From a Yellowstone day hike that veers into surreal territory, to a slaughterhouse on the verge of paranormal bedlam, to a strange island where a magical book may hold the key to a young castaway's happiness, Wanderings - A Collection of Short Stories, delivers six fresh, original, pulse-pounding tales guaranteed to mesmerize and entertain.

I always start my reviews of short story collections by saying that I am not normally their biggest fan but Bennett definitely left me pleasantly surprised.

I think this is largely to do with the fact that I enjoyed the connection between each of the stories, the theme of a journey of some description; however, Bennett’s writing style is also so enigmatic and entrancing that it just made the stories that much more enjoyable.

Filled with tension, horror, adventure, strangeness and wonder these stories were a hit with me and I reckon for many others.

First and foremost, this was not a bad book and if I based all of my ratings on how well a book is written and the characters in it, then this book would easily be given a four star rating. However, I base my ratings on how much a book affects me and this book did not have that big of an effect.

In truth, I think this book is really meant to be enjoyed by a specific type of person who is more intune with their spiritual side. A lot of these stories revolve around natural elements of the world, from forests to storms, to mythical lands all over and inbetween. These stories are not what I would describe as pulse-pounding, and are more thought provoking. These stories are curiosities with a variety of interpretations that can be ascribed to them, but they are also extremely vague, which causes one to think more deeply than what is presented on the page. These are not stories that I would label as finished or satisfying. They are merely glimpses into what I feel could be larger stories, a way to entice someone I suppose. Althought that enticement doesn't lead to anything larger, I suppose.

I personally do not do well with vague, spiritual stories or items. I am a very direct person in the sense that I want to know what is happening and why it is happening. I would have preferred that these stories be longer, standalone novels because I feel they have the potential to be more than what we see here. We have an incomplete picture here, as if someone only painted half of a canvas. That's not something I particularly enjoy.

Either way, this is not a bad collection of short stories. As I mentioned above, however, I do feel that these are more geared to a specific audience that is patient, calm and collected. All traits that I do not have when it comes to reading.

"Wanderings" Is A Haunting Collection of Gloriously Unsettling Stories

These six short stories were poignant and haunting, and they will stay with me for a long time to come. I'm unlikely to forget the stories within these pages, as they are not only well-written, but they reach out beyond the normal into the abnormal, the otherworldly, and even the macabre. Vivid and utterly unique, the one thing they all have in common is the idea that there are things in the world that happen that we can never understand.

If you are a fan of the dark and mysterious, then you will want to have these six particular stories in your collection. Many of the stories remind me of the fantastic series, "Missing 411", and the stories all have a strong connection with nature and the environment. Those fans of naturalist John Muir will find his work mentioned more than a few times through several stories. I think what is so effective in making these stories truly haunting to the reader is that they all look at humanity and our interactions with Gaia, or nature itself. The darker side of nature is something that we can all relate to, and almost universally feared, which makes this book effectively scary.

I read this book in one day, as it was completely enthralling to me.

This book starts very strong with its first offering, "The Guide". Like some of the other stories, this one features hiking through the woods and a mystery of time and space. Although not overtly scary or macabre, this is an otherworldly mystery that effectively sets the tone for the rest of the book.

The second story, "The Knocking Box", becomes much more intense with a bit more gruesome subject matter. And, along with the other stories in this book, this story features a very "Twilight-Zone"-esque feel with a lot of intellect and an underlying ethical or moral suggestion for your brain to chew on.

The third story, "Liam Teller", I found to be a dark but quite delightful fantasy story with directly environmental overtones. Told through the eyes of a child who meets a rather unusual friend in the woods, this story reminds us of the magic we have all felt with nature as children (and some of us still do!). Although one of the more subtly creepy stories, the insidiousness of the storytelling makes this one stand out.

"Emily" begins the second half of the book with a fantastical story that seems as though it is fairly straightforward...or is it? An astute reader will appreciate the very Shyamalan-style ending.

The final two selections, "Trail to the Sky" and "The Realm," were solid choices for ending the book on an otherworldly yet nature-centric note.

If you find the idea of the dark side of nature and the mysterious nature of the deep forests and woods to be compelling and alluring, then I would highly recommend this book to you. If you also appreciate a solid anthology of creepy or unsettling stories, I would consider this one a must-read.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, and have thus provided my honest review - which of "Wanderings" is a definitive 5 out of 5 stars. A gem within its genre!