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alexctelander's review against another edition
4.0
OUR STORY BEGINS BY TOBIAS WOLFF: In this new anthology, one of our most eminent short story writers, Tobias Wolff, offers up some old stories – some we’ve seen before – as well as new and fresh tales. Our Story Begins is a perfect introduction to the writing style and complex plot-minded mind of one Tobias Wolff.
This book is an in-depth look at the many facets of life and their most important part: people. Wolff doesn’t always look to tell a simple and complete story with a beginning, middle and end. Most of the stories in this collection offer more of an insight into a slice of this world or that life; a snapshot into a relationship or specific decision. The full consequences and events don’t always unfold, and we may not know as much as we might like with back story; nevertheless, we immediately become attached to these very real characters and the very human decisions they make.
Wolff takes readers on a journey they won’t soon forget with Our Story Begins, as they travel the world and meet some very strange characters, as well as playing a part in some very moving relationships and families. A required read and book deserving a space on everyone’s shelf as not just a sample of Wolff’s skill, but a supreme example of the contemporary short story.
For more book reviews and exclusive author interviews, go to BookBanter.
This book is an in-depth look at the many facets of life and their most important part: people. Wolff doesn’t always look to tell a simple and complete story with a beginning, middle and end. Most of the stories in this collection offer more of an insight into a slice of this world or that life; a snapshot into a relationship or specific decision. The full consequences and events don’t always unfold, and we may not know as much as we might like with back story; nevertheless, we immediately become attached to these very real characters and the very human decisions they make.
Wolff takes readers on a journey they won’t soon forget with Our Story Begins, as they travel the world and meet some very strange characters, as well as playing a part in some very moving relationships and families. A required read and book deserving a space on everyone’s shelf as not just a sample of Wolff’s skill, but a supreme example of the contemporary short story.
For more book reviews and exclusive author interviews, go to BookBanter.
kfan's review against another edition
2.0
I skipped around and read about half of the stories, maybe a little more, but I'm ready to be done now. The stories strike me as well-crafted in a traditional sense, but they're incredibly depressing. Wolff seems to writing more from a morally instructive perspective than a loving perspective, i.e. "Look at the decisions THESE people are making, look at what this couple thinks passes for a conversation, can you BELIEVE these people?!?!" It doesn't make for fun reading, and I can't imagine it was fun writing down at all those characters.
I read a lot of the 5-star reviews that people gave this book to try and figure out what I'm missing, and I guess it's just a matter of my personal tastes. Someone described his characters as people who've been beaten down by life; to me it's more like they were beaten down by their author.
I read a lot of the 5-star reviews that people gave this book to try and figure out what I'm missing, and I guess it's just a matter of my personal tastes. Someone described his characters as people who've been beaten down by life; to me it's more like they were beaten down by their author.
grahamiam's review against another edition
5.0
Dirty realism is a good label for Mr. Wolff. Great series of short stories, and he is able to swing in and out of a multitude of perspectives easily.
michael_levy's review
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
tallblackguy's review
5.0
The search for this book began when I heard the reading of his story "A Bullet To The Brain," and I was hooked. Some of these stories are better than the others, but he gives their characters some depth and I enjoyed a good 98% of them. A great intro to his work.
alexctelander's review
4.0
OUR STORY BEGINS BY TOBIAS WOLFF: In this new anthology, one of our most eminent short story writers, Tobias Wolff, offers up some old stories – some we’ve seen before – as well as new and fresh tales. Our Story Begins is a perfect introduction to the writing style and complex plot-minded mind of one Tobias Wolff.
This book is an in-depth look at the many facets of life and their most important part: people. Wolff doesn’t always look to tell a simple and complete story with a beginning, middle and end. Most of the stories in this collection offer more of an insight into a slice of this world or that life; a snapshot into a relationship or specific decision. The full consequences and events don’t always unfold, and we may not know as much as we might like with back story; nevertheless, we immediately become attached to these very real characters and the very human decisions they make.
Wolff takes readers on a journey they won’t soon forget with Our Story Begins, as they travel the world and meet some very strange characters, as well as playing a part in some very moving relationships and families. A required read and book deserving a space on everyone’s shelf as not just a sample of Wolff’s skill, but a supreme example of the contemporary short story.
For more book reviews and exclusive author interviews, go to BookBanter.
This book is an in-depth look at the many facets of life and their most important part: people. Wolff doesn’t always look to tell a simple and complete story with a beginning, middle and end. Most of the stories in this collection offer more of an insight into a slice of this world or that life; a snapshot into a relationship or specific decision. The full consequences and events don’t always unfold, and we may not know as much as we might like with back story; nevertheless, we immediately become attached to these very real characters and the very human decisions they make.
Wolff takes readers on a journey they won’t soon forget with Our Story Begins, as they travel the world and meet some very strange characters, as well as playing a part in some very moving relationships and families. A required read and book deserving a space on everyone’s shelf as not just a sample of Wolff’s skill, but a supreme example of the contemporary short story.
For more book reviews and exclusive author interviews, go to BookBanter.
kawai's review
5.0
Trumps all other modern collected works I've read so far, including O'Connor and Hemingway.
Wolff has a gift for rendering the intense minimally, which maximizes the after effects; when coupled with his deep insight into human nature and ability to compress situations to their most important moments, the result is a near-perfect collection.
If the collection lacks one thing, it's as diverse a range of settings and characters as I'd hope for. Stories containing people of color are few and far between (if any); the socioeconomic class tends towards the lower middle class (or even lower); setting is more often than not a standard American scape; few women rise to prominent positions, with most action directed by men.
Still, none of that is to say the collection doesn't have a massive set of merits. It's a new favorite on my shelf.
Wolff has a gift for rendering the intense minimally, which maximizes the after effects; when coupled with his deep insight into human nature and ability to compress situations to their most important moments, the result is a near-perfect collection.
If the collection lacks one thing, it's as diverse a range of settings and characters as I'd hope for. Stories containing people of color are few and far between (if any); the socioeconomic class tends towards the lower middle class (or even lower); setting is more often than not a standard American scape; few women rise to prominent positions, with most action directed by men.
Still, none of that is to say the collection doesn't have a massive set of merits. It's a new favorite on my shelf.
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