Click Here To Purchase From Amazon Her Mouth Looked Like a Cat’s Bum

Author: Matthew Ward

Publisher: World Audience

ISBN: 978-1-934209-20-2

Matthew Ward, a new Australian writer, currently lives in Newcastle Australia. He has written some non- fiction articles for literary magazines and websites. He has had his short stories appearing online and in print. His story, Jake With A Snarly Smile On His Chops, is published as a novella by Independence Jones. He is the founder, editor and publisher of the literary journal, Skive Magazine.

Her Mouth Looked Like a Cat’s Bum is a funny and yet poignant collection of short stories of which there are twenty one. Most of these are presented in bite-sized chunks, just enough to pass five minutes or so but there are some longer works too. Some have chapters with fifteen pages or more and they are quite a varied selection. Matthew manages to create situations with his likable characters that are unusual but somehow so believable to read.

The first story, Bathrobes, went on a little too long for my liking. I became quite bored towards the middle but ploughed on to see what the ending was. You will enjoy this one.

Mowing, is a story I found very realistic and fast-paced. Jake and Michael, two teenage friends, are trying to scrape together money for some bikes they want. They decide to offer their services to the local people, mowing their lawns and trimming hedges in exchange for cash. They come across a woman who’s husband is a cheat, and despite her hostile welcome to the boys, she offers them some household work.

The ending to this tale is surprising and not something I could foresee. A funny, slightly disturbing read.

Dentist is one story I wouldn’t recommend reading if, like me, you’re terrified of the dentist’s chair. This is certainly sure to make you feel on edge. However I couldn’t really associate with the character’s enthusiasm and delight for the “3 absolutely beautiful” dental nurses. I think this fantasy is aimed at the men much more then the women.

Robbery in the Suburbs is a good crime tale although very confusing in places. I didn’t really understand some of it.

Only 70 is really quite sad, an old man’s friends let him down, he killed her and then himself and the old man couldn’t come to terms with that. Friends don’t do that sort of thing. He felt they had let him down by removing themselves from his life. I felt the author was telling us that there are things in this life over which in the end we have no control and somehow we have to learn to accept these events and not feel others don’t care. Very deep.

A good collection of stories non-the-less, if you like this kind of thing. I personally don’t think this the best collection of short-stories I have come across. Some were just too complicated for me, others though were good with many twists and turns. Humour is never far away. 

The above review was contributed by: Jessica Roberts: Jessica has been a book reviewer for a newspaper and a national women's magazine and is working on a novel. To read more of Jessica's reviews CLICK HERE