A Little Chatter is an eclectic collection of short stories chronicling small moments in time snatched from a variety of different people. Some of the characters wrestle with life decisions. Should I finish my education? How do I end the negativity? Is it time to get tested? While the stories change, there are a few consistencies that pop up in several accounts. There are a number of severe nuns that give way to nuns with dark secrets. There are plenty of scenes that take place behind the scenes in restaurant kitchens. The radio station WMMR can be found blasting music appropriate to the time frame of the individual tale. Cigarette smoking and drug use is found among many principle players in the book. A long thread running through A Little Chatter is an endless loop of bad decisions.
Being forced into a mold and likewise, breaking out of a mold, are themes that will resonate with most readers. From life-changing circumstances like an unexpected divorce after decades of marriage to everyday minutiae like having a tooth pulled, Terry Connell has managed to accurately capture a snapshot of humanity encapsulated in several compelling short stories. The characters are completely imperfect and absolutely relatable, making for an almost voyeuristic look into other people’s lives, choices and most intimate moments.
