The Last Waltz in Zurich and Other Stories by Amir Tomer Review – Author Anthony Avina’s Blog

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Author Amir Tome shares a unique and fantastical journey into a collection of short stories that are entertaining and engaging in the collection “The Last Waltz in Zurich and Other Stories”.

The Synopsis

From the surprising and shocking to the heartbreaking, erotic, and philosophical, Amir Tomer’s debut collection of literary short stories will delight both avid readers of the short story genre and casual readers seeking entertainment and enlightenment.

“My right eye, which was lost in the accident, was alive and well and by some miraculous means, it continued to transmit to my brain all that it saw! … My left eye saw, concurrently, the hospital room, and the brain, as it always does, fused the two images transmitted by the eyes, creating a sort of photomontage in which the images blended!!!”

A car crash leads to an unexpected voyage across dimensions of perception, a painting reveals more than just artistic vision, and a forgotten childhood game becomes the backdrop for reconciliation with the past. These are just a few of the surprises hidden among the pages of Amir Tomer’s debut short story collection.

The Last Waltz in Zurich offers its readers a rich tapestry of unusual and thought-provoking stories. Shifting between the surreal, the mundane, and the fantastical, this collection of stories never fails to surprise, challenge, and offer unique insights into the human psyche.

The Review

This collection of stories was genuinely emotional and thought-provoking. The author found various ways to touch upon the fragility of life and kept the reader engaged in each story and the characters that drove them. The visceral imagery and the poetic writing style helped capture the settings of each story and the connections between the characters, allowing the reader to bond with these characters as they experienced life’s various challenges.

The heart of this story is in the powerful themes that the stories touch upon. The bond we share, the power that love holds in our hearts, and the emotional threads that connect us all. The standout stories for me were The Last Waltz in Zurich, The Proposal, and my favorite, A Quiet Evening with the Parents. Each touches upon the pain and love that comes with those bonds that connect us, from the loss of a parent to the romance between two people connected by tragedy and so much more.

The Verdict

Memorable, authentic, and heartfelt author Amir Tomer’s “The Last Waltz in Zurich and Other Stories” is a must-read short story collection. The twists and turns in the stories themselves, the emotional and engaging stories and characters, and the powerful themes will keep readers coming back to this book time and time again. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

About the Author

Dr. Amir Tomer is a professor for Software Engineering. He holds three degrees in computer science and has worked in various industrial and managerial positions at Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. He transitioned to academia to meet the challenge of establishing a new Software Engineering department at Kinneret College on the Sea of Galilee. He headed the department for over ten years, successfully earning its official recognition from the Israeli Council for Higher Education.

The Last Waltz in Zurich is Amir Tomer’s second book. His first, a poetry collection titled Love Designer, was published in Hebrew by Assif Publishing House in 2021.

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