These Desired Things: A Collection of Short Stories Including Breaking Bread with Ayrton Senna

These Desired Things, Steve Matchett's much anticipated fourth book, is a stimulating, philosophical offering; a tour de force of creative writing. The book's immersive text is part fiction, part memoire. Complete with a suitably insightful foreword by Manish Pandey (writer of SENNA - the movie) and with its chapters illustrated by the atmospheric artwork of Renée French, Matchett's new book is exceptionally pleasing on the eye. The chapters of the work are presented as a collection of eleven short stories: all varying in their individual plots and their settings - and yet all of them remain essential elements of the whole; for running through each is a series of subtle, uniting threads. And through Matchett's captivating telling of these affectionate tales, the author's (already renowned) written 'voice' attains a whole other level of intimacy: The reader feels truly bonded to the writer's emotions. Also, it is encouraging to note, These Desired Things is not a continuation of the author's previous works: Matchett's F1 trilogy stands complete. This latest book, therefore, represents a refreshing new mission. Indeed, by introducing us to his pair of delightfully mysterious fictional characters (in two of this book's chapters - The Chestnut Tree and The Shadows Cast of Candlelight) it seems that Matchett is already setting the scene of a future novel. Undoubtedly, the diversity of all eleven stories - and the inimitable style of the storytelling - is sure to introduce a whole new readership to Matchett's writing. That said, the author has been most careful to include stories that will appeal to those already familiar with his earlier books - those readers with a knowledge and passion for Formula 1 motor racing. And, most likely, these same passionate readers will be moved to tears on reaching the closing lines of the book's penultimate chapter, Breaking Bread with Ayrton Senna. Steve Matchett gives readings of this truly atmospheric story during his always popular 'dinner/reading' events. Now, however, for the first time in print, this most endearing homage to the fallen, three-time world champion driver, Ayrton Senna, is presented in its full, unabridged form.