Title: Stitches
Author: Azreay’l Sekif
Publisher: Ewings Publishing, LLC
ISBN: 979-8-89031-712-4
Pages: 574
Genre: Fiction / Humor
Reviewed by: Aaron Washington
Hollywood Book Reviews
Stitches will leave you wanting for more. It is not just the author’s writing style – but the passion and enthusiasm he put in when writing this work. Stitches has an absorbing storyline that gets captivating with the introduction of more characters. Author Azreay’l Sekif knows how to capture the reader’s attention by describing events and characters and placing plot twists in every chapter. One thing I enjoyed about the book is the numerous hilarious moments. You find yourself giggling at the funny and intriguing stuff that the characters engage in, and even feel like partaking in some. Azreay’l Sekif’s sense of humor is top-tier. The reader does not struggle to understand jokes, nor does one have moments where they find the puns to be absurd. Stitches was given a befitting title given the amazing content inside.
In the book, we follow the lives of different friends and how they navigate the sweet, sour, and unpredictable life in Alabama. The reader is transported to Alabama, along the Alabamy River, near the swamps and Couchieman trail. Here sits Petersonville, a small town where nothing and everything happens simultaneously. It is a calm day, and the author makes the reader connect with this town with all of his words. The first character we are introduced to is Boogey Johnson. Boogey is an impressive character. Despite his flaws and missteps, he has a captivating personality. Winton is Boogey’s cousin; a fairly childish guy who loves courting trouble. What strikes me about these two characters is their conversations. Azreay’l Sekif’s depiction of these two is of two ordinary lads whose lives are filled with obstacles but also fun times. We follow the duo’s story together with others as they cause trouble and ruffle feathers in their small town, and get introduced to more characters as we read on.
The two, together with Nattie and others, make the entire storyline interesting. The reader consciously gets invested in their escapades, and enjoys every narration by Azreay’l Sekif. I appreciate how easygoing the author’s style is. His characters are not too complex for the average reader, and his storyline flows easily. No two scenes are the same, as the author was creative with the activities he gave the characters. I also love that Azreay’l Sekif’s main characters appear throughout the book and rarely change their traits once the reader has a particular perception of them.
Reverend Ronald is another interesting character. The good man of the lord spreads the Word and displays prudence in what he says. But beneath the inspiring words is a soul with a somewhat dark past. Reverend Ronald’s role in the book was convenient and great as it introduced the themes of religion, transition, and the duality of men.
Stitches is a great book to read if you enjoy pleasurable literature. There are no hard life lessons in Azreay’l Sekif’s work; rather, light moments which will crack you up with the turning of every new page. I also enjoyed the small-town setting in the book and how different life in small towns can be.