Full disclosure – I was provided a copy of this short story by the author but have voluntarily chosen to write a review. All opinions are my own.
Are you okay?
Tales of His Words” is a short story by Japanese poet/author Keishi Ando. Having read a few of Ando’s short stories I have become familiar with his style of writing primarily from the point of the main character. Unlike other offerings like “Suckers” or “Cruel Angels Pass-by”, “Tales of his Words” is more of a romance – but not your typical romance. Through the eyes of the main character, a starry-eyed dreamer, Ando weaves a tale of love that surpasses tragedy and time. Through her, we learn of her only love and his desire to ensure that she always remains okay.
I will admit that I had a bit of a time at first following the dialogue, particularly when the main character’s memories of her love start to come to the forefront. She was conflicted, almost violent, and that was brought to the forefront in the text, which seemed to be out of place with the story being told. That being said, the further in I got, the more her actions started to make sense. The end of this story for me, was what tied the entire story together and made this possibly the best of the three Keishi Ando stories I have read to date. For anyone who craves a love that lasts for all time and cannot even be ended by death, Tales of His Words will definitely fit that description. I would definitely recommend this short thoughtful read.
Jennly Reads 