Dancing Shadows, Tramping Hooves

Dancing Shadows, Tramping Hooves

by Dianne Ascroft

published by Davog

June 2012

ISBN 978-1-907530-24-1

Why Read?: Review

Challenges:  E-Book, 100 Books in a Year

The six stories that Dianne Ascroft presents in Dancing Shadows, Tramping Hooves are true slices of life for her Irish characters.  Some are contemporary, some historical, but all are definitely Irish.

The one problem with “slice of life” tales is the lack of a major climax, and with short stories, this is particularly felt, making the reader wonder what the point was.  The story with the best flow is “Much More Than a Dancer”, but this suffers from stilted inner thoughts that sounded much more like telling than showing.  “Just a Cough” was also one I liked for the wonderful man versus nature conflict, however, the title led me to expect a much different – and more climatic – ending.

What Dianne Ascroft excels at is creating the feel of Ireland.  If you are looking to be transported to the Irish countryside for a few minutes, then Dancing Shadows, Tramping Hooves is your ticket there.