It Sparkles

In ‘It Sparkles’, Lara Taveirne and Marieke De Maré have collected a series of poetic and moving short stories set in Bruges, the town about which they wrote together between 2023 and 2025. The stories, written alternately by each of them, arose from their meetings with various residents of Bruges.

Each story depicts a snapshot of human connection: a conversation on the beach about vulnerability; a doughnut seller who feels sorry for a boy without parents; a grandmother and grandson bound together by the extension cable between her house and his mobile home; a test of the friendship between two young girls in a used goods shop. The stories are small in scale but extensive in their emotional reach. They look at people searching for meaning, consolation, recognition and connection. The subtle humour is intended to prompt wonderment and a smile. The stories are empathetic and do not shy away from showing the vulnerable side of the characters.

Both authors write with a keen eye for detail and a big heart for people who generally tend to be invisible. Their writing is clear and vivid, with a deeply felt melancholy. The style is poetic, both sensual and restrained. This collection celebrates being seen, the sharing of stories, and the sparkle that arises when people truly meet.