“Things to Aim For” by Rodney Ross offers a compelling exploration of human relationships through vibrant characters and engaging storytelling.
Table of Contents
Synopsis
“Things To Aim For” provides a comprehensive overview of Rodney Ross’s LGBTQ+ collection, originally published by JMS Books and now combined. Stories range from a chaotic Palm Springs Christmas gathering to a father contemplating euthanising his deceased son’s cat, and from a circuit-party attendee attending his father’s funeral to a restaurateur sabotaging a Valentine’s Day seating. The characters in these pieces navigate life’s challenges with warmth, humour, and resilience, ultimately finding a way to prevail despite their struggles.
Review
“Things to Aim For” by Rodney Ross is a vibrant and diverse collection of short stories that looks into the intricacies of human relationships and the dynamics that shape them. Through vivid and dynamic characters like Stanton and Clay, readers are immersed in a world where social gatherings serve as the backdrop for deeper explorations of love, loss, and personal growth. Ross masterfully weaves together multiple narratives, each brimming with humor, warmth, and insight, offering readers a compelling and entertaining read. The conversational tone and observational style allow readers to connect intimately with the characters and make their journeys feel both relatable and poignant. With its engaging narrative style, well-crafted characters, and thought-provoking themes, “Things to Aim For” has the potential to enthrall a wide audience and leave a lasting impression. However, areas for improvement lie in pacing, character development, and dialogue consistency, which, if addressed, could elevate the overall reading experience. Despite these minor shortcomings, Ross’s collection shines brightly, offering a compelling exploration of the human experience that will resonate with readers of all backgrounds and ages.
About the Author
Rodney Ross resides, writes, and thrives in Southern California, where he channels the vibrant energy of the region into his literary creations.
His novel “Diversionary Fires” earned recognition as a Finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards (NIEA) competition, highlighting his prowess in the literary fiction genre. Ross’s acclaimed work “The Cool Part Of His Pillow” achieved remarkable success, clinching the 1st Place Winner title in the GLBT Fiction category from both the NIEA and the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. This novel also secured a Silver Medal in the 2013 Global EBook Awards and garnered an Honorable Mention in the 2012 Rainbow Book Awards. His repertoire extends to include engrossing titles from JMS Books, such as “O, Christmas T(h)ree,” “The Old Man At My Door,” “Smoking With Didi,” “Otis,” and “Bended Knee.”
Not confined to fiction, Ross’s literary prowess extends to non-fiction, with an insightful essay featured in “The Other Man: Twenty-One Top Writers Speak Candidly About Sex, Love, Infidelity, Heartbreak and Moving On.” Additionally, his short story “Signing Off” was showcased in the impactful collection “Impact,” published by Other World Ink. Ross’s creative endeavors have also included the realm of screenwriting, with notable achievements including an optioned screenplay and play, albeit unproduced. His screenplays have received recognition with Honorable Mentions or runners-up citations in esteemed competitions such as the Monterey County Film Commission, FADE-IN, and the LGBT One-In-Ten Screenwriting Competitions.
Further accolades include being celebrated as the ‘Most Creative’ in the Key West Mystery Fest Writing Competition, solidifying Ross’s position as a multifaceted literary talent with an unwavering commitment to storytelling excellence.
Book Details
- Title: Things to Aim For
- Author: Rodney Ross
- Genre: Fiction
- Theme: LGBTQ+
- Publication Date: 20 January 2024
- Publisher: JMS Books LLC
- ISBN or ASIN: B0CRRLRVJZ
- Number of Pages: 395
- Minimum Audience Age: 16
Book Themes
(Note: 0=none, 1=a few, 2=considerable, 3=pronounced, 4=excessive)
- Sexual themes: 1
- Religious themes: 1
- Violence, self-harm, etc.: 1
- Crude language, expletives, swearing, etc.: 1
- Other adult themes: 0
Rating
- Content: 4 stars
- Writing Style: 4 stars
- Appeal to Target Audience: 4 stars
- Uniqueness: 4 stars
- Editing: 4 stars
- Other factors: 4 stars
- Overall: 4 out of 5
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What a fascinating collection! I love humor, and the experiences you mention (love, loss, etc.) are universal, whether one’s part of the LGBTQ+ community or not. I’m really seeing this genre (is it a genre?) take off, and it warms my heart that the LGBTQ+ community is harnessing its voice.