Stories in the Key of C. Minor.

by Russell Bittner

I'll let the original publisher -- Faraway Literary -- speak for me.

"Stories in the Key of C. Minor. is a major work..." (Daniel Sawyer, Publisher).

"...'Something Special' is a novella-length story by author Russell Bittner that is featured in the new collection, 'Stories in the Key of C. Minor.' It is about Bruce, a middle-aged agent for models who plans to spend a romantic weekend in the wilds of Yosemite with his gorgeous protege Angie -- until, that is, things go horribly awry. Written with an impressive eye for detail and an awesome command of language, 'Something Special' is an intriguing and absorbing tale by an emerging author who's sure to leave his mark. Along with the other stories that appear in this collection, Bittner establishes himself as a literary talent to be reckoned with."

134 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2009

About the author

Russell presently lives and works in Hudson, New York, USA.

Russell has two kiddoes, Chris (M, aged 29) and Alex (F, aged 26). Both are out of the nest -- which, in any case, fell apart long ago. My boy lives in Manhattan, my girl in Brooklyn. The three of us occasionally meet for lunch or dinner or even an entire weekend -- whenever, that is, one party or the other can be convinced to drive north.

Reviews

[Jessica Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know Russell Bittner primarily as a skilled poet--so it was that I searched amazon's book section a while ago for anything he'd written, hoping to find a poetry collection. This collection popped up, and I bought it immediately, hoping his fiction was as thoroughly enjoyable as his poetry. When the book arrived, I discovered that my hopes were MORE than met.

This collection is as eclectic as the city it serenades--there are stories of terror beside stories of love and longing, and many, many subways and streets carrying the reader along many worthy rides. It is clear that a man of words (and heart) wrote this collection--some phrases simply made me purr, and some stories made me read them again, immediately. "Collisions" has already been mentioned by another reviewer as particularly worthy of attention, so I'll touch upon two others. I particularly enjoyed "Fright Night," a bittersweet vignette about a father's pride in and worry for the man his son is becoming, and "Waltzing Matilda," a story of modern terror, and the sub-culture(s) that breed it. (In fact, I enjoyed "Waltzing Matilda" so much that I emailed the author, and requested that he submit the story to a podcast to which I subscribe--I was greedy enough to want it in more formats. Apparently, it is too long a story for podcast usage, much to my dismay.)

I have never lived in New York, nor visited the city for long, but the sound and smell of my few memories were instantly evoked (and embellished upon, I am sure), by the descriptions in this collection. (Post-9/11 NYC IS the central milieu of the collection, but it is not the only "setting"--Mr. Bittner can and does write outside of his beloved city). I found it a worthy tribute to a worthy city--but I also found it simply good fiction. In fact, when I came back here to review the collection, and found it now available for kindle, as well as his new novel, Trompe-l'oeil, I happily bought both, secure in the knowledge that I wouldn't be wasting a single cent or second. Now, if my paper copy gets stolen when I recommend it to a friend (which I know I will), I won't need to fret.

A note on the kindle edition: In scanning it, I immediately noticed that there is a fully interactive TOC, which I find woefully lacking in other collections. So, it appears the author has taken care to produce an electronic version beyond the scanning technology typo-laden terrors I encounter too often with paper-to-kindle editions. Kudos!

[Brent Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an elegant little book comprising five short stories and a novella. That bare introduction, my friends, is by no means enough to do it justice. The first thing you will notice is the sheer quality of the writing. This cannot be easily achieved even by the most prolific of writers, so there is obviously something going on here that is not merely the result of endless practice. In each story the pace perfectly matches the mood Mr Bittner wants to create, from the softly moonlit trick-or-treating of Hallowe'en and the half-cat-half-kid who goes looking for wonderment and finds something more disturbing in FRIGHT NIGHT, to the bleakness of the hollow family Thanksgiving dinner described with such a bitter sense of loss in IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM.

I am not writing a precis of the stories here; you must buy the book and read them for yourselves. What I am writing is simply an attempt to convey the pleasure this book gave me. If you can ration yourselves to one story per night you will have Monday to Friday covered, then at the weekend you can savour the novella SOMETHING SPECIAL. It is worth holding back for. I will not give anything away except a hint that it will leave you wondering which of the characters was really to blame for the outcome, and wondering also whether the story had ever really finished after all...

Here's a teaser to leave you with; I have always held Ray Bradbury in the greatest regard, and though these stories are by quite another writer with his own distinctive style, they belong in the same company together. And if you appreciate literary references, try and spot l'hommage to T.S. Eliot's The Love Song Of J. Alfred Prufrock.

So in closing I will say that although this is the first work of Mr Bittner's that I have read, it certainly will not be the last. My advice --- get it and read it for yourselves.

[Kate Papas · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is of common knowledge that minor chords express melancholy. Hence, as indicated by the title, the common denominator of those short stories is sadness. But additionally to the feelings of loneliness, desperation and frustration that contribute to the melancholic part of the collection, at times there’s also fear -not to mention terror.

All stories are about ordinary/common people, mainly losers, carrying their own cross of martyrdom in their everyday reality.
Although bitter and sad, I absolutely enjoyed reading those –of high quality- short stories.

Russell Bittner is a master craftsman. To my eyes the whole collection looks like a precious jewel, specifically a bracelet. I consider each story as a gem on this bracelet. Sometimes the gem is small ("Fright Night", "The Poet and the President"), sometimes it's larger ("Something Special", "Collisions"). No matter the size, all gems of this collection shine equally and play an important role in the whole composition.

While reading “Stories in the Key of C Minor” I was continually struck by the writer’s sensitivity. Especially with "Collisions", I felt as the story had been written by a female writer. Such was the understanding of a woman’s psychology.

In those stories -I can’t deny it- sensitivity walks hand in hand with cynicism. But what else is cynicism than frustrated romanticism?

Conclusion? A collection of short stories absolutely worth reading.

[Clifford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sinister, dark, foreboding. C Minor stories are fictions that strike a dissonant chord and leave the reader unsettled, and quite possibly looking over his shoulder. Or her shoulder, often, as it seems to be the women who are most at risk in Russell Bittner’s world. These stories explore an unpleasant side of New York and New Yorkers, one that appears to represent the pain and anger that many people have felt since 9/11. The stories (five short stories and a novella) often deal with sudden, unexplained events and traumatic loss. In “Collisions,” for example, Maggie literally bumps into Jorg on the subway one morning and their attraction is instantaneous. What happens next can’t be anticipated, or explained. In a most horrific story, “Waltzing Matilda,” (which struck me as a story Flannery O’Connor might have written if she’d been a Manhattanite), busy real estate agent Susan gives a lift to a leather-clad pedestrian. He’s been affected by what happened on 9/11, and now so is she. Except he has other business to attend to, that is even more disturbing. “In the Animal Kingdom” deals most directly with 9/11 and sudden loss and is the most poignant of the stories here, and probably my favorite for that reason.

In all the stories, Bittner uses language beautifully. They are crisply told tales, each gripping in its way, and the collection as a whole is highly rewarding.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stories in the Key of C. Minor is an absolutely wonderful collection of six short stories, one being a marvelous novella. The reader will most definitely enjoy all six stories and find themselves distraught when the final story ends. There is something within each story that I am sure you will identify with on some level or find terribly engrossing. I personally enjoyed all of Mr. Bittner's entire collection.

Mr. Bittner is an extremely talented writer with an amazing flair. He is descriptive in both a classic and contemporary manner. His stories are unique and clever, he is clearly gifted in the creative realm of both substance and style.

Please take the time to explore Mr. Bittner's writing, I promise you won't be disappointed and will easily become a fan of Russell's talent with words.

[Peter Marshall]

Stories set in New York appealed to me as a frequent visitor to the Big Apple over many years. But musically, “In the key of C Minor” indicated a sombre and melancholy mood – not words which figure in my memories of the city! But reading on, I soon realised how different it can be for a long-time resident and writer, especially one with such a creative ambition. It is a vividly written collection of six short stories which certainly evoke memories of the bridges over East River, the rattling subway trains and even the executive elevator to the penthouse floor! But there is so much more for a reader to discover about New York life on a range of levels.
“Fright Night” is a short insight into the lives of the tough kids of Brooklyn, which sets the scene and delivers unexpected snatches of dialogue. Then comes “The Poet and the President” where a company chief finds a common interest in poetry with one of his underlings … with an ending which leaves the reader wanting more. By way of sharp contrast, “In the Animal Kingdom” is the closest we come to melancholy where it is the first Thanksgiving for a broken family. And we have to wonder whether the boy’s long-awaited father actually appears – or not? “Collisions” is another emotionally-driven story whereby Maggie’s instant attraction to a man on the subway eventually leads to their romantic evening at her apartment. She could not believe her luck – until he decides to go to the store in search of food. And then???
“Collisions” is so sensitively written that it hardly seems to come from the same writer as the next story, “Waltzing Matilda”. From a compelling start, it leads into the world of sado-masochism with its lengthy and explicit descriptions of an encounter during a slow car journey over Brooklyn Bridge. Unlikely? Who knows in this New York of unexpected stories. This reviewer assumes that the subject must appeal to some readers, if only for the narrative skills of the author.
Finally, “Something Special” is a contrast, starting and ending in New York with an interlude in California, as an aspiring cover girl called Angie is taken on photographic adventures. The dialogue is brilliantly developed and the ending is unexpected, as it should be. This completes a collection of widely varied themes and ideas which go way beyond “C Minor” and encourages this reviewer to read more of the literary creativity from Russell Bittner.

[Brian Gates · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the six stories written by Russell Bittner in "Stories in the Key of C. Minor." There is something written in every story that I'm sure any reader would identify with on some level and discover it to be quite engrossing. Collisions happened to be my personal favorite of the tales. I loved Maggie, and found her character to be both relatable and intriguing. A great read for anyone fond of short stories.

I recommend.

[Russell Bittner]

I wrote this collection of short stories plus one novella.

It's not appropriate for me to review it.

Russell

[Peter Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was extremely fortunate to come across Russell and his writing. It may well be that all six stories here are intended to be melancholic, but there is something about the beauty of Russell's pen that sings off the page in a tone that is pure jazz. Beethoven's Pathetique is in the key of C Minor, but it comes with an aura of imminent storms. 'Stories' may have its background thunder, its damaged lives, its corrupted people, but the manner of its telling makes it firstly eminently readable and then a joy, an enrichment. Beyond the melancholy, there is joy in the reading. Beyond the reading, there is music of an altogether warmer humour. At its darkest, its Miles Davis 'Kind of Blue', at its brightest, its Errol Garner and 'Autumn Leaves'.
Bravo, Russell. I loved every line. May there be many more