Waiting for the Piano Tuner to Die (Reprise)

Waiting for the Piano Tuner to Die
by Harriet Richards
Published by Shadowpaw Press Reprise
Review by Toby A. Welch  
$24.99 ISBN 9781998273317

This compact collection of ten short stories delivers a nonstop emotional rollercoaster. Richards explores heavy themes – death and dying, family dynamics, sibling relationships, love, loss – but what stands out is how hope runs through it. It packs a punch by taking raw situations and humanizing them. 

While I enjoyed all ten tales (not something I can usually say in a short story collection), my favorite was Andrea’s Kitchen. It comes in at just under seven pages but it leaves a lasting impact. It tells the story of a woman blessed and burdened by her beauty and how that has played out in her life, for better or worse. A close second was Marine and Jonathan, Plus Carmalita’s Journal, the longest story at thirty pages. The layout of the tale was cool as parts of it were journal entries, hence the title. It follows the story of the three people in the title from adolescence into adulthood and the complications that arise. Most of the stories quietly linger, resurfacing hours or even days later. 

I know a book is special when I’m still thinking about it long after I’ve turned the last page. That is the case with Waiting for the Piano Tuner to Die, for so many reasons. Richards does a phenomenal job of fleshing out characters, especially considering the constraints of short stories. And her pacing is spot on. Each story goes at its own speed and is dialed in. The dialogue flows without hitches, making the realism of the stories even more believable. Richards understands that less is more when it comes to writing.     

I have to give a huge shout out to Shadowpaw Press Reprise, a Regina-based publishing company. They specialize in new editions of notable previously published books. They grabbed Waiting for the Piano Tuner to Die out of obscurity (it was first released in 2002) and gave it a second life. This work may have been overlooked otherwise, making this reissue feel especially worthwhile. (Do take a moment when you are done to look at the list of other titles from the publisher as it holds more must-reads.)

I love this book for its portability. I threw it in my bag and whenever I had a brief interlude in my day, I pulled it out and breezed through one of the short stories. I value the convenience of a book small enough to tuck into my purse.

If you’re looking for a short story collection that stays with you long after you’ve closed the cover, this one earns its place!

THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE AT YOUR LOCAL BOOKSTORE OR FROM WWW.SKBOOKS.COM