The Long Red Hair and Other Stories by Nancy J. Martin

The Long Red Hair and Other Stories

Nancy J. Martin

Cuvèe Press (2025)

979-8218752514

Reviewed by Jordan Waterwash for Reader Views (09/2025)

https://readerviews.com/reviews/the-long-red-hair-and-other-short-stories-martin/

4/5

The short stories and personal essays in The Long Red Hair and Other Stories by Nancy J. Martin offers readers many carefree stories with some more serious narratives peppered in. In the flash fiction stories, readers see through the lenses of an interesting cast of characters. Each character is seen going through moments in their everyday lives—with varying degrees of success. We learn some characters’ creature comforts, experience them at some of the worst moments in their lives, and laugh at the shenanigans they find themselves a part of.

For example, in “Rumors,” the reader follows a woman as she tries to uncover her friend Ann’s potential affair. Throughout the story, we’re led to believe the narrator is truly perturbed by Ann’s actions; however, by the end we learn the narrator has not been as forthcoming as she could have been. Unreliable narrators are a favorite of mine, and this story scratched that itch.

There were also a handful of creative nonfiction pieces. While hard to discern from the fictional stories, they still provided a pleasurable reading experience. Additionally, the prose itself was clear and easy to follow. A closer copy edit would have been beneficial, but the text was still smooth.

Many of the stories could be categorized as “slice of life,” which provided a relaxing reading experience. Some contained more serious themes, so those looking to avoid stories related to sexual assault and animal abuse might want to skip some of the stories. Most, though, are grounded in feel-good moments with adequate moments of tension. “Slanting Rain” provided a particularly down-to-earth reading experience. Possibly one of the personal essays, it follows the narrator as she rides her horse, Milagro, through the wilderness. The setting and atmosphere are calming even though it has the potential for danger with all the rain coming down on the trail. The tension comes from not knowing if Milagro will get spooked by the weather. While the stakes are relatively low, the story still proves enjoyable because of the clear bond between the horse and his rider.

The Long Red Hair and Other Stories by Nancy J. Martin is a quick read with stories for those looking to experience grounded narratives.