Jeffrey M. Feingold’s THERE IS NO DEATH IN FINDING NEMO is a collection of stories focused on gifted individuals – from intellectuals and doctors to classically trained musicians. Despite their knowledge or brilliance, these characters deal with the same problems as everyone else: loneliness, low self-esteem or the vagaries of old age. Frequently, there is a surreal twist to a story. What makes them great is their nebulous nature. Sometimes they are real. At other times, they exist solely in the protagonist’s mind. This makes the stories delightfully unpredictable. The author does a great job writing tales that are funny and emotionally engaging. “The Narcissist’s Library” tells a story of a manipulative pick-up artist who gets a well-deserved comeuppance. “The Loneliest Number” follows a bipolar concert pianist struggling with crippling stage fright. At other times Feingold hits hard. His short story “Rich Girl” starts rather mundane, only to irresistibly move towards a devastating, haunting ending.

Unfortunately, Feingold’s writing sometimes feels a bit undeveloped. The most evident example is the story “The Mirror”. It has an intriguing premise about a man who starts getting younger (Or does he?). The story rapidly escalates into a full-on manic absurdity. And then… it ends. Since readers never learn much about the protagonist and his wife, there is nothing to resolve: he is either delusional or he’s not. Other stories could have been more fleshed out as well. It is as if the author came up with a fascinating premise, developed it for a bit, and then moved on to something else. It is hardly surprising that some stories feel like teasers for those yet to come. Despite this criticism, it is hard not to be charmed by this collection. The stories are a breeze and can be read in a single evening. They may vary in tone but are never dull. There’s giddiness to the collection – a distinct impression that the author enjoys writing. Feingold loves wordplay and frequently places his protagonists in almost farcical situations. And yet, it feels as if the author takes his characters – their hopes, their fears, their longings – seriously. While imperfect, THERE IS NO DEATH IN FINDING NEMO is still well worth the reader’s time.

Stories in Jeffrey M. Feingold’s THERE IS NO DEATH IN FINDING NEMO are sometimes poignant, frequently hilarious, and almost always surreal.

~Danijel Štriga for IndieReader