The Short Stories
Hello readers! If anyone has any comments on the stories they’ve read here, attach them to this post. I’m looking forward to hearing what you think!
Posted in Comments on the short stories
Hello readers! If anyone has any comments on the stories they’ve read here, attach them to this post. I’m looking forward to hearing what you think!
Posted in Comments on the short stories
I have just finished reading ‘Ink’ and felt I had to leave a comment. I loved it. An inspiring, thoughtful and beautifully written story. I felt gripped and saddened by the pain felt by the wife and wanted to protect her from the words. Such an original idea for the hate of one to be tatooed upon another as when you feel shame you feel as though the world can see it too. I thought the ending was clever; I wanted her to be rescued by the handsome man as she was, but in a subtle yet comforting way. I can’t wait to read the others.
No surprises as to which one i started reading first! Yep,…. Martha and Archie.
What a talented and beautiful writer you are Han, it gripped me from the start and i just had to read more. Your briliant writing style made me feel like i was inside the story, entering into something lovely , yet different and intriguing. Just what i needed to take my mind off – stuff!
Please can i have a tiny cabin by a lake?! with snow all around!
I have just read ‘The Meddler’ and delighted in the swift, graphic and very satisfying commupence of the petulant character.
I feel soothed that the greater forces of the universe desimated this disrupter of order!
You have a real talent – when will you have a book coming out?
Great web site and I love the illustrations too!
The Meddler-what an interesting idea for a story;such a cautionary tale.
I read this and appreciated different things:
firstly the crafting of the story is tight and technical for such a short piece, with a lovely “light touch” regarding language choices.
Moreover the depth of message; the need to respect the power and beauty of nature, that “the meddler” himself was punished, suggests a very real and pertinent moral.
I think this is the kind of short story that has real power; enjoyable to read but with elements to discuss.
A little gem!
Oh là là là là.
Just read The Meddler, was Ben Okri-esque. So rich, not a word was wasted, all contributing to the vivid imagery of a whole other imagination. Rarr. Lush. Have read Ink too, was also lush, and am going to savour all the words so carefully placed upon the menu here, what for dessert…..not yet sure, will let you know.
“Washing”…To take such a mundane,everyday chore and yet create something so vibrant and hopeful is impressive; something that we take for granted has been skilfully used to explore life from another’s perspective.
Isn’t that what good writers do?
They slip unseen beneath the skin of another, whisper to us to be quiet as they hold our hand, a finger to their lips, as we appreciate how life holds different fears for everyone.
I love this story for its honesty. The writing is at times taut, like the skin over a healing burn; I felt my breath release as the washing cycle began.
This is the second story of Hannah’s that i have read and enjoyed. I am downloading Human Geography to read; I have no doubt that it too will afford me the chance to see the world outside my own experience.
I havent had chance to read many of your stories yet but I thought I would note the beauty of Paper Man; quite possibly one of the best short stories I have read in a while.
I loved the way this man took comfort from being surrounded by all those papers, books and words… it was a feeling I could understand. There is no better place to be than a library or a bookshop, surrounded by so many possibilities, I think.
The end had alot of poignancy and left me considering why things between these two characters turned out this way and how the man was left with an obsession so strong that the paper became the woman and his world…
Thankyou for a good read, I shall be browsing further.
Washing – another great short story. i love how it draws you in, discovering bits of her life, a bit at a time and how it’s far from what i expected. I want it to go on – can the washing be her saviour?
Great stuff Hannah.
Hannah,
Simply fantastic, I’ve just read 4 of the short stories and I’m blown away. I have a serious book addiction and am so frequently uninspired by what seems to pass as a must-read these days. Your voice is original, clever, and sensitive and held me in its thrall entirely.
Congratulations, now go get published and I promise I’ll make room on my already overcrowded bookshelves.
All the best,
Lu
On Ben’s fine advice, I visited the website. I read, and read and read. Delightful! i really enjoyed them. Would you mind if i passed this on to my Head of English, we coiuld definately use this with our Year 9s and a Model and Inspiration for their Short Story Writing and Our Inter House Competition. I am sure they will have lots to comment on as well.
With my very best wishes and hope that you continue to write. Please keep me updated regarding new stories. If you are ever in Dubai, perhaps we could have a school, book signing or short story workshop!
Darren Gale
So far i have only read The Meddler, it is beautifully written, i really enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading more of your stories. Martha and Archie may be next!!
Well done Mrs Hutchins.
Following a recommendation; I have just devoured ‘Ink’. The destructive, gritty language made love, when you can get it right, seem even more beautiful. It has really moved me.
Thank you.
My heartfelt thanks to everyone who has taken the time to comment on what they’ve read – your feedback means a great deal, I appreciate it. Keep ‘em coming!
HH
WASHING, your description of bits of old crumbs in butter, so close to the grim, trapped nature of her reality. I am obviously spreading the word here in Berlin, and was wondering if you might let me use one of your short stories in a reading lesson. We have all sorts of people coming here to learn English, who knows where it migh lead. Feel cheeky asking, but actually think it would be so lush to be teaching one of your stories.
That sounds great, although the odds of my passing through Dubai any time soon are slim…however, feel free to use the stories in school and I’d love to know how a younger audience responds to them – please give them the website address and encourage them to comment.
I’m really glad you enjoyed the stories, and thanks for taking the time to post a message.
HH
Thanks my girl in Germany, and yes please do use a short for reading lessons – let me know what you choose, and the reaction to it! x
So yesterday with my Advanced reading group we tackled “The Meddler” and “Martha and Archie”. They found the dark, dank world of the Meddler challenging, because it’s so jam packed full of adjectives, and imagery. They all found the image of this meddling creature “eerie”, “creepy”. Subsequent theories of a critique of genetic modification, or lack of environmental. One student said “If you mess with the Nature, it comes back to get you, a bit like all the crazy weather we’re having at the moment”. “Martha and Archie” was on the whole well recieved, though some felt it was too romantic (they are German after all
). They particularly liked the character of Enid, as for them I think it represented a little piece of English culture. We went on to discuss for a long time how many actual types of “old lady tea” there really can be. Was a fantastic honour to be studying your stuff with my class. I made great pains to point out to them exactly how honoured they all were to be reading such exclusive stuff. And it had a double benefit, because many of them who don’t read at the moment realised, that particularly with a short story, they could still get some pleasure from reading even if they didn’t understand every word.
I’ve read Washing and it’s brilliant. I loved the understated description, particularly of the toast and the margerine.
I also enjoyed the repetition of ’something’ but with the different contexts to it implying a vagueness, but also the way it was played up to in some instances with the line “Something had to change” but also the subtltey of later lines such as “It gives her something to focus on.”
It’s possibly just me but I chuckled at the notion of June coming twice a week.
However I also find it a bit too honest at times, as being a student the filmy tea and toasty mess is something only too familiar in my house. However is toast crumbs was all it took for everyone to radically alter their life then the world would surely be a better place.
I’m working on it! I have some new stuff that’s currently entered for competitions, and I don’t like to put it up here until it’s been judged. But keep coming back, there’ll be new stuff up soon!
HH x
Hey Hannah
I started by reading Little Red Shoes and was instantly drawn in by the language, the metaphor of the candy stripes and all the rich descriptive wording made it easy to feel part of the story.
I love the personification of the shoes, they had their own existence, and the fact that the feet belonged to the shoes means they are kept as the main focus throughout.
I moved onto The Meddler and was enthralled once again by the depth of the language, being so adjectively loaded The Meddler, and the scene were set immediately and I actually felt apprehension for the animals as I read on, The Meddler’s menacing streak is definitely belivable from the start.
I love that his actions don’t go unnoticed and that although he seems unstoppable there is still a force greater than him and he finally gets his comeuppance!
Both short stories are very easy to extend through the imagination and the amount of action you can get into fewer words is brilliant. I cannot wait to read all the others
Fliss