Crossing Shattuck Bridge: Stories

If you enjoy the special talent that can bring a wonderful tale filled with word-perfect dialogue, wit, and wisdom, and deliver it within the form of a short story, you will be hard pressed to better this collection. "Crossing Shattuck Bridge", by Ms. Annette Sanford is a series of ten stories that you will enjoy without exception. This is her second collection of her work the first book was published in 1987. The time between the books is the only rational reason I can find why this writer's work is not more widely known. The readers and fans of short story fiction are missing excellent writing.Many of the stories are entered by the reader after the pivotal event has occurred, or a lifetime of habit is about to be disturbed, and not necessarily with negative consequences. An example of the latter is, "Housekeeping", that is as charming and funny a story as you will find oh so rarely. "In The Little Hunky River", which closes out the book has a great cast, however 80 year old "BoPeep", owns this story. She is part Mother, advisor, surrogate, and the fount of knowledge for a family badly damaged by an accident. She is one of those old souls who not only appear to know everything; she understands it all as well. When she has offered a loan, and the person asks what if he does not return it, she simply replies she will not die until he does.This Author has a way of writing that is best experienced by reading her work. She has a style that strips every unnecessary word from her prose, gives the reader all they need, and maintains every detail. She does not have to tell you what someone was thinking, nor does she ponderously establish that a person's thoughts may have shifted to the past for a moment why they contemplate what they will say next. Her work reads as though there is much more written on the page. The magic of it is that she places in the reader's mind the story she wishes to tell without holding your hand the entire journey.Unconditionally recommended.

I read the whole book in ONE night.... loved it. Then I went back and read it again...just to be sure. Annette Sanford is a wonderful storyteller and her stories are poignant and interesting. I have just recently been introduced to this writer by a fellow librarian... I don't know how I missed her books and stories. I highly recommend it to friends... especially those who have lived in Texas. For three years, many years ago, I lived in East Texas and I would not give anything for the experience. It helps me appreciate Texas writers and there are many good writers in Texas.