling of stories not quite fitting in, therefore causing some re-reading of parts.
Continuity: Again because of some of the disjointedness of the stories you may find your mind wandering but overall a good outing by an obviously talented author.
Point of View: I felt the stories were more like a personal blog, so it felt 1st person.
Voice: Although the author does well to voice their opinions I felt it was more or less propaganda.
Plot: Although there are pieces that a tied together in commonality, most of the work is presented in what feels to be blog posts.
Pacing: The pacing is hurt by the feeling of stories not quite fitting in, therefore causing some re-reading of parts.
Continuity: Again because of some of the disjointedness of the stories you may find your mind wandering but overall a good outing by an obviously talented author.
October 19, 2012
First, I was reminded of the Quran, which also seems to have chapters (called surahs) arranged in a more or less random order rather than being arranged chronologically. But that apparent randomness actually indicates how much the author values these pieces compared to each other; the very first one hit me hard with its depiction of war and how it can start anywhere due to people that come from anywhere and its consequences can spread to anywhere else. Wars make people seem disposable, but every person who died in one was someone's child, with memories, feelings and ideas all his own, and recovering them is as futile as attempting to reassemble an exploded grenade.
It takes a real genius to write such short essays and make profound points with them. They were clearly written for a mass audience, but only those willing to look deeper will see the meaning behind them.
It takes a real genius to write such short essays and make profound points with them. They were clearly written for a mass audience, but only those willing to look deeper will see the meaning behind them.
February 21, 2013
I received a copy of this book through the First Reads program. I did not know what to expect. I found excessive language and rather sporadic writing. I understand the goals of flash fiction, but I guess this genre isn't for me. It seemed like each short work never really got to a "point." This book wasn't my cup of tea, but I'm sure others will enjoy it.
June 4, 2013
i keep this in the car for when i am waiting for the school bus as it keep s me entertained in short bursts
February 27, 2015
The woman is pure genius
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews