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Secrets of a Fire King
Secrets of a Fire King | Kim Edwards
6 posts | 8 read | 9 to read
The characters in these stories are often separated from the mainstream - a juggler and a trapeze artist, a daughter whose mother is a public evangelist waging a wear against sin, a cleaning woman whose life is inexplicably tied to Marie Curie's. The stories they inhabit transcend the barriers of time to explore the universally driving force of our experience: the magnitude of human love. In "Spring, Mountain, Sea" a young American brings his Korean bride home after serving in the war, and finds himself isolated from both his own culture and the culture of his new family. In "Gold" a Malaysian rubber tapper becomes obsessed with the possibility of becoming as wealthy as the foreign landowners who visit his village, and in his quest for gold nearly destroys the enduring relationships that have shaped his life. In the title story, the narrator - a fire-eater in a circus - shows a careless disregard for a boy who comes to learn his trade and as a consequence brings about his own downfall. Taking us to exotic and remote places in America, Europe, and Asia, "The Secrets of a Fire King" is at once magical and profound, marking the extraordinary debut of a new voice in American fiction.
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Lcsmcat
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Pickpick

This short story collection was my #bookspin for March. The most gripping were In the Garden and The Story of My Life. But Edwards skill is in taking on so many different voices so successfully. Each voice felt unique and true, whether male or female; no matter what continent the setting, or how educated or not the narrator. @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
38 likes1 comment
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Lcsmcat
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Started my #bookspin tonight. So far all the stories are very different, but seem to circle a few themes. We‘ll see if that stays true.

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BookaholicNatty
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I am very curious about this one!! Has anyone read this? It‘s written by the same author of the book The Memory Keepers Daughter but I haven‘t read that either.

PenguinInFlight The Memory Keeper‘s Daughter was really good! I haven‘t read this one, though. 7y
julesG What @PenguinInFlight said. The Memory Keeper's Daughter was good! 7y
Lcsmcat I enjoyed The Memory Keepers Daughter, but I‘ve not read any short stories by her. Sometimes an author is better at one than the other. 😀 7y
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MrBook @BookaholicNatty I've heard good things about this one 😊. Hello, amazing Litten! Would you be so kind as to email me at jasonvigorito at gmail, please? I have something to ask. 😁 7y
DreesReads I read it 8 years ago and liked it but don‘t remember it at all! My review notes that the stories were all very different so it felt a little disjointed (to me, obviously, some people would like that!). 7y
Eggs Recently finished Memory Keeper-❤️ 7y
116 likes5 stack adds6 comments
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SpeculativeFemale
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I don't go for #shortstories often, but I have discovered a few I really enjoy.

#riotgrams @bookriot

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Bindrosbookshelf
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Echo
Pickpick

This is one of those books that you can't get out of your head. I need to re-read it, because years later, I still find myself thinking about these stories. 💘📚

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