The final book in the Oxfam Ox-Tales set was not quite as good as the others, even though the authors are equally illustrious.

The links to water are a little tenuous too, with only one of two picking up on the theme. Most of the stories were ok, but the story by Michael Morpurgo called Look at Me, I Need a Smile was magnificent and poignant. ( )

Unfortunately this collection of stories contains far too many partial novels for my liking. I feel cheated when I face exposition that will never be elaborated on or foreshadowing that will never come true.

Two of the extracts seemed like complete stories. Michale Morpurgo’s Look at Me I Need A Smile with it’s too-real description of family grief was perfect and tantalising. Giles Foden’s (One Last) Throw of the Dice gave you all you needed, even if it was a little plodding.

At the same time though Joanna Trollope’s The Piano Man, which also dealt sympathetically and realistically with grief in the family, was setting up something that I’m going to have to pay more for the pleasure of reading. Granted it was an enjoyable read, but it was a terrible short story.

Likewise Walking After Midnight by Michel Farber which I could see was trying to explain complex issues, was using the future – expertly – to explain the past. However I felt like I was only reading the set up. The mass of confusion and questions that drags you into the novel. But without the answers it seems false.

Ester Freud’s Rice Cakes and Starbucks is, again, part of a novel but this time there was no feeling there on my part. It felt like it was trying to be profound but achieving only pettiness. Perhaps the length will add something there but I’m reviewing a short story.

There are actual honest-to-god short stories in here too. William Boyd donates Bethany-next-to-the-Sea which didn’t make an impression on me one way or the other. While Zoë Heller’s What She Did on Her Summer Vacation was enjoyable in its honesty.

Both fantastic and intriguing stand Crossing the River by David Park and Kaltes klares Wasser by Hari Kunzru. The absolute jewels of this collection. And the opening poem by Vikram Seth is just as good.

Overall it’s a mixed collection but well worth the read. There is nothing in here that I’d rather not have read and one or two will be read again. It’s worth buying especially with that £3.50 going to Oxfam. ( )