Review & Giveaway: Cage Life by Karin Cox

Title: Cage Life

Published: July 2011

Synopsis: Karin Cox explores the choices and compromises we make in love, and how they can trap or liberate us depending on our mindset in Cage Life. Comprising of two short stories, each tale comes with an unexpected twist that makes reading all the way to the end imperative. In “Cage Life”, a young mum feels like a prisoner in her own home. Her decision to escape the bonds of marriage and motherhood, just for a few hours, has unexpected consequences that force her to a re-evaluate what it really means to be loved, to be married, and to be free. In “The Usurper,” unconditional love is explored within the boundaries of age and longing. Basil is in his eighties, with an illustrious career in law enforcement behind him, when he meets Carla — a beautiful, energetic and much younger mistress. But when Simon appears on the scene, can Basil keep her or does she, in fact, keep him?

Status: Read on November 12, 2012 — I own a copy {Courtesy the author}

My Thoughts:

Karin Cox worked as an editor in Australia and the UK before turning to writing full time. She has written dozens of titles including travel guides, poetry, children’s books and fiction. Cage Life is an electronic publication containing two short stories that explore the common theme of love. I thought them both well structured within the constraints of the format, and elegantly written.

In the first story ‘Cage Life’, after which the book is titled, Cox thoughtfully explores the emotional restlessness of a young wife and mother who is chafing against the confines of her quiet life, and the dramatic consequences she faces when she takes that life for granted. Unexpectedly dark and emotionally raw I ultimately thought Cage Life to be a moving tale of redemption and hope.

In ‘The Usurper’, Cox questions the surety of unconditional love in the face of aging as Basil questions his young mistress’s loyalty to their relationship. The unexpected twist in this story in particular is stunning, the shift in perspective took me completely by surprise but worked brilliantly.

Cage Life can be quickly devoured in a lunch time or commuter trip but will leave a lasting impression. If this collection is representative of Karin’s writing talent, I am sure she will find success as an author of fiction.

Available to Purchase

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About the Author

Karin Cox is an Australian editor, poet and author, and a full-time mum to an infant daughter and a black cat with the improbable name of “Ping Pong.” Trained as a professional editor, Karin has published poems and short stories in anthologies worldwide, and has written more than 28 natural history books, social history books, children’s storybooks, and travel guides, as well as ebooks Growth, Cage Life and Hey, Little Sister.

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