Special thanks to StrangeBooks for providing with a copy of this collection in exchange for an honest review.

Enter into the dadaistic mind of author Mike Russel with a collection of odd, whimsical, and straight-up strange stories. Though at times simple, the writing complements the overwhelming sense of surrealism that is heavily laced throughout this book. Many of the stories have obvious lessons, serving as parables that are hard-hitting and eye-opening. 

I often describe readings as sitting for hours vividly hallucinating, and this book was the epitome of that description. The scenes and stories come off as simple, but the image they paint in one’s mind is vivid; it’s almost like having one’s third eye ripped open to reveal that everything is strange (and, therefore, nothing is).

Of the twenty stories in this collection, my top five favourites, in order of appearance: The Miracle, Barry and the Triplets, Insensible Susan, Harry’s Quest, and The Living Crown. I must say, reading this collection was refreshing as I found there were far fewer stories I disliked (almost none) in comparison to the ones I enjoyed. 

This book is a quick read– I read it in only an hour– and a surprisingly enjoyable one. I recommend it to those brave enough to face the strange.