Common Sense & Other Tales of Disillusionment by AJ Saxsma A Collection of Captivating Short Stories

“Common Sense & Other Tales of Disillusionment” by AJ Saxsma is a captivating set of short stories that explore the more challenging sides of modern life.

These tales focus on the search for personal identity, family disputes, and disappointment. Each story reveals unsettling truths concealed under everyday routines.

Spoiler-free Plot

In “Drive you to violence,” Linda comes home to a family situation that is getting worse. Her husband, Ed, and their kids are not really involved in anything. Ed is sick and getting treatment for cancer, and he tells Linda how to cook and take care of the house, but he does it in a way that makes her feel like she’s not doing a good job. Their marriage is not doing well because Ed does not show much love or thankfulness for what Linda does. Shannon, Linda’s younger sister who is staying with them because she’s having some problems, makes things even more tense at home. Ed wants Linda to tell Shannon to leave, thinking that the mess at home is making it harder for him to get better.

In “Curse the Writer,” a filmmaker who was the studio’s fallback choice reads a fresh screenplay. In the meantime, things are going bad between him and Dennis, his companion.

In “He had the receipt,” the main focus is on a robot that wants legal help because it is being treated badly by the people who own it. Every day, the robot goes to a law office where it has appointments booked. Even though the robot is damaged and it is strange for a robot to want legal help, the receptionist and lawyer still agree to handle the case. The robot talks about the times it had worked for different owners and explains how it has been hurt by the family it is with currently. It exposes the family’s mistreatment, which includes hitting it. The robot wants to be set free from this family because it is scared it might get so broken that it cannot be fixed.

In “Common Sense,” cashier Andy Dibbler, who often goes overboard with spending, is preparing to ask his more restrained boyfriend, Brian, to marry him. Meanwhile, he is avoiding calls from someone trying to collect a debt. Dibbler feels isolated with the treatment he gets from his partner. Soon, he finds out that his partner has a dark secret.

In “What’s in Your Head, Chris Cooper?”, the main character disappears in 1999 after planning an art show. In 2022, his family plans to put out a documentary about his disappearance, called “What’s In Your Head, Chris Cooper?”. This documentary has interviews with Cooper’s parents, his sister, a reporter, and a volunteer detective. The documentary shows how Cooper’s disappearance has affected his family and the unanswered questions about what happened to him.

My take on Common Sense and other tales of disillusionment

“Common Sense and other tales of disillusionment” is a collection of short stories with lifelong lessons. A collection that makes you think deeply about the complicated aspects of today’s world and the tough situations that test our ideas and understanding. Saxsma tells a series of engaging stories that cover topics like losing hope, growing as a person, and looking for what’s real, giving readers a chance to reflect on what it means to be human. This book is perfect for people who like meaningful, thoughtful stories that make them think and feel.

I enjoyed this book because it combines my favorite genre with a collection of short stories, which is a rare combination. In a pinch, I could simply pick up the book and read a single tale. Each story had a somber tone and thoughtful details that left me thinking.

The profound emotions exhibited by Saxsma’s characters evoke strong feelings in readers. Notwithstanding their difficult circumstances, these characters are well-rounded and have unique problems that many readers may be able to relate to. This link makes the book stick in the minds of readers long after they are done reading by fostering empathy and deep reflection on the stories. The fast-paced tales in “Common Sense & Other Tales of Disillusionment” are ideal for short reading lovers. Readers are kept captivated and curious about more by the intriguing stories’ surprising turns. Readers will need to consider the endings’ deeper implications because they are so potent.

The book is a remarkable read, the collection’s power is enhanced by the compelling storylines and diverse cast of individuals. Rather than being a simple collection of short stories, Common Sense & Other Tales of Disillusionment digs into the complexity of existence.

I like the fact that one of the short stories “What’s in your head, Chris Cooper?” was written in the form of a documentary. The documentary tells the story of the disappearance of Christopher Cooper, a 41-year-old man who vanished from his home in rural Larton, Illinois, on March 4, 1999, following the decision to host an art exhibition. I love documentaries, so I found the short story fun to read.

Saxsma writes in an extremely straightforward and understandable manner, and his dialogue is especially striking. He makes the character miscommunications and tension even more evident and powerful by using repetition and occasionally lengthier, impassioned speeches.

Overall, I rate the book an Excellent Read and I highly recommend this book for all short stories fans.

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