Small, Irrelevant Matters

Incredible Read

Christopher Lee Johnson’s short stories kept me up all night. Not because they were difficult to read or comprehend, but because they kept me wanting more; they left me with unanswered questions, feelings I couldn’t identify, and awe that he could say so much in so little words. I kept re-reading passages, dissecting sentences and pondering if there was a secret message in every word. The most impressive part is although the stories ended somewhat abruptly, I never felt they were cut short as a result of poor planning or lack of idea for an ending; rather they were meticulously planned that way on purpose.
All of his stories have male main characters, and they all seem to be fighting an inner battle of morality, with some of them unaware they are even preparing for battle. Johnson’s writing is simple yet compelling, his stories are relatable yet I felt as a reader I was a one man audience to something I wasn’t suppose to see. It was as if I could identify with the characters, but wanted to separate myself because I didn’t want to admit to feeling similar feelings, such as shame at not standing up for a friend, sadness as a result of loneliness, or pride at the cost of others.
Johnson has an excellent way of conveying emotions within the characters and reader him/herself without writing out literal feelings. His effortless writing is easy to read, but the deep meaning makes him a true author on the rise.