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tildahlia's review against another edition
3.0
I read this book after Jonathan Franzen recommended it at a speaking event. Means is an extremely talented writer, but the stories were a little hit and miss for me. 'Sault Ste. Marie', 'Blown from the Bridge' and 'The Secret Goldfish' were highlights.
bookishblond's review against another edition
2.0
Disappointed with this collection of short stories, which is surprising, because usually I love short stories (especially dark ones). Means is a gifted writer; there are many beautiful sentences and phrases thrown into this collection but the short stories themselves were a bit hit or miss for me.
fschulenberg's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Set in Michigan and really gave homage to it (mentioning Houghton, Marquette, Paw Paw, and other random towns I have seared in my mind). This is a set of short stories. Some really made their way into my mind and others didn't. Sault Saint Marie, The Secret Goldish, and Michigan Death Trip were my favorites. They gave a taste of boredom in a midwestern parking lot, death and tragedy, the idea that good people can do horrible things unintentionally, and that even fish can survive in nearly unimaginable conditions.
jamiereadthis's review
4.0
Now this is how to put together some short stories. Disastrously good, not a misstep in the book.
“It’s those eyes-- your father’s on the dock in Canada-- that you see in hers, when you meet on the pine swamp trail. The brown of a polished hickory gun butt, rubbed shiny with warm beeswax.”
(Counterparts)
“If you have to be named for a geographic region, this one is as fine as any, boring and nondescript in what most agree is the most mundane and utilitarian of states, a state that openheartedly loves blandness. (On hearing this, Ohioans gather themselves into a defensive hunch.) Thompson embraced Ohio. He embraced John Glenn as the state hero. What more starkly boring symbol than a man circling the earth in a capsule equipped with outmoded gear, leather strapping, already ancient at launch time, spinning in the silence of space only to plunge back and sponge upon that act for the rest of his life? Thompson and I both agree that it would be better to remain up there, to be slung by gravity’s twirl out into the void until radio contact faded out. Or better to return to earth, heat shield failing, in a blooming orchid of raw flame and burning metal, striking the Atlantic landing zone in a geyser of steam.”
(Elyria Man)
“It’s those eyes-- your father’s on the dock in Canada-- that you see in hers, when you meet on the pine swamp trail. The brown of a polished hickory gun butt, rubbed shiny with warm beeswax.”
(Counterparts)
“If you have to be named for a geographic region, this one is as fine as any, boring and nondescript in what most agree is the most mundane and utilitarian of states, a state that openheartedly loves blandness. (On hearing this, Ohioans gather themselves into a defensive hunch.) Thompson embraced Ohio. He embraced John Glenn as the state hero. What more starkly boring symbol than a man circling the earth in a capsule equipped with outmoded gear, leather strapping, already ancient at launch time, spinning in the silence of space only to plunge back and sponge upon that act for the rest of his life? Thompson and I both agree that it would be better to remain up there, to be slung by gravity’s twirl out into the void until radio contact faded out. Or better to return to earth, heat shield failing, in a blooming orchid of raw flame and burning metal, striking the Atlantic landing zone in a geyser of steam.”
(Elyria Man)
tween2teenbookreviews's review
3.0
I only read The Secret Goldfish part, but I read it for class and it was interesting!
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