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the young ones alexei sayle

Hidden Lies and Other Stories is an anthology of short stories, addressing people of diverse backgrounds. The stories are written by Vivian Gilbert Zabel and Holly Jahangiri, two very capable authors.

Even though each writer's voice is very distinct, both writers are too polite to use any brutal language, and the darker storylines have been expressed through a finely sieved diction. The writers also refrain from exposing the reader to the extremely dark or obscene aspects of life. While the authors' incredible command of the English language leaves a delightful impact in the reader's mind, all stories inside the book burst with compelling, realistic characters through miscellaneous plotlines.

The book, with ISBN: 141163103X, is 202 pages, containing 21 short stories. The stories are organized in a random order, which may be seen as a slapdash array that may leave the reader wondering who wrote what; however, since the authors have very different styles, this order becomes complementary to a reader's enjoyment. Plus, each author's name appears in the headers of each double page.

Zabel's stories contain mostly family-oriented themes with family secrets, relationships between family members, money put to good use, storms and storm dreams, and office intrigue. Her rich life experiences and her grasp of human nature are evident in her stories created through her proficient pen.

The eloquence and the writing ploys Zabel uses in constructing her stories are matchless. "Gift from the Storm" brought tears to my eyes, while the stories "Hidden Lies," "Another Storm," and "Lost Life" entertained by using mystery, courtroom tactics, and family involvements with twists.

Here is a taste of Zabel's electrifying style when she writes an action scene:

" 'FBI, freeze!' The order boomed from a bullhorn somewhere in the surrounding trees as Walker's men started running in the direction they had come. Walker backed to the tree, his head whipping back and forth, trying to find the source."

Also, Zabel skillfully injects her descriptions into the action of her stories. "Clara stood at the stove checking the chicken frying in the cast iron skillet. The potatoes cooked in a covered pot, and everything needed for gravy sat on the counter top beside the range. A tap on the backdoor

caused her to whirl."

Holly Jahangiri has a knack for surprise endings and she writes her stories with great imagination and sophisticated ease. Who would think of meeting one's lover on a tight rope over a river between two countries as in "Meet Me Halfway"? But then, who else could cook up a fantasy game story with such cunning and skill as in "Dealing with the Demon," probably a Halloween special? Then, who else could unite family relationships with the cloned child idea as in "They Might Have Been Twins"?

In the third story of the book, "Innocence Denied," Jahangiri uses beautiful and exact descriptions, foreshadowing the plot's twists without overdoing the exposition."Amanda set the table for three, using the good silver and the fine, antique china. Each of the cups was marred with tiny cracks, and the dishes were chipped, but Amanda loved them, for they were delicate, and beautifully hand-painted, a throwback to finer days."

Another example of her gift for portrayals and descriptions that foreshadow the plot shines in Real Life. "She'd never actually seen Martin in boxers, but she had a red-blooded, athletic imagination."

In "The Bridesmaid's Tale" is one picturesque proof of the way Jahangiri brings her characters to life. "Allie took off her jeans and stepped into the bridesmaid's dress. She took grim satisfaction in the fact that it fit like a glove, despite having been two sizes smaller than her usual dress size and despite its close proximity to shocking pink - a color to be avoided by matronly women over 40. The tulle stole draped seductively around her shoulders. Her grandmother's opal necklace shimmered at her collarbone, and a matching pair of earrings flirted from behind shining golden strands of hair."

Vivian Gilbert Zabel makes Oklahoma her home. She has taught high school English, composition, and creative writing for twenty-five years. Her publishing credits include poetry, short stories, and articles over the past thirty-five years.

Holly Jahangiri, a Texas resident, younger of the two, is a professional writer with several publishing credits and more than twenty years' experience in technical writing, freelancing, and editing.

This book became a must-do project for the two authors Zabel and Jahangiri after they met on the internet in Writing.com. Both women give credit to their husbands and their families for their personal successes.

The best thing about Hidden Lies and Other Stories is that the stories progress inwards from the surface through the characters' challenging predicaments to make the reader feel the sheer pain or joy of their circumstances. For me, Hidden Lies and Other Stories, as a whole, has been a joy to read. I recommend it heartily.

Joy Cagil is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Fiction Writing. JoyCagil's formal education is in linguistics, foreign languages, and psychology. She has also trained in visual arts, humanities, and women's issues.

Alexei Sayle as Benito Mussolini

the young ones alexei sayle

Inside the mind of Tony Blair
Tony Blair's 'A Journey' is a revelatory book in many ways, offering a glimpse into the mind of a political leader during tumultuous times. Of course, it is a document designed for history, which, Blair hopes, will provide some personal context to much of the political decision-making during his time in office. But it is much more than that; it is sufficiently candid and detailed to give us some ...

Alexei Sayle as Benito Mussolini

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