Beginnings and Endings: A Selection of Short Stories by Jane Suen – Review by Francis O’Sullivan

Beginnings and Endings: A Selection of Short Stories by Jane Suen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Beginnings and Endings is a trio of short stories by Jane Suen. I really enjoy the variety of Suen’s work – I had read several of her books before it really clicked for me that they were by the same author! – and this collection really showcases her skill in storytelling. It gets four stars from me!
Although the three stories are separate and distinct, there is a thread running through them of commitment in relationships. We see couples’ relationships developing and enduring through the ups and downs of life.
My main (only?) complaint is that there isn’t more! The stories themselves are quite short and with only three of them (plus a bonus really cute flash fiction) this will not take most readers very long to read at all. I would have loved a wider variety of stories – perhaps including some in the realm of speculative fiction – that I could dip in and out of.
I would recommend this collection to readers looking for stories they can quickly enjoy in a coffee break or similar. They’re short, satisfying and thought-provoking. I think they could also work really well for reading and discussing with teenagers, as accessible stories touching on important issues as well as excellent examples of the short story format.

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