The Carnival Papers

The Carnival Papers
by Patrick Dilloway
(5/5 Stars)

In every life there are those critical moments that leave their mark on us forever and shape the course of our lives. These are the moments that are contemplated in "The Carnival Papers," a collection of short stories focusing on a variety of characters facing life-altering situations.

The first story is "Learning to Fly," where a young girl fed up with small town life decides to set out on adventure. This adventure doesn't go quite as she plans when her car breaks down.

"Antiques" follows a similar pattern to "Learning to Fly," only in this a young girl in a small town uncovers her mother's dark secret.

"Far As You Can Go" focuses on a woman leaving her abusive husband who has to decide just what she's willing to do in order to escape.

In "Flight," a suburban man is trapped in the urban jungle and finds the most dangerous foe might just be himself.

"Walking Away" features a young man making the decision to leave home for the first time.

"Your Missed" (the title is a deliberate typo) deals with a young man in his first real job and first real relationship.

"Carnal Knowledge" focuses on an Internet loudmouth who leaves the virtual world to confront an author who tormented him in high school.

In "Tartarus" a man's idyllic XMas with his family is shattered by a dangerous foe.

"Coming Home" deals with a washed-up baseball player returning home and starting a new life.

Baseball is also at the center of "The Kryptonite Heart," in which a minor league baseball team, its mascot, and the mascot's son are all changed forever by a game to decide the championship.

In "Safe Harbor" a dying author seeks solace in the works he created.

"Spring in the Land of Broken Dreams" is another literary-themed adventure where a young man goes in search of his favorite author.

"The Carnival Papers" focuses on a young man and his brief affair with the "mermaid" of the visiting carnival.

In "Sunset Limited" nature photographer Frank Hemsky's life takes a dramatic turn on a train bound for home.

Frank Hemsky returns in "The Ridgemont Marathon," where a stop in rural Michigan prompts Frank to consider a change of life.

"Swimming Lessons" focuses on a deformed man's first meeting with the equally deformed father who abandoned him long ago.

In "Here I Am," folksinger Josh confronts writer's block and a new love.

Josh returns in "Folksinger's Blues," where he and his band meet the end of the road.

Finally, in "Meet Cute," a man's business trip to Toronto takes an unexpected turn and demonstrates that life isn't like the movies.

These stories are of varying length. Some feature sexual situations and bad language, though nothing too explicit.

That is all.