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brandonalan's review against another edition
2.0
Some of these stories would make more sense if you were dropped on your head. However, I must have taken the plunge against the concrete at some point because there are certain moments that shine through. I enjoyed taking a stroll through the Tolstoy Museum - I also appreciated seeing angels affirm chaos after the death of God. There is something here for everyone - assuming that everyone has enough patience to dump the contents onto the floor and see what stares back at them face up. Style over substance and large black squares galore.
"Skiing along on the soft surface of brain damage, never to sink, because we don't understand the danger - "
"Skiing along on the soft surface of brain damage, never to sink, because we don't understand the danger - "
briandice's review against another edition
5.0
Godbless godless Donald Barthelme and his mind bending, form shattering short fiction. This collection from DB's early career shows the brilliance that the author will continue to mine and hone over his amazing writing career. Stories like "Brain Damage" and "Bone Bubbles" make me want to read them over and over like a daily devotional.
awilderm23's review against another edition
4.0
'In the larger stores silence is sold in paper bags like cement.'
'At the Tolstoy museum we sat and wept.'
'Defeats are, at times, good for your character, teaching you that it is not by success alone that one surmounts life, but that setbacks too, contribute to the that roughening of the personality that, by providing a textured surface to place against that of life, enables you to leave slight traces, or smudges, on the face of human history.'
'Some people feel you should tell the truth, but those people are impious and wrong, and if you listen to what they say, you will be tragically unhappy all your life.'
'At the Tolstoy museum we sat and wept.'
'Defeats are, at times, good for your character, teaching you that it is not by success alone that one surmounts life, but that setbacks too, contribute to the that roughening of the personality that, by providing a textured surface to place against that of life, enables you to leave slight traces, or smudges, on the face of human history.'
'Some people feel you should tell the truth, but those people are impious and wrong, and if you listen to what they say, you will be tragically unhappy all your life.'
nonlinearpaolo's review against another edition
challenging
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
kiramke's review against another edition
challenging
2.5
This collection is full of experimentation and humor and probably some deep thoughts that I totally missed, and I'm glad it exists for whoever the receptive audience is.
adamz24's review against another edition
4.0
Way fucking cool. Everyone's read "Sentence," but the other gems here defs need more exposure.
wildpaleyonder's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
chelseamartinez's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the first and last stories, "Views of My Father Weeping" and "City Life," most.
cmccafe's review against another edition
3.0
Very fun. A few stories that were just too much. Some total gems. I recommend Barthelme.
cindywho's review against another edition
2.0
I think this may have been a Jessamyn West recommendation. Experimental short stories written in the late 60s. The first one was heavy and boring but the next one about the falling dog, I read to myself out loud and it was fun. Some of the stories were interesting, but most just kind of weird - enumerations, odd drawings, one single sentence. (July 14, 2005)