In a run-down neighborhood in an unnamed city, people live and die in “the Obscure.”
Whether anyone remembers the real name of the derelict establishment is a mystery. In this six-story building, most who occupy the rooms are long-term residents, though some stay for as little as an hour.
The patronage is an eclectic group: musicians, writers, addicts, hookers, lonely people, poor people, rich people, once-well-off people, and those who have reason to hide from their former lives or to escape the demands of a disapproving and punishing society.
As shabby as the Obscure is, as long as its walls keep out the wind and the rain, it remains a shelter, a hideaway, and a home for the many bewildered souls.
Hotel Obscure is a collection of seventeen short stories that all take place in or around the “the Obscure.” While the stories stand alone, they are to be read in order. Some characters appear in multiple stories, and sometimes, a story will continue in an unexpected way.
The Obscure is life. It is death. In the blink of an eye, it may appear supernatural. It is a place we all visit … whether metaphorically or physically, at least once in our time on Earth.
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My Review
I loved this collection of stories!
Lisette Brodey excels at showing us the complexities of human nature. Any and all of these stories could be someone’s life right now. I sometimes talk about realism in stories, and Brodey definitely captures that, but there’s something more here, something deep and indefinable and totally immersive.
“And they all lived happily ever after. And the delusional king thought he could save the princess, but the palace pimp killed them all.”
Another aspect I loved is the way Brodey plays with readers’ expectations. These stories and the characters intertwine in surprising ways.
My greatest contribution to society is not to disrupt it.
If, for whatever reason, you don’t normally read short stories, please make an exception with this collection.
Thanks for reading!
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