Any new book published by James Lee Burke is an event worth celebrating. I really prefer his longer fiction, but a collection of short stories is stilAny new book published by James Lee Burke is an event worth celebrating. I really prefer his longer fiction, but a collection of short stories is still, for me, a satisfying feast. This collection features at least one story I’d read before (there may be others, but I’ve been reading his material for so long I really can’t be sure). There’s also a novella that is published here for the first time.
As is the way with JLB, the themes are consistently dark and feature acts of extreme violence. The settings and timeframe vary but a certain bleakness, or at least a sense of threat, permeates every tale. One of my favourite stories is set in a prison, where an inmate tries (unsuccessfully as it turns out) to mind his own business and simply get through his days peacefully. Another tells of a man who wishes to publicise an event he’s witnessed in order to forewarn others, but as a result he finds himself pitted against the forces of evil. As I worked through these tales a I noticed that a degree of metaphysical activity started to creep in. This is the 42nd book penned by this author that I’ve read, and my experience is that this element is a relatively new component in his writing - although it’s fair to say that his novel In the Electric Mist With Confederate Dead (1993) strongly featured such elements.
The novella – entitled Strange Cargo – is a direct follow-up to his 2022 novel Every Cloak Rolled in Blood. Novelist Aaron Holland Broussard has now purchased an antebellum home built by his ancestors in Southern Louisiana, where he continues to be regularly visited by the spectre of his late daughter, Fannie Mae. As is frequently the case in Burke’s tales, a bully – this time in the form of the local sheriff – is to become a threatening figure in his life. In addition, Aaron starts to find himself visiting places and meeting people who haven’t existed here for many years. It’s a haunting story which features the author’s recurring themes of regret, loneliness and an ache for things to return to the way they used to be.
It’s a not a collection I was able to work through at any pace, partly because each story here takes it’s emotional toll. Also, although the writing is beautiful, if stubbornly uncompromising, the author’s constant references to historical events kept interrupting my flow as I researched yet another happening of which I was previously unaware. I’m a huge admirer of Burke’s writing and I’d urge anyone who hasn’t yet dipped into his catalogue, but who enjoys literary crime fiction or who simply appreciates top quality writing, to give him a go.
My thanks to Grove Atlantic for providing an early reader copy of this book, via NetGalley, in return for an honest review....more
The author is new to me, but a quick internet search tells me that she’s London born, American raised but with Indian heritage. She moved to Rome arouThe author is new to me, but a quick internet search tells me that she’s London born, American raised but with Indian heritage. She moved to Rome around 2011 and fell in love with the city, and though work means that these days she’s not always in the city, emotionally she’s never left.
This collection of short stories, each set in or around the Eternal City, are of variable length, but share an ability to stir the emotions. There’s everything here from hopefulness, lust and longing to regret, betrayal and death – and all points in between. Interestingly, each tale is de-personalised in the sense that no names are used, just ‘the woman’, ‘the mourner’, or simply a capitalised letter which presumably denotes the beginning of a Christian name. Is this because the author believes the players in her stories don’t matter, it’s the situation she wants us to focus on? Or perhaps I’m over thinking it, or just failing to grasp Jhumpa’s true motivation. Either way, I suppose this devise does bring another kind of uniformity to the tales.
A number of the stories feature immigrants living in the city. These people tend to be in low paid employment and struggling to get by or at least conflicted, accepting why they’re no longer living in their homeland but anxious and conflicted regarding the cultural values in this place they now find themselves. The stories are told from multiple viewpoints: both male and female, the young and the old, a middle aged man stirred by thoughts of an affair and a couple lamenting the loss of a young son. As always with such a collection, some grabbed me more than others, but the quality of the writing here, the insights provided and the emotions provoked, is consistently high.
My favourite story concerns a man who briefly meets a woman under unusual circumstances at a party and thereafter becomes somewhat obsessed by her. I read it twice, so taken was I with it. In fact, this is a collection I could readily read through again – I’m sure I’d find things I overlooked first time around and appreciate details that previously passed me by. It’s a superb collection, one that I’d urge all lovers of short fiction to seek it out. I’ll certainly be looking out for more offerings from this exceptionally gifted writer.
My sincere thanks to Pan Macmillan for providing a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
I'm a big fan of the author's novels and had been searching for the story for some time. I eventually tracked it down as a free read (see link below) I'm a big fan of the author's novels and had been searching for the story for some time. I eventually tracked it down as a free read (see link below) and it took me about as long as my cup of coffee stayed hot to read through it. It's a brief time travel tale that interesting enough, if not entirely compelling or convincing. But I do like time travel stories - they're a brain tease, something I'd love to believe in - and along with the story, the link provided access to a response to the story from a famous physicist, which was as interesting and entertaining as the story itself.
I’m a huge fan of JLB’s writing, I avidly gobble up anything he writes. Ok, there’s an an element of ‘one trick pony’ to his novels – these all tend tI’m a huge fan of JLB’s writing, I avidly gobble up anything he writes. Ok, there’s an an element of ‘one trick pony’ to his novels – these all tend to feature dark, violent characters who are out to do significant harm, and there’s a creeping grimness in each of these tales – but I don’t even mind that. What I love most, I think, is his ability to set a scene, to describe things so vividly and then to maintain a sense of impending doom until the inevitably explosive climax. But that’s his long fiction; these short stories are somewhat different – but not that different.
Like all short story collections, some of the stories here appealed to me more than others. There’s also the fact that, published in the 1980s, these are some of Burke’s earliest, and therefore perhaps rawest, works. My favourites include the title story, one featuring a school teacher who gets involved with a local baseball team and a couple featuring the Hackberry Hollands – i.e. both the elder HH and his grandson of the same name – who are to feature in later full length novels.
I’m not sure if this is a good introduction to this author as the shorter form of fiction handcuffs him somewhat – I think he’s at his strongest when he’s able to build a tale slowly and crank up the tension through a series of ever more bellicose encounters. For that reason this is only a three star read for me....more
I’ve read all of Sandford’s Lucas Davenport tales and quite a few of Deaver’s Lincoln Ryme stories too, so a short story involving the pair operating I’ve read all of Sandford’s Lucas Davenport tales and quite a few of Deaver’s Lincoln Ryme stories too, so a short story involving the pair operating together was a no brainer for me. Set in Manhattan – Ryme’s home patch – it involves them teaming up to search for a brutal serial killer.
From the start there’s a suspect – well, it’s a short story, so it helps to have something already to hand – and aided by a female NYPD detective (who featured in Silent Prey) and Ryme’s partner Amelia Sachs they set about trying to establish if he’s their man. It’s short and sweet but the interactions between characters are great fun and the dialogue is brilliant. There’s also the expected sprinkling of science here as Lincoln does his stuff. It’s all great fun. If I have a bone to pick it’s that it’s all just wrapped up too quickly – but that’s just short stories for you. ...more
Nine short stories from the author of Three Women and Animal, both of which I really enjoyed. As in her full length pieces, these short stories are ceNine short stories from the author of Three Women and Animal, both of which I really enjoyed. As in her full length pieces, these short stories are centred on women: their worries, desires and relationships. Most are harsh and unsparing – I found little room for humour in these pieces. Love is often coveted but is frequently out of reach and sometimes unrequited. The sex comes with abuse or is of a trivial, throw away nature. There is desperation (even sometimes thoughts of suicide) amid an all embracing mood of unfulfillment.
So the stories are dark, that’s no real surprise after reading Taddeo’s earlier books, but there is a lot here to engage the reader. The tales are bold, unpredictable and varied enough to keep you guessing. Sometimes sentences are written using short, staccato rhythms and at other times the delivery is loose and meandering. I found it an exciting, unpredictable collection, even if several stories failed to fully draw me in. My favourites are Beautiful People, Grace Magorian, Air Supply and Maid Marian. Each of these forced me to draw breath and contemplate what I’d read as I arrived at its conclusion.
If you’re in the mood for lust, loneliness, loss and longing then look no further, this collection has it in spades. Also, if you’ve sampled and appreciated the author’s previous work then I think you’ll find plenty to enjoy here.
My thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing for supplying a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review....more
Not actually a book but an annual magazine which explores art and commerce in contemporary culture. This edition features quite a few short stories – Not actually a book but an annual magazine which explores art and commerce in contemporary culture. This edition features quite a few short stories – often very short, with a few here comprised merely a single sentence – some paintings on paper plates, a few photographs and a piece of sculpture.
I found the stories odd: arty, often driven by sexual encounter, hard to interpret. In fact I’d go further, most to me were incomprehensible. I’m sure there are those who will make sense of all of this but I’m afraid it flew way over my head.
My thanks to the publisher for giving me access to this edition via Netgalley....more
A group of eight short stories, all mysteries and each carrying the title of a song by the Eagles. As always with such collections, the appeal ebbs anA group of eight short stories, all mysteries and each carrying the title of a song by the Eagles. As always with such collections, the appeal ebbs and flows and sometimes the title seems to get in the story’s way, leading to a scenario that feels somewhat contrived. There’s even one (Hotel California by Jennifer Graeser Dornbush) that tracks the lyrics of the song – interesting but ultimately unfulfilling, this one.
I was attracted by the fact that there’s a Reacher tale here, penned by Andrew Child and also a piece by one of my favourite mystery writers, Reed Farrel Coleman. However, I found the former to be a very average and somewhat unlikely offering and the latter to be one of the weirder pieces in this collection. Coleman story was, though, at least interesting in its strangeness.
My favourite stories were:
The Last Resort by Rich Bleiweiss – a hit man flees to Maui in an attempt to escape a killer who is tracking him.
Wasted Time by John Gilstrap – A politician has a reluctant and life changing reunion with his mass murderer brother.
If you’re a fan of short, quirky mysteries this collection might be worth tracking down, you’re sure to find a few that’ll tickle your fancy.
My thanks to Blackstone Publishing for providing a copy of this book via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review....more
A short story from JLB that forms the basis of a film, God’s Country, to be released later this year, starring Thandiwe Newton. In the originally storA short story from JLB that forms the basis of a film, God’s Country, to be released later this year, starring Thandiwe Newton. In the originally story – published in a collection entitled Jesus Out to Sea in 2007 – a retired professor is paid a visit by a pair of hunters wishing to pass through his land, in the snowy American West. Knowing their purpose, permission is denied and so starts a battle of wills. As always with this writer, the ongoing tension is accompanied by undercurrent of potential violence. It’s a great introduction to this brilliant author if he’s new to you or a nice top-up if, like me, you’re already a devoted fan.
The story can be read for free via a link on Burke’s website:
A collection of short stories, some very short and others novella length, all posing interesting questions. I was attracted by the Goodreads rating – A collection of short stories, some very short and others novella length, all posing interesting questions. I was attracted by the Goodreads rating – anything north of 4 tends to draw my attention – and I enjoy a dip into science fiction every now and then. There’s some sci-fi I can’t read, that’s the stuff with killer monsters and gizmos that can extract characters from an otherwise inescapable death. But if it has a whiff of ‘maybe’ about it then I’m generally in.
Like all collections, some here worked better for me than others, but on the whole I was struck by how intelligent the offerings were. Of the two very short stories I preferred the one about how we might all be turned mad if we discovered there’s no such thing as free will to the proposal that alien life has been with us all along, in the form of parrots. A recurrent theme was that of artificial intelligence and I particularly appreciated a long tale about of a group of people who became obsessed with raising virtual pets, whose intelligence developed to the point that their interactions became close to that of humans communicating with each other. This tale asked a raft of philosophical and ethical questions – many of which I found very hard to answer.
Another story I really enjoyed explored the possibility that at some point you’d be able to record every act in your life and play it back should you so wish. This story prompted a plethora of possible benefits and drawbacks. For instance, would I really want to replay something I remember very fondly - what if I was disappointed to learn that it wasn’t such a profoundly positive experience after all? And how would life be if every time we bickered about who did or who said what someone would call up the actual event or conversation to prove somebody right and the other wrong? What a different world it would be.
The only drawback I found – and this is a very personal thing – is that there is a good deal of technical language used and though it provided a degree of plausibility it also meant that I sometimes got lost in the detail (it also reminded how me how much of a neophyte I am when it comes to this stuff). But overall I found this an accomplished and hugely thought provoking group of stories....more
A collection of twenty short stories all positioned to be ‘mysteries’. It has the mixed bag feel of virtually every compendium I’ve read: some I reallA collection of twenty short stories all positioned to be ‘mysteries’. It has the mixed bag feel of virtually every compendium I’ve read: some I really loved others I skipped pretty early on having failed to be engaged. But for me, too many fell between these two extremes – they were just middle-of-the-road, well enough written but just not really grabbing me.
Although I’ve read plenty of mysteries I have to say that most of the authors were new to me. Perhaps because I’m already drawn to these writers, my favourites were penned by James Lee Burke (atmospheric and superbly written) and Stephen King (short but the most surprising). There were others that I enjoyed too, a story by Joseph S Walker springs to mind.
I listened to an audio version and this worked well as the stories were tag teamed by competent male and a female narrators. Overall, I think that for listeners/readers who are attracted to the idea of the book then it’ll probably work well. My problem, I feel, is that I just found myself wanting more of the stories I liked and less of the others; I think I just prefer longer, more immersive tales - a decent pint of beer rather than a jolting shot of something stronger.
My thanks to Highbridge Audio and NetGalley for providing a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review....more
A series of short stories – fifteen of them – most only a few pages long and one simply a single paragraph. In fact they’re not really even stories, mA series of short stories – fifteen of them – most only a few pages long and one simply a single paragraph. In fact they’re not really even stories, more moments in the lives of the featured characters. It seems that it’s mainly young women having fun: a night out, on holiday, drinking, taking drugs and having sex. But there are also other elements of life here such as a job interview and work too. So is this just a series of random snapshots taken from a jumble of lives? At first I thought this was exactly what it was, but then I noticed that some common names were cropping up and I took a second look.
Annie features quite a lot from the start and some of her friends are sprinkled throughout the pieces too: Stella, Claire and Janey. I leafed back through the pages again and began to piece it together and yes, it was making more sense to me now – there is a flow, a narrative running through the various segments. It’s like one of those old Viewmaster toys I had as a child that threw up images that titillated and sometimes scared me - I couldn’t fully comprehend what I was seeing but it was definitely interesting.
The writing is really strong throughout with the style and perspective constantly changing. As always with such books, some sections grabbed me more than others but (on second reading at least) I could see that each grew the overall picture. Is this a just a clever way of linking together a group of otherwise random vignettes or is it something bigger and better? I’m tempted to say it’s the latter, and I’m even thinking about commencing a third reading as I’m sure there are links and clues I’ve missed along the way which might further skew how I view this intriguing collection.
My thanks to The Indigo Press for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review....more
I’ve been meaning to catch up with Appalachian writer Ron Rash for some time and I finally settled on this collection of fourteen short stories, all sI’ve been meaning to catch up with Appalachian writer Ron Rash for some time and I finally settled on this collection of fourteen short stories, all set in the part of the world he knows best. There’s quite a range of tales here but many are melancholy in nature and happy endings are pretty hard to find. However, humour is also sprinkled through some of the stories, most notably in A Sort of Miracle in which one man’s desire to rid himself of a couple of pesky relatives who’ve parked themselves in his home leads to a bizarre outcome.
In Cherokee a young, hard up couple decide to visit a casino to gamble money they can’t afford to lose in the hope of achieving a big win. This is probably my favourite as I really identified with the hopes and fears of this young couple. Another I really liked is The Dowry in which an aging ex-Confederate Colonel, a veteran of the Civil War, refuses to agree to the marriage of his daughter to a former Union soldier due to the loss of one of his hands during the fighting. Sometimes the stories have a punchy, surprising conclusion, but more often the reader is simply left to muse over a moment in the lives of the characters he’s created.
As is the case in pretty much every short story collection I’ve ever picked up, some really grabbed me, a few passed me by and the rest contained something of interest, even if they’ll probably not stay long in my memory. Rash definitely has a recognisable voice and though the themes and timeframes changed from story to story I felt that I could always detect an undercurrent of cynicism and fatalism in his writing. I liked his style, these stories made me think and I expect I’ll be back for more from this gifted wordsmith....more
Short story collections can be tricky, it’s rare that all stories are to your liking so judgement on a collection’s merits usually boils down to the bShort story collections can be tricky, it’s rare that all stories are to your liking so judgement on a collection’s merits usually boils down to the balance of those that capture your interest versus those that don’t. Unfortunately, of the fourteen stories here, only two really worked for me.
There is a mix of what I would describe as apocalyptic tales, some that might fit the loose description ascribed to science fiction and others that attempt to be wryly amusing (note: all of the latter missed the mark for me). Each seems to pick on a moral issue, current in American society, and explores it in a novel way. The writing is clever, there’s no doubt about that, and yet most of the stories failed to engage me, and a few had me skipping on to the next tale well before the end. A couple that did initially prick my interest ended suddenly – unresolved, like a joke without its punchline.
It’s a pity, as the topics themselves were often interesting: a society that decides suicide at age seventy is the answer to preserve resources for others; the ability to transition from your own body to an online only presence; a world in which men have largely been eradicated due to their predilection for violence and abuse; universal childcare being introduced to avoid the pitfalls of poor or abusive parenting. But the execution often made me feel depressed or I felt that the story lapsed into something less captivating than the subject matter would suggest.
The two stories I enjoyed most concerned:
1. The ability to ‘wash’ the memory of a convicted criminal for a period decided by the court (e.g. for the past year or the whole of the person’s life). Basic life skills only would be retained in respect of the most severe sentences. 2. The prize for winning a lottery being the opportunity (for a sizable fee) to spend the night with the master of sex, a mysterious woman with untold skills.
In summary, an uneven collection is the norm but not one that provides only fifteen per cent satisfaction. It’s a two star rating from me, I’m afraid....more
A series of short stories about life, it’s challenges and the choices we make to survive. At least, that’s my take on it. A parallel is drawn between A series of short stories about life, it’s challenges and the choices we make to survive. At least, that’s my take on it. A parallel is drawn between the people featured in the stories and foxes, who have the reputation of being crafty and devious. One story – possibly the one I enjoyed the most - features a family of foxes who inhabit a London garden, but for the most part the inclusion of references to the mammal are peripheral and often somewhat abstruse.
Of the thirteen stories here I enjoyed about half of them with the remainder rather floating past me without making a significant impact. In truth, I’m already struggling to recall details of more than about half a dozen. They are set far and wide (England, Australia, Japan and Mars are all host venues) but that doesn’t really change the fact that they are all gritty, rather downbeat tales that share a similar mood and atmosphere.
I listened to an audiobook version which was very well read by actress Geraldine Hakewill. My only reservation is that with stories featuring a large cast of male and female characters and having just one reader meant that I was sometimes temporarily confused by the gender of a given character.
My thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio UK and NetGalley for providing a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review....more
A series of ten short stories by the author of The Girls.
- A father frets over his distracted daughter and reflects on life and family during a visitA series of ten short stories by the author of The Girls.
- A father frets over his distracted daughter and reflects on life and family during a visit from his grown up children over the Christmas holiday.
- An aspiring actress who works in a store selling overpriced clothes sells her own worn underwear to men she doesn’t know.
- A man ruminates on his own troubles as he edits the biography of a billionaire who seems set on rewriting his own lifetime achievements.
- An ageing and fading movie man meets an old friend for dinner ahead of attending a showing of the first film produced by his son.
- A young woman hides from the paparazzi following a brief affair with an actor, for whom she’d been a nanny to his son.
- A young man who lives with his pregnant partner and her brother dreams of escaping to a new life.
- A middle-aged man travels to his son’s boarding school to attempt to resolve a problem whilst wrestling with issues in his own life.
- A woman remembers her first real friend and time spent with her free-living parents as an eleven-year-old.
- A man in his early fifties meets old friends for a meal and then broods over his past and present relationships with women and his financial worries.
- Two women attending a ‘pre-rehab’ centre in the desert become obsessed with a male celebrity who checks in.
These stories show glimpses of people’s lives, with the focus typically on one participant in each tale. In most cases, we witness a good deal of reflection: how did I get to this place, what might have gone differently? There is disillusionment here, too, as each seems to feel that things might have taken a different path, that it could have worked out better. Relationships with friends, family, and lovers are dissected and examined, worries and frailties exposed.
Like all short story collections I’ve read, some engaged me more than others but I did find myself wondering if I’d made some of the same erroneous decisions, if I harboured a number of identical regrets or if I hid similar weaknesses to the protagonists here. Yes, it’s one of those books that made me think about my own life, what I’ve done, and what I haven’t done. Have I lived, as they say, ‘my best life’? I suppose that question is almost certain to be answered in the negative, perhaps the more so the older you get.
A few stories ended a little too abruptly for me, just as I was becoming invested in where it would go next - but that’s just how it works with short stories. And mostly, I was happy to witness these segments of a bigger story and move on. These satisfying snacks can be gobbled up quickly, and I really enjoyed the of settings, the diversity of characters, and mixture of emotions the stories stirred in me. I wouldn’t call the stories uplifting, but most captured my attention, made me pause and think.
My thanks to Random House UK, Vintage and NetGalley for supplying a copy of this book in return for an honest review....more
I already knew I liked the way Walter Mosley puts words down on a page. I’d read a few of his novels and whilst I didn’t always love the story (actualI already knew I liked the way Walter Mosley puts words down on a page. I’d read a few of his novels and whilst I didn’t always love the story (actually, I really did like most of them) without fail I loved the way it was told. The man invents interesting characters and the dialogue is always snappy and clever. In the same way, I do like short story collections – the way you can work through a single story over a cup of coffee or immerse yourself more deeply by consuming a few in a longer sitting. So this book was a no-brainer for me, seventeen stories written by this talented man.
Each story is of a similar length and all put the spotlight on a black man (unsurprisingly) who finds himself in a wide variety of situations and/or conundrums. What drives these men and how they cope with the challenges that face them - or fail to - is where the focus lies. Some are looking for something, although they may not know what it is, others suffer bad luck or are wrestling with a problem and a few are simply adjusting to the ebb and flow of life. Many seem at first dark and yet end on a positive note whilst others throw up moral or social dilemma, the sort of thing we all have to deal with at some point in our lives.
I often stopped and just thought for a while after completing one of these tales. There are words of wisdom and lessons in life and there’s humour here too. Illness, mortality and death are all visited but I really didn’t feel that the tone was endlessly downbeat. As I’ve already reflected, there’s often a silver lining found in the dark cloud. The racial issue is, of course, present but it doesn’t crowd the stories, many of which are mini-masterpieces. In my opinion this is a book for everyone, we can all take something from these stories. The best short story collection I’ve ever read? Yes, I truly think it is.
My sincere thanks to Grove Press and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review....more
If Michael Connelly is the best storyteller currently active in crime fiction and if James Lee Burke is the most literary writer in this genre then LaIf Michael Connelly is the best storyteller currently active in crime fiction and if James Lee Burke is the most literary writer in this genre then Lawrence Block must surely be the most industrious scribbler of them all. Not only has his career output been prodigious - well over one hundred books - but the standard of his output has been pretty amazing too. I’ve read more than fifty of his books and at least three of his series (and I can think of seven different series off the top of my head) have held me completely captive. Of these, the one that makes me smile the most is that featuring book shop owner by day and enterprising burglar by night, Bernie Rhodenbarr.
He wrote his first Rhodenbarr book in 1977 and released the most recent novel in 2013. In the series Bernie never ages, but in truth nor do the stories – even the early books seem as sharp and funny now and they must have when they were first released. I love these books, they’re funny and clever and always leave me wanting more. And apart from the twelve books there have also been a number of short stories that have previously been released in magazines or published in anthologies. These are the pieces that have been compiled here, together with one new story to close the collection.
I’ve come across a number of these before, but that’s perfectly alright as I’m always happy to be reacquainted with Bernie (and my memory is so bad these days that I normally only realise I’ve read it before just as I reach the end). I’m not sure if LB will release any more Rhodenbarr stories, he’s in his eighties now so there must be some doubt, but you never know. Hope springs eternal....more
Uncomfortable, unsettling and often unresolved, I believe these stories are best dipped into over a period of time. It would be too intense to gobble Uncomfortable, unsettling and often unresolved, I believe these stories are best dipped into over a period of time. It would be too intense to gobble up this collection in one or two sittings. If I had to use another ‘u’ word it would be understandable, but I’d have to put a question mark after it as a number of the stories had me completely flummoxed. I found that I was often searching for meaning and more than once I came up empty handed. The offerings vary in length and style, with some of the shortest stories ending before I’d settled into the flow of them. These were forgettable but others did engage me.
My favourites are all about relationships where tension is the dominant theme:
- A long-term marriage in which the wife is constantly annoyed by the fact that her husband never washes the dishes.
- A scientist whose estranged and dying wife awakes every few years to torment him afresh.
- A son desperate for his father’s love but constantly disappointed by his disregard.
Overall it’s a mixed bag, as many collections are. I found myself one minute admiring how the author had drawn me in to a situation and the next finding that a piece had completely passed me by. It’s possible I’d gain more by working through the stories again, but in truth I’m not drawn to do that.
My thanks to the author and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review....more
After the first section I was hooked. I’d been introduced to a London art dealer – a serial philanderer it seems – whose roving eye was constantly leaAfter the first section I was hooked. I’d been introduced to a London art dealer – a serial philanderer it seems – whose roving eye was constantly leading him into trouble. He was attempting to control his habit by limiting himself to two kisses, before moving on to his next conquest. It was a strange but engaging start – witty and intelligent, no less than I’d expect from this author. Then suddenly the scene had changed, the setting was still modern day London but a new set of characters were acting out what seemed to be a completely independent scene. It was just as interesting and the characters equally engaging. I thought, it’ll be one of those books where the whole will come together at some point, then it’ll all make sense. But then this section ended abruptly too and yet another set of characters were introduced. Hang on a minute!
Of course, a hasty read through the blurb enlightened me to the fact that this was, in fact, a collection of short stories! But my oversight does highlight the rub here: all of the stories have no ending, they just seem to stop at some point leaving the reader hanging. Is that ok? I’m not sure, but it’s certainly a little disconcerting. I do know that I’d have liked to have seen one or two of these tales fleshed out a full length novel. It’s hard to tell whether each of these narratives were intended to be of this length or if Boyd had suddenly tired of the ideas and abandoned these projects unfinished.
But anyway, back to the stories. They are predominantly, but not exclusively, set in London. There are seven of them, with two being of novella length - one of which, The Vanishing Game - I realised I’d read before. They do show off what an astute and insightful writer William Boyd is but I really couldn’t get passed the feeling that in each instance I’d been cheated of the full story....more
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