Book Review: The War is Language: 101 Short Works (On Impulse) by Nath Jones

Description from Amazon

-An experimental collection of flash fiction with themes ranging from the contemplative to the absurd

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The War is Language: 101 Short Works is a compilation in three sections and culminates with absurdest letters to a fake advice columnist. These ultra short pieces exist at story's amorphous limit of spoken word and deconstruction.

As a whole, this high-impact triptych of prose poetry and flash fiction probes identity in experience. The first and second sections of the book explore memory and dichotomy respectively by focusing on the impressions of a woman and a soldier as 21st-century Americans. The book’s third section, letters to a fake advice columnist, is a sarcastic interaction with an absurd existential authority figure. The book calls into question our post-post-modern establishment of anti-authority conformists.

The War is Language: 101 Short Works is the first in an e-book series, On Impulse, which explores the spectrum of narrative.

Review

Overall Feedback: I found this to be more of an opinion piece than short stories. The author has obvious talent and does well to show it in this work and I would recommend reading more of her work but this one would be for those that like to hear arguments about one's opinion. Although this was presented in fictional form I still had the feeling of a non-fiction.

Point of View: I felt the stories were more like a personal blog, so it felt 1st person.

Voice: Although the author does well to voice their opinions I felt it was more or less propaganda.

Plot: Although there are pieces that a tied together in commonality, most of the work is presented in what feels to be blog posts.

Pacing: The pacing is hurt by the feeling of stories not quite fitting in, therefore causing some re-reading of parts.

Continuity: Again because of some of the disjointedness of the stories you may find your mind wandering but overall a good outing by an obviously talented author.

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