'Little Engines' can take you for a ride

Between balancing a hectic course load and maintaining a vibrant social scene, enjoyable reading is often put off for winter or summer break. It's tough keeping up with daily class reading assignments, let alone, a book for pleasure. Here's where "Little Engines" comes to the rescue.\n"Little Engines, Issue Two" is a literary magazine with various short stories, interviews, illustrations, comics, and random excerpts. This highly creative magazine offers a twist to the typical short story, delving into the realm of underground music, porn, car accidents, and love, to name of a few of the topics.\nThe authors contributing to the magazine are young and fresh. Even their bios are cleverly written with raw humor, foreshadowing the inventive style and technique used throughout their work. Often it is hard to get drawn into short stories since the plot moves so quickly without time for elaborate character development. The stories in "Little Engines" prove otherwise.\nOne of my favorite pieces was freelance journalist David Drury's short story titled "Foster." He uses an imperative writing style in his story, commanding the reader on a journey. He places the reader as the main character in the story as he paints a visceral scene outside a liquor store in Albuquerque. Through only a few pages, Drury offers character development and drags the reader unknowingly to a surprise ending. I left the story feeling satisfied and astonished with the outcome.\nIn addition to the short stories, "Little Engines" compiles creative comics. In the section titled "Animals I've Invented," Tony Larson composes a list of 22 imaginary animals like "moose vulture" and "cornrow caterpillar." Then, in the following pages titled "evidence" Larson draws and describes these fictitious animals. Short sections like these are a fun solution to down time between classes.\n"Little Engines" even takes a subtle crack at the ever-popular store Abercrombie and Fitch. Josh Golden contributes excerpts from the "Abercrombie Look Book," which are guidelines for employees of the store. These excerpts are compiled into a short list for easy reading. Interesting rules, such as, "The customer sees the natural Abercrombie style and wants to be like the Brand Representative," are insightful to the Abercrombie corporation.\nOverall, "Little Engines" is the perfect answer to light reading during the school year. The work compiled is thought provoking and creative; something fun to read and discuss with your roommates. This literary magazine definitely gives your brain a stimulating treat outside the classroom.