Robert M de la Torre

Author Robert M de la Torre born September 23, 1958 in Culver City, California. I began writing in 1978 when I lived in Bavaria, Germany as a soldier in the 2/81 Armor. I live in the high desert of Southern California where I enjoy creative writing and abstract painting. I write Imaginative and Creative fiction short stories/novellas for all ages. Visit my artwork on www.art-3000.com

Currently I have compiled the "The Short Story Cookbook" containing ten short stories that I wrote since the beginning of the year 2009. My latest story is "Captain Lime" a story of english sailors who search for the passage to the new world. "Six Great Short Stories" is another one of my creations that include my latest and best short stories.

I like to express my imagination through my stories that I hope you will enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing them.

Peace to You

Robert M de la Torre

Pacific Book Review

642 Riviera Circle

Nipomo, CA 93444

(805) 440-1787

Nicolesorkin@pacificbookreview.com

www.pacificbookreview.com

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21AVqHEylKL._SL150_.jpg

Title: Six Great Short Stories

Author: Robert M. De La Torre

Publisher: CreateSpace

ISBN: 9781442186767

Pages: 360, Paperback

Genre: Fiction

Reviewed by: Gary Sorkin

Review date: June 21, 2010

Appropriately entitled, Six Great Short Stories is a unique work encompassing Robert Michael de la

Torre’s wit and wisdom in his creative approach to the ancient art of storytelling.

He opens with Always Walking Barefoot, a simple tale of a childish friendship of a young boy, Ben, ten

years old, and a girl, Freida, as they get into mischief in a country setting, not much unlike a Huckleberry

Finn world. Written in the third person, with a noticeable lack of any dialogue, the story sets you back in

fields of grass, out by the old train tracks, rolling down bumpy dirt roads, and facing decisions kids make

when adult supervision is, well, out of town on business. Naive to the dangers that lurk in the world,

Ben and Freida manage to create their own reality by being who they are – good people not looking to

hurt anyone. By being young and innocent, they avoid the dangers that may have been present. I

believe the message here is that although “bad people” exist, if you are good to all people in an honest

way, most people will be good to you – we all have many sides to our values and integrity.

Six Great Short Stories go on with a well developed Captain Lime, a dialogue laced “Shiver-me-timbers”

Pirate story of epic proportions set in the damp days of 1576. Starting with a shipwreck, this story takes

you on an adventure like Johnny Depp did with Pirates of the Caribbean, progressing so quickly that it’s

like a Disneyland ride. “Aye, matie, errrr.”

His stories are diverse and imaginative. His style is straightforward, often a bit repetitive in name

articulation of characters instead of using pronouns, but that’s his “signature.” Each story starts with a

very intriguing lead and builds character development quickly.

Each story has its own voice, and as such is written in a changed galley text format. The interesting

layout of his work lends itself to enjoying the book, by having oversized type pitch with varying fonts

making it a pleasure to your eyes. Robert M. de la Torre takes a casual approach towards his

presentation, more reminiscent of personal manuscripts than mass produced literature. I found his

work to be original, intriguing and by all accounts entertaining. His short story entitled, Jack Sleeps in

the Park, was so kind and loving I sensed the sentiments of the author becoming revealed. Having a half

dozen discrete stories makes this a good book to bring with you while traveling, or having by your

bedside table, being able to pick up, finish a story and take a break. Although the “next story” is upon

you so quickly that you just might need to postpone your “break” until the end of the book. Bravo

Robert, Six Great Short Stories is like a half dozen roses. We’re anxiously awaiting the sequel, “Six More

Great Short Stories.”