“Pleased down to my clogs, as all bakers are when something they make is properly appreciated, I slid the coffee thermos back onto its warmer . . . “

A review of “Nothing Much Happens” in 100 words by Catherine Stover

Imagine a story about a baker who experiments with a recipe for biscotti that contains pistachios and orange zest. The baker is pleased with the results. The end. Wait, what? How can a story have no plot and no tension? Is it still a story? I believe it can be if – and here’s the hard part – the story shows us the writer’s humanity, warmth, and vulnerability. These stories are tender. I love them, and so do hundreds of thousands of readers and listeners who hear the author read her stories in her podcast. The artistry here is rare and remarkable.

Work cited:

Nicolai, Kathryn. Nothing Much Happens: Cozy & Calming Stories to Soothe Your Mind & Help You Sleep. Penguin, 2020, p. 78.

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