The Acorn Stories

I love the unique concept of The Acorn Stories. Rather than a collection of unrelated short stories, Simolke entertains readers with tales from small-town America and characters that occasionally intersect, sometimes in the most unexpected ways. The result is a candid look at what lies beneath the surface of life in Acorn. Simolke shares life’s beautiful and humorous moments side by side with the devastating and painful ones, and the contrast is palpable. My heart thudded in anger as I read the story of Chandler and the discrimination he faced. I smiled while reading about the elderly and widowed Ms. Yolanda’s budding romance in “Morgan Le Fay.” My tears fell when I came to “Knock” as I was reminded of my father and his end of life. And I had actual goosebumps at the end of “Mirrors: A Blackmail Letter.” The final chapter, “Acorn Pie,” provided the closure I needed through what I would consider micro-stories within the short story.

Those who have lived in a small town may relate to the happenings in Acorn. I certainly did. It made me think about the country store in one small town I lived in. The older men would assemble each morning with a hot cup of coffee in hand. They would rock in old rocking chairs on the front porch or lean against the railings and pass judgment on everything and everyone who passed. I thought back to my time spent in another town where the church women drawled out, “Now I don’t like to be the one to spread gossip, BUT…” before launching into their latest speculations. And here lies Simolke’s undeniable talent. He captures the wide range of human behavior and emotion to the point that the characters in The Acorn Stories could live in almost any small town because they are relatable. While the circumstances of their stories may change from a geographic or cultural perspective, who they are and what makes them tick do not.