Review of Whispers of Wonder

[Stephanie Runyon]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Whispers of Wonder" by Beatrix Koch.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Whispers of Wonder is a collection of ten short stories written by Beatrix Koch. The stories are experiences of life from the past and the imaginary future. The lead protagonist narrates their view of the events they are experiencing. In Sopianae, a young woman is coming to terms with a traumatic experience. She had only dated her boyfriend for two months when he raped her. The emotional turmoil that she struggles with is depicted in vivid detail. Empathizing with the young woman was natural, particularly considering that someone she cared about hurt her deeply.

Whispers of Wonder explores multiple themes in each story. They felt like snippets that could encourage self-reflection and creativity. Flowers From A Stranger portrayed a toxic relationship. The wife had broken her leg, and a stranger gave her a bouquet. One act of kindness made her feel valued as a person. It also features her husband’s views. These perceptions were strikingly different.

Whispers of Wonder captured the beauty of life through The Marilyn Monroe Phenomenon. A provocative contrast emerged between the black-and-white photograph and the vibrant colors of Andy Warhol’s images. The differences made Monroe appear as a living person despite her death. The evolution of an iconic village is explored in The White Jaguar. Alma is writing an article about the village of Ofalu. She could recognize the changes from the day the Berlin Wall fell and how the West had influenced the village. A common thread between parents and children arose; people wanted to reclaim what they felt was lost. 30 years of change didn’t alter the one thing everyone wanted.

Muse of Picasso was my favorite story in Whispers of Wonder. Dr. Marilyn Hendrickson was an art history researcher who lived in New York City in the year 2050. Her boyfriend, Boris, discovered a way to travel back in time. He offered “Lynnie” the opportunity to travel back to 1926. She would arrive in Antibes and spend a month with Pablo Picasso. What she had not expected was they would fall in love. The vibrant colors of the setting and the growing bond between Lynnie and Picasso were easy to envision. If you know Picasso’s history, then you might predict the ending.

I hated reaching the last page of this flawless book. I wanted to read more! Koch skillfully captured the essence of humanity in Whispers of Wonder. I rate this collection five out of five stars. The editing was perfect; I found no errors and no profanity. The book is illustrated with a variety of colorful pictures.

Whispers of Wonder is the perfect collection for readers who enjoy short stories that allow self-reflection. The writing will transport your mind into wondering what you would do if you were the protagonist. There are features of rape, suicidal ideation, and drug use that may offend some people.

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Whispers of Wonder
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[Umesh Bhatt]

As per the review the stories are attracting me to go through this book. A precise and nice review. Thanks.

[Yasmine Zaki Muhieddine]

A collection of diverse stories. The ones mentioned in the review seems interesting and delightful. They seems to all be set in the past and they have well-known references such as the fall of Berlin Wall, Marilyn Monroe, Pablo Picasso... I am sure it is a good read.

[María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda]

Whispers of Wonder explores multiple themes in each story. They felt like snippets that could encourage self-reflection and creativity. Flowers From A Stranger portrayed a toxic relationship. The wife had broken her leg, and a stranger gave her a bouquet. One act of kindness made her feel valued as a person. It also features her husband’s views. These perceptions were strikingly different.

That's so sad. I mean, it's obviously a nice gesture, but it's so sad that someone is so deprived of love that this is the thing that makes her feel valued.

Muse of Picasso was my favorite story in Whispers of Wonder. Dr. Marilyn Hendrickson was an art history researcher who lived in New York City in the year 2050. Her boyfriend, Boris, discovered a way to travel back in time. He offered “Lynnie” the opportunity to travel back to 1926. She would arrive in Antibes and spend a month with Pablo Picasso. What she had not expected was they would fall in love. The vibrant colors of the setting and the growing bond between Lynnie and Picasso were easy to envision. If you know Picasso’s history, then you might predict the ending.

Picasso was a jerk. I love his work, but he was an abusive partner.

I love short stories (when done right), and you truly captured me with this review!