Review - The Exchange

The Exchange
by Jon Langford
Date: 2017
Publisher: East of the Web
Reading level: A
Book type: short story
Pages: 3
Format: e-book
Source: http://www.eastoftheweb.com/

“Hello, sir. How may I help you?”

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Here's another super-short story from East of the Web. This one concerns a customer trying to exchange a faulty alarm clock. Written completely in dialogue, the story highlights some familiar customer experiences and frustrations. When did you buy the clock? Is the warranty still valid? Do you have a receipt? Do you have the original packaging? Anyone who's had to return an item at some point can probably relate to some of the frustrating questions asked by the store employee. All the poor customer wants is an alarm clock that works.

The twist at the end is kind of cute, and also ties in to the modern consumer experience. I expected there might be something like that, but it was done well enough. In fact, the author managed to pack quite a bit of story into three pages. We don't necessarily get much character development, but the plot is at least relatable.

Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Pace: 4/5
Writing & Editing: 4/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall Rating: 3.29 out of 5 ladybugs