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Rick R. Reed
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Matches: A poignant gay twist on the beloved Hans Christian Andersen classic Kindle Edition

by Rick R. Reed (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 107 ratings
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Christmas Eve should be a night filled with magic and love. But for Anderson, down on his luck and homeless in Chicago's frigid chill, it's a fight for survival. Whether he's sleeping on the el, or holed up in an abandoned car, all he really has are his memories to keep him warm: memories of a time when he loved a man named Welk and the world was perfect. When Anderson finds a book of discarded matches on the sidewalk, he pockets them. Later, trying to keep the cold at bay hunkered down in a church entryway, Anderson discovers the matches are the key to bringing his memories of Welk, happiness, and security to life. Within their flames, visions dance and perhaps a reunion with the man he loved most.
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  1. Print length
    20 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    November 22, 2014
  5. File size
    2163 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

In just seventeen pages, Reed touches the mind, the heart, and the conscience, not an easy thing to do in such a limited word count, and even goes so far, in the end, to pull a tear or two from the reader. This is not a holiday story of sugarplums and stockings hung by the chimney. This is a holiday story that reminds us all of our blessings and, perhaps, reminds us that those in need of kindness and compassion are the reason for the season. Every bit as poignant as the tale from which its premise is borrowed, Matches is a small gem of a story.
--The Novel Approach, December 1, 2014

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00Q1UTSA6
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ RCubed; 2nd edition, 1st edition: MLR Press (November 22, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 22, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2163 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 20 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 107 ratings

About the author

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Rick R. Reed

Rick R. Reed

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Rick R. Reed is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than fifty works of published fiction. He is a Lambda Literary Award finalist. Entertainment Weekly has described his work as “heartrending and sensitive.” Lambda Literary has called him: “A writer that doesn’t disappoint…” Find him at www.rickrreedreality.blogspot.com. Rick lives in Palm Springs, CA, with his husband, Bruce, and their two rescue dogs, Kodi and Joaquin.

You can also like Rick on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rickrreedbooks or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/rickrreed. Rick always enjoys hearing from readers and answers all e-mails personally. Send him a message at rickrreedbooks@gmail.com

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
107 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Karen Peacock
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing short story...
Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2014
Verified Purchase
This was a great short story! Anderson is a homeless man down on his luck, living in Chicago. He was at one time doing very well and in a relationship with Welk, but all that changed one day. I really enjoyed the emotional journey that Anderson goes through as he watches the car he has been sleeping in being carted off by the city. I could feel the despair as he wanders around the city looking for a warm place to stay and the looks he gets from people afraid of him on the street. This story was a nice reminder that we need to be kind to people and that looks aren't all that important in the scheme of things because you never really know what anyone is going through unless you have walked a mile in their shoes. Rick creates beautiful prose and I am looking forward to reading more from him. Thanks Rick for writing the amazing story.
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Violet
4.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written, poignant little gem
Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2014
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Beautifully written little gem brimming with startlingly vivid imagery. Grabbed me by the heartstrings right from the beginning and didn't let go. This is the first holiday story I've read this season, only its not your typical lighthearted, feel-good holiday story. Instead, it's a poignant and touching reminder to be thankful for what we are blessed to have because it can be taken from us so easily. I was lucky enough to pick this up free on Amazon and am so glad I did. My first read from this author but will definitely not be my last.
3 people found this helpful
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BhamGhostwriter
5.0 out of 5 stars Heart-breaking. Bittersweet. Yet ultimately uplifting.
Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2019
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At my advanced age I only vaguely remember the Hans Christian Anderson tale upon which this sad story is loosely based. But that's okay. Because this short story really does stand on its on.

The main character (a young graphic artist who is gay) finds himself suddenly, through no fault of his own, unemployed and homeless. In the middle of a very cold Chicago winter. He tries his best to find work - doing ANYTHING - but luck is not with him. This story really speaks to the problem of the lower salaried though highly competent worker who might be just a few much-needed paychecks away from being homeless. In other words, it speaks - briefly but movingly - to an awful problem many of us, except for the "luck of the draw," might be faced with at some point - gay or not. This book explains why I keep a few extra dollars cash in my pocket when I go downtown.

The ending is sad - but in a memorable and bittersweet sort of way. I don't know exactly what the final line of dialogue spoken by the priest meant but it was spoken with kindness and with empathy so I can just let my mind imagine what might have been.

Totally 5 stars. I'll be re-reading this one again soon.
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JoAnn
3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2015
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I was not expecting this to be a sad story. It was well told just sad.
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padme35
5.0 out of 5 stars ... this little short story other than it is absolutely brilliant and heartwrenching and yet somehow the author manages to ...
Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2018
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I really don't have a whole lot to say about this little short story other than it is absolutely brilliant and heartwrenching and yet somehow the author manages to make it believably heartwarming as well. Of course the heartwarming part probably depends on the reader's definition of a happy ending. Okay, perhaps "happy" is not the most accurate of word choices but its the best choice I can come up with. Is it absolutely possible for an author to make you cry both sad and happy tears in as few pages as Matches holds? Most people would probably say no but for me I can say without a doubt YES! Unfortunately I rarely have time for re-reads when it comes to Christmastime but I think Matches will be an exception.
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Short and sweet
Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2020
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I've never read the story that this particular story was based upon but this was a quick, satisfying read. Good characterization and writing, although I wish it were a bit longer. I would have liked to have gotten the character for a bit more, before the end. Otherwise, it's a good story.
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CrabbyPatty
5.0 out of 5 stars Happiness and tragedy are two sides of the same coin, separated by only the thinnest of edges
Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2016
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Rick Reed's Matches is based on Hans Christian Andersen's story "The Little Match Girl", a Victorian-era sob fest about a child selling matches on the street on New Year's Eve, afraid to go home to a father who will beat her if she doesn't sell her matches. She sits in the freezing cold and lights matches to keep warm, and in the glow of each match, sees visions of happy Christmas celebrations and of her grandmother, the only person who ever treated her with love and kindness.

Reed's update is set in the freezing streets of Chicago, where Anderson is desperately trying to stay warm. Only a year ago, he had a good job, an apartment and a happy life with his partner Welk. But, happiness and tragedy are two sides of the same coin, separated by only the thinnest of edges. (Did you know that today, nearly half of Americans are one paycheck away from the street, yet we somehow think homelessness will never happen to us, or someone we know.)

To say this story is merely poignant or sad is to sell it short. I literally sobbed reading this story.
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Eager Reader
5.0 out of 5 stars Not one's sweet and charming Christmas story.
Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2019
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Reality that bits the reader in the ass. Christmas stories are supposed to be about happiness and lovely endings. This story just shakes that thought up. Homelessness comes full circle here. A man
destitute because of business cutbacks finds himself alone, poor, cold, hungry, and full of thoughts and desires that have long deserted him over the past year. He's lost everything, including the love of his life Welk to a freak accident. A book of matches he finds reveals his hope but the cost is totally unexpected. I was expecting a joyous ending as I would to any Christmas themed story but the ending just stayed with me way beyond the reading of it. This will stay in my memory and bring a tear to my eye. There is a light at the end of Anderson's tunnel but not what the reader expects.
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Top reviews from other countries

Donna
5.0 out of 5 stars Prepare to cry!
Reviewed in Australia on September 21, 2017
Verified Purchase
Oh the tears! I always loved the story of the little match girl, and this was just such a touching version. beautifully written and just tear-jerking.
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KDS
5.0 out of 5 stars timely re telling
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 2, 2014
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With both the recession and the number of LGBT finding themselves homeless and alone due to non acceptance, this makes for a poignant reminder to be grateful, generous when we can, and of the timelessness of true love.
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kindleaddict
4.0 out of 5 stars Tears
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 29, 2015
Verified Purchase
It took just an hour to read this somewhat devastating book, you quickly realise what this is a retelling of, but I had tears in my eyes from the beginning. It ended aptly! I can't say I "enjoyed" it. But I certainly loved it.
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Jude
3.0 out of 5 stars How easy could it be? For each of us to make a difference.
Reviewed in Australia on December 4, 2014
Verified Purchase
I often think of homeless people and what I could do to help them. How I have spare blankets in my linen cupboard, more than enough food in our house.
This story reminds me that all people feel; all people love, feel loss, need touch, if nothing else can we show compassion and empathy to those who need it?
This was a timely reminder to make room in my heart for those who need some Christmas cheer.
A quick read, a taste of melancholy, with the perfect ending in the eyes of his romantic soul.
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Peter 2014
4.0 out of 5 stars Insight into homelessness.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 5, 2014
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A cruelly inevitable end to this tale of Man`s fear of the misfortune of others. Well-written, with realism of scene and characters alike.
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