James A. Reeves

This is a series of short "manufactured" stories around real historic events or people in Indianapolis. In some stories the settings or historical contexts are accurate but the people were made up. In other stories, the people were accurate but other details were fictionalized. In between, quotes from people who called in to a number to answer questions about the city describe the thoughts and feelings of current residents. I found this very tiny book to be entertaining and interesting. It was fun to read stories about the places you have been in your city. As with longer novels such as "The Paris Wife" or other "creative" fictional biographies created about real historic people, this approach can be entertaining and leaves the reader feeling a bit closer to the city or person described. I will probably seek out Mr. Reeve's other works about cities and places across America, particularly the one that follows his "On the Road" type journey across the country.… (mer)