Some moments deserve to be remembered. Until now, I do not think human beings have found more appropriate means than photography and writing to remember what happens. Theodore Jerome Cohen is a writer who knows the power of images and text. This is why he employs both of them in his collection of short stories, Mementos: A Unique Collection of Short Stories & Flash Fiction. Every story begins with an image and is often very short (around 250 words or less), with some exceptions, but length is not essential in deciding whether Mementos is a good book. What really matters is Cohen's creative talent; he only needs one photograph to find inspiration.

I have read many of Theodore Jerome Cohen's books and have never been disappointed. With this fourth volume of Mementos, too, I was sure that I would spend a few pleasant hours in the company of a witty and brilliant writer. Cohen's stories, especially the shorter ones, always have unexpected endings and sometimes unhappy ones, but this is life, and very often a pleasant situation suddenly turns sad. In any case, readers will find many memorable stories and spend a few delightful hours in the company of characters of all kinds. I think Cohen's greatest talent is his ability to make the stories of so many different people coexist in a single book and to give each of them the best quality possible. Mementos is a book that I highly recommend for its extraordinary features.

Mementos: A Unique Collection of Short Stories & Flash Fiction Book 4 (Mementos Anthologies) is written by Theodore Jerome Cohen and includes a wonderful collection of short stories from as little as 250 words. Each story is inspired by a picture prompt “used to spin words and phrases into literary tapestries readers can use to discover something about life.” The stories appeal to every taste and genre preference and include anything from children having conversations to elderly folk and FBI agents Whitman and Easton, who are tasked with taking down a mafia family. The author has included the pictures that prompted his stories, making the stories easier for the reader to understand.

Mementos is one of the most unusual, interesting books I have read in a very long time. The book gives a whole new meaning to “short stories.” It reminds me of licorice-all-sorts; every section is a different story. Some are related, and others are not. The pictures are beautiful, a fantastic visual effect that makes a significant impact on the reader. I particularly enjoyed the stories and pictures relating to West Side Story and the FBI stories. The variety of characters is well defined and easy to relate to. The stories are smooth flowing and quick to read. This is not the type of book that has to be read from start to finish. It can be put aside and returned to later, and some stories leave the ending up to the reader to consider and think about what could have happened. A pleasant change from long-winded novels and perfect for bedtime reading.