Published: July 17, 2011
Words: 9762 (approximate)
Language: English

Short description

What happens when life doesn't turn out as planned? This collection of two evocative stories (each with a surprising twist) explores the choices and compromises we make in life and in love. In "Cage Life," Chloe's desire to return to her wild university days comes at an unexpectedly tragic price... In "The Usurper," octogenarian Basil battles to keep his younger mistress from taking a lover.

Extended description

This collection of short stories by Karin Cox explores the choices and compromises we make in love, and how they can trap or liberate us depending on our mindset. Each story comes with an unexpected twist that makes reading all the way to the end imperative.

In "Cage Life," first published by [untitled] magazine in 2010 as "Still Life", a young mum feels like a prisoner in her own home. Her decision to escape the bonds of marriage and motherhood, just for a few hours, has unexpected consequences that force her to a re-evaluate what it really means to be loved, to be married, and to be free.

In "The Usurper," unconditional love is explored within the boundaries of age and longing. Basil is in his eighties, with an illustrious career in law enforcement behind him, when he meets Carla — a beautiful, energetic and much younger mistress. But when Simon appears on the scene, can Basil keep her or does she, in fact, keep him?

Adult-content rating:

This book contains content considered unsuitable for young readers 17 and under, and which may be offensive to some readers of all ages. For more information, see the Support FAQ.

Tags

love, marriage, short stories, motherhood, choices, compromise, twist endings

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Reviews

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Review by: Jackie Williams on Sep. 22, 2011 :
I totally enjoyed both of these stories. The first could happen to anyone, true to life and well written. I did have a tear in my eye. The second, another well written, has a good twist. We are all born with feelings.
This book is well worth a read. I loved it.
(review of free book)

Review by: ali Bacon on Aug. 16, 2011 :
Cage Life starts with a very moving story with a shocking ending. Both the writing and the story arc were well-handled making for an involving read. I felt at all times that the characters had real authenticity. The second story (The Usurper)was less to my taste, perhaps because the characters were less obviously sympathetic and the (very) surprise ending felt to me a little engineered. However I do admire Karin's writing and feel there will be more good things to come. Thanks for the chance to read these.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Jimi Ripley on Aug. 15, 2011 :
Cage Life, by Karin Cox, is a surprising and beautifully written book comprised of two short stories; the first story takes you into the mind of a young mom who feels like a prisoner in her own home and the second centers around 80-something Basil and the results of his love for a younger woman. It only took me an hour to read the entire book, which I received as a review copy via Smashwords.

I'll admit that at first I didn't know if I would be able to finish the book. The subject matter was almost too adult and definitely too dark. The first story, Cage Life, reminded me of a very dark period in my own life, though the details are completely different. Karin's poetic use of words kept me reading. As I savored the vivid prose and admired the images that she so adeptly painted in my imagination, I was pulled into the story. As the main character grew from girl to young mom, I felt her angst, love, and pain. I still can't say that I liked the story—partly due to the fact that I'm a (not so young) new mom myself—but I do respect it for its portrayal of unintended consequences.

The second story, The Usurper, again challenged my morals. Basil wakes, knowing that "it had happened again." We discover the definition of "it" few pages later as Basil contemplates the fate of an octogenarian at the hands of a much younger mistress in a surprising view of elder abuse. I can't go into detail without giving too much away, but this was the story that made me love the book. The ending contains one of my favorite story elements: in a surprise "aha" moment, reality shifts and the reader suddenly views the story in a completely different way. I wanted to give a standing ovation.

Though I am more apt to read for either entertainment or learning, it is good to be challanged to step out of my comfort zone. I plan to look into Karin's Austrailian wildlife books for my son.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Anna Falcone on Aug. 12, 2011 :
Karin Cox gives the reader two very different short stories, each with a theme of entrapment. While the opening of each story left me a little bit cold, in each case, she soon settles down into the story and leads us to a satisfying, if unexpected, conclusion. I look forward to more.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: CyberWitch Press on Aug. 01, 2011 :
Cox is an eloquent and talented writer whose poetic prose in the two short stories of "Cage Life" draws the reader in. "Cage Life" is beautiful and heartbreaking, while "The Usurper" has a surprise ending that took me completely off-guard. Her descriptions are vivid and her characters are real. I'm looking forward to reading much more by Karin Cox.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Alex Casey on July 23, 2011 :
"Cage Life" contains two well written short stories by Karin Cox. In both stories, the main character feels trapped in his or her own home and deeply regrets previous choices. I won't give away any spoilers, but each treads a different path to escape the cage of their own making.

The evocative descriptions and the writer's style made me feel like I was standing in the main characters' shoes throughout the stories. The plot twists were unexpected and left me with two very satisfying, enjoyable reads. Well done!
(reviewed the day of purchase)

Review by: Michele Perry on July 20, 2011 :
These extremely thought-provoking, emotive, eloquently written narratives will gift the reader with nothing short of a satisfying, mesmerising read. The stories are layered with meaning and questions will be asked – but Karin’s exceptional writing style subtlety gives clues that allow you to understand and appreciate the plots’ deeper interpretations. I highly recommend Karin’s work and have no doubt that any reader will enjoy delving into the stories she creates.
(reviewed the day of purchase)

Review by: Danielle Blanchard Benson on July 20, 2011 :
Cage Life consists of two short stories but to be honest, that is all one can possibly handle. The roller coaster ride of emotions I felt while reading Cage Life (a tragic incident unites a couple who believed their marriage is beyond saving) continued through the second story, The Usurper (a tragic and cautionary tale of falling for the wrong person in the winter of one's life and the brutal consequences of this startling decision).

I completely understand why the author titled the collection Cage Life because whether we are young or old, it's so easy to build our own prisons and trap ourselves in a hell of our own making. This short story collection is a tour de force which very few authors can ever hope to achieve however Ms. Cox has excelled in spades.
(reviewed within a week of purchase)

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