I kicked back with a cup of coffee and this book open on my computer screen. All I wanted to do was kill a few minutes while waiting for the kitchen timer to go off. I thought, just because Hidden Lies and Other Stories by Vivian Gilbert Zabel and Holly Jahangiri is a collection of short stories, that I could read one or two and keep going with my day. Well, you might be able to. I couldn't. I didn't totally ignore the timer so the muffins didn't burn, but I kept coming back to my computer throughout the day to read "just one more story." With twenty-one stories, it took more than a day to read the whole book. Fun for me, bad for the other projects that were neglected.

I won't go into detail about each story as I would end up writing a book about the book, so I'll tell you about two favorites. It was hard picking only two!

First is The Day the Sun Hid, a crucifixion story told from Mary's point of view. The story opens with Mary, the mother of Jesus, afraid of the mob as they await Jesus’ fate. He is in Pilate’s palace and Mary, along with her sister and daughter, is outside with her back to the courtyard wall. The story follows Mary as she tries to get to her son, so he will know she is there. Her determination is clear. As a mother, I found the storytelling particularly poignant. Zabel did a fantastic job of capturing the emotion of the event without getting overly sentimental. It was very realistic, grounded, and still haunts me. What if it were my son? How would I feel? Fantastic story.

Second is Meet Me Halfway. What a great love story. I can’t tell you the end, but I still wonder: Did he or didn’t he? I was so mad (in a good way) that the story left me hanging. It’s ironic that much of the story happens out on a tightrope, barely hanging on.

All of the stories are well written with themes of secrecy and mystery woven throughout. Some stories are poignant, others are haunting, and yet others leave you thinking. All will leave you wanting for more and none will leave you bored. Both of these authors are excellent writers with incredible storytelling skills. I found their characters very real to life. The emotions and descriptions are so well expressed; many times I was transported into the story itself. If time stands still while I’m reading, that’s a signal that I’m reading a great book. Ten quills to Vivian Gilbert Zabel and Holly Jahangiri for transporting me beyond my reality over and over again.

Reviewed by Susan
© May 2007