Plummet and Shine: And Other Stories

A Jamaican proverb says: "You shake a man's hand, you don't shake his heart," which means we can meet people on the street, but we don't know their challenges in life until we hear their stories. Plummet and Shine by Joan Korale spans a variety of locations and emotions. A collection of stories that delves into the relationships, hopes and dreams. Characters come alive through the intimate portraits and each story builds toward a realization of what it means to live in an ever changing world. Among stories in Plummet and Shine: New Jersey/Philadelphia/Buffalo A loving grandfather cites the origin of a myth to help heal a bullied grandson. Jamaica, West Indies: A Jamaican girl moving on her own to Manhattan, is counselled by a poet in a dream. Hawaiian Islands: A wife's departure prompts her husband to build a boat to fetch her back, but a sudden natural shock reveals to him the awakened feelings of a young Hawaiian woman. Military: A bereaved soldier traveling Route 66 to find the site where his mother said synthetic diamonds originated seeks solace from a bizarre amateur psychology racket.