Book Review: 50 Fifties by Justin Deming
With today's trends toward living "tiny," Justin Deming offers a book filled with tiny stories with big possibilities for imaginative fun.
In this information age where tons of literature, business or science journals, and newsfeeds flood our inboxes with far more than we can ever read, sometimes all we really want is a story. A tale with a beginning, a middle, and an end. We'd like a credible conflict for a worthy character, and the requisite epiphany to complete the arc.
We don't want War and Peace, however. As we douse our screen-dazed eyelids with a glaze of digital eye drops, we dream of something short. We don't need a Moveable Feast when a simple nosh would do.
May I suggest Justin Deming's new book, 50 Fifties, a collection of stories written in exactly fifty words. No more no less. FIFTY WORDS.
This 4.5 by 7 inch (9 by 14 centimeter) book contains a collection of complete stories, each fitting on one page. A tiny thumbnail tops the page over the title, whose words are not counted in the story word count. Frankly, I discovered, after diving into the book, that I didn't even notice or need the titles. They gave away no mysteries not already in the 50-word accounts. Each work uses expressive verbs, maybe a name beyond a pronoun, and just enough information to move the plotline toward the climax. Your brain will take over from there and fill in whatever details you require. You'll probably be surprised how much a fifty-word story can pull out of your imagination. If you share these with friends or colleagues, who knows what magical discourse will happen?
There are romances, ghost stories, murder mysteries, fables, sci-fi and fantasy, apocalypses, and spiritual renewals as well as tragic defeats. Like a simple line drawing, it is the human condition breathed into a vignette. Yet all the elements of a novel are there.
I breezed through the book in an hour just to get acquainted with Justin's work with flash fiction. He's a master of the form after years of perfecting it. He offers prompts to other writers to create their own fifties to share on his Substack page, Along the Hudson.
It's a great exercise in tight writing where the creator must carefully choose just the right words to describe the characters, their dilemmas, and the final outcome. In fifty words only. No cheating now!
This tiny book … I refuse to call it a booklet … is a gem you can carry in pocket or purse, pull out for a quick story to muse upon while waiting for the elevator, coffee line, or subway. You could be sucked into reading several at a time as I was, but what's the point in that?
There is joy in savoring one story, letting your imagination sink into the details, then fill in any back story or sequel you want. It's better than meditating on your breath or mantra. Open up a chakra or two beyond the norm and play with the scenario Justin gives you. Close your eyes and picture the characters even though Justin has not provided you with descriptions. What do they look like? I'll bet you can actually see them. What do these stories tell you about someone you know or about yourself? I dare say they will also give you and your colleagues a little story time relief from stress and enrich your soul as well.
If you enjoyed this post feel free to explore other poems, essays, and stories in the Ring Around the Basin Archive. I also love to read your comments, so please share your thoughts. Let’s start a conversation. And if you wish to support my writings, please consider subscribing or upgrading to a paid subscription. It’s now only $50/year. Even better, I would appreciate it if you could share Ring Around the Basin with your friends. Thank you!
All my books, Paradise Ridge, When the Horses Come and Go, and Ghost in the Forest are currently available on Kindle.
Ghost in the Forest, is also available in paperback for ten bucks. Paradise Ridge is out-of-print, but the Kindle version is re-edited and better quality. Hard copies of When the Horses Come and Go are gone unless that dusty box in the corner still has some.
Book Review of Ghost in the Forest:
"Ghost in The Forest' is a great read! Take note People. If you love stories about environmentalism and nature, its clash with urban mindsets, as well as personal transformation, this is the book for you!
"Ghost in The Forest" is a quick 126-page read. It's the story of Dori, a woman trapped in a mix of grief over parental loss and refusing to accept how her hometown and her friends have changed over the years. Because of this, Dori has become a recluse and a self-imposed misanthrope who finds more comfort amongst the hiking trails around her hometown of Morristown than in her dealings with the raw reality of other humans.
The book, in some ways, resembled Edward Abbey’s “Desert Solitaire” in that the story follows a protagonist's love of nature and angst about humans encroaching on it. In this case, it’s how Morristown is transforming into a mountain biking destination where cyclists run rampant on trails and nature.
However, a tragedy involving said mountain biking becomes a major pivot point for Dori, leading to a series of events that eventually bring about personal evolution and discovery.
If you're a nature lover, this book is a must-read. It beautifully portrays the clash between environmentalism and urban mindsets and the journey of personal transformation. The book's vivid descriptions of nature and the protagonist's love for it will surely intrigue you.
Paradise Ridge Review by western author D. B. Jackson:
If you draw circle roughly around an area that includes northern Nevada, southern Oregon, and southern Idaho, within that circle exists a culture and people who live a lifestyle largely untouched by modern values. These are the "buckaroos" and Basque characters author Sue Cauhape brings to life in her literary novel, "Paradise Ridge".
Leandro, the illegitimate seventh son of patriarch Xavier Arriaga and his mistress, Gisela, is at the center of this intriguing story that travels exceedingly successfully at both the personal level of the characters, as well as the compelling level where the story is told.
Cauhape writes in a literary style that reminds me of Annie Poulx. Paradise Ridge, on the surface, appears to be an upscale Western novel...once inside the pages, you will soon discover a potential classic waiting to be discovered.
I rated this book a 5...because that's all the stars there were.
Sue, thank you so much for this thoughtful review. I am humbled you took the time to write this, and I am delighted that you enjoyed the book! 😊🙏
Great book review Sue!