Review of LOL & Sorrow

[Anthony Ekemezie]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "LOL & Sorrow" by Charles Cawv Thao.]

---

3 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

LOL and Sorrow: Enjoy Moments of Laughter and Tears by Charles Cawv Thao is an engaging collection of short stories spread across thirty-one chapters. In this book, the author carefully weaves tales of both joy and sorrow. The stories range from deep tragedy to moments of joy and laughter, exploring human emotions through complex characters in relatable, thought-provoking scenarios. Key themes in this book include love, regret, resilience, self-discovery, and patience, to name a few.

One thing I love about this book is that each story has a lesson or two to share. It goes beyond mere entertainment to offer meaningful insights and lessons about life. Each story serves as a constant reminder of some of the virtues we need to embody.

Many of the stories in this book are captivating and engaging, yet I can’t help but feel that most of them are a bit rushed and lack depth. Some stories lack crucial context, making them less relatable and authentic, even as short stories. For instance, in the story titled Rewards and Punishment, a character named Billy is convicted of a crime he did not commit (the crime is not stated), but everyone believes he is an upright man and innocent. Reading through the story, I feel more convinced that it lacks authenticity and depth due to the absence of proper background information. While I find many stories quite interesting, in some, I feel the author fails in his attempt at humour. I also do not like the book’s cover. It is too colourful and does not suit the book’s contents.

Regardless of its flaws, the author is a wonderful writer, and I enjoyed the stories in the book. I noticed one error in the book, but it did not disrupt my reading flow. Overall, I find LOL and Sorrow: Enjoy Moments of Laughter and Tears by Charles Cawv Thao to be a good read and rate it 3 out of 5 stars, deducting two stars for the reasons stated above. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy short stories that explore various topics

******
LOL & Sorrow
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Mark Lazarus]

The mix of joy and sorrow in a collection of short stories sounds like a reflective and emotional read. I like the idea of stories that offer life lessons and spark self-reflection. However, the lack of depth in some stories and the failed attempts at humor might be a bit off-putting. While I might not rush to pick it up, I’d consider it if I were in the mood for a light, thoughtful read.