The Secrets of a Fire King: Stories

The Secrets of a Fire King: Stories
by Kim Edwards

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Book Summary Information

Author: Kim Edwards
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Published)
Format: Bargain Price
Published: 2007-05-29
ISBN: N/A
Number of pages: 272
Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics)

Book Reviews of The Secrets of a Fire King: Stories

Book Review: Hidden Gems in "Secrets of a Fire King"
Summary: 5 Stars

I was rummaging through the $5 book bin at Borders a few months ago and I stumbled across this hidden gem. The cover seemed interesting and then I noticed the author, Kim Edwards, the same woman who wrote, "The Memory Keeper's Daughter". I have also purchased that book but still have yet to read it. But I liked how the plot of that book sounded so I figured, why not? It's only $5--let me check this out. I opened it up to reveal soft, thin pages, which, for me, somehow always makes a book more enjoyable to read. I flipped through some of the pages to the middle to read an excerpt. This is my trick to get a quick glimpse of the author's style to determine if it would be something I would be interested in reading. The excerpt that I read seemed delightful. The author had a flair for description and wrote in such a way that when I traipse upon one of these delectable kinds of books, I feel like I am indulging in a guilty pleasure, a kind of expression not often enough incorporated into today's modern works. I was convinced enough to spend the money, so I picked up the book and it was the only thing I purchased that day.

The book spent a few months on my bookshelf as I went through a few other books that I deemed more interesting at the time. Then the time came that I just wanted to clear up some space and read some of the thinner books on my shelf, thereby slowly thinning out my collection. I noticed this book again and said, sure, why not? I sat down with it on my couch and was enraptured. I usually only read the first chapter of a book when I start to get a basic feel for the book. If I can stop then, I know it's nothing too special but if I continue on, I know I have found that rare book that so captures my attention that it will be a quick read and a long memory. I read three stories that first night!

"The Secrets of a Fire King" is a collection of short stories that deal with the human spirit--unknown strengths we never realized we had, or getting in touch with the part of you that you never realized existed and upon discovery, you realize you don't really like. A particularly touching story for me was "Spring Mountain Sea", the second story in the book. In this story, we meet a man who takes a foreigner for a wife and despite wanting to hold on to her traditional values, tries to assimilate into his American culture, only to be betrayed in the end by the people she had come to trust. In the tragic title story, we meet a magician who falls madly in love with a woman whose brother idolizes him and wants to be a magician also. Unfortunately, a betrayal soon occurs which will change the lives of all three of them forever. In "The Way It Felt to Be Falling", we meet a young girl who discovers strength she never knew she had after sky-diving with her boyfriend.

If you are a fan of stories that deviate from the norm to teach a lesson and that are written beautifully in an almost poetic sense, I strongly suggest you pick up this collection by Kim Edwards. One thing is for sure, I will definitely be reading "The Memory Keeper's Daughter" sooner than I expected! Kim Edwards is an excellent story-teller and I can't wait to read more stories from her.

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Summary of The Secrets of a Fire King: Stories

The first story collection from the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Memory Keeper's Daughter

With The Memory Keeper's Daughter, Kim Edwards touched hearts across the nation. In this, her first collection of stories-now with three new stories added-she explores the lives of those who exist on the fringes of society: a fire-eater, an American and his Korean war bride, Madame Curie's maid, and others. Though their tales vary dramatically, each comes up against the barriers of place and circumstance in the most universal of experiences: the quest to discover and understand the elusive mysteries of love. Transporting readers to exotic locations, this beautiful collection reinforces Edwards's presence as an extraordinarily gifted writer.

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