Hot Flashes of Life by Rachel Ellyn
I met Rachel Ellyn at a friends birthday party. When I heard she was a writer I immediately became glued to her side. Rachel recently published a little book of flash fiction called Hot Flashes of Life. Flash fiction is simply a very short story and depending on who you ask the word count varies from 500 to 1,500 words. Hot Flashes is composed of many short tales which give readers a glimpse into the Disfunctional Diva (which she calls herself) Rachel Ellyn’s life. She describes memorable moments in her life that pull at heart strings and evoke a laugh and a smile. If you are overly emotional like me you may even shed a tear or two.
As a reader it isn’t hard to relate to at least one or two of her stories. One of the first stories Bambi particularly hit home with me. Rachel recalls going to see Bambi on her 9th birthday and the emotions the movie stirred in her during the scene where Bambi’s mother dies. She then fast forwards 20 years later to describe the experience of watching it with her two year old daughter and what she discovers. I too remember crying and being very upset after the death of Bambi’s mother. It stayed with me for a long time. It’s one of those movies I will never forget seeing in the theatre. I still don’t like the thought of people hunting deer. Hot Flashes is one of those books you can pick up and read little snippets here and there, but once I got started I wanted to keep reading. Rachel’s stories inspire me to record my own memories in life. Her book can be found on amazon.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. Maya Angelou
This looks like a book I would enjoy. Adding to my book wish list now. I will let you know my thoughts. ~Sharon
It’s a quick read and one that you can just read a story at a time. I guess that’s why they call it flash fiction.