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eileen9311's review against another edition
2.0
Although short stories aren’t usually for me, I was eager to read these because Jennifer Haigh is wonderful. Again, she writes well, but the stories seemed so bleak, the lives of the characters without hope. And I guess it’s my natural impatience surfacing. I resent spending the time to become invested in the story, only to have over. Perhaps my opinion isn’t valid, given my short story prejudice!
stacyroth's review against another edition
4.0
I won this book as a FirstRead.
I really enjoyed this collection of short stories about residents in the mining town of Bakerton, Pennsylvania. I had not read her previous book about the residents of Bakerton, but it was not needed to enjoy this book. After reading this book, though, I would love to go back and read the first.
I loved the way the stories fit together to show the town's history, though each story was about a different person. It would be hard to pick a favorite story; they were all quite good.
I really enjoyed this collection of short stories about residents in the mining town of Bakerton, Pennsylvania. I had not read her previous book about the residents of Bakerton, but it was not needed to enjoy this book. After reading this book, though, I would love to go back and read the first.
I loved the way the stories fit together to show the town's history, though each story was about a different person. It would be hard to pick a favorite story; they were all quite good.
meganames96's review against another edition
3.0
It was a more enjoyable read because I had read Baker Towers first and felt like I had some history with the town and characters.
jeanetterenee's review against another edition
4.0
Methinks I like Ms. Haigh better as a short-storyist than as a novelist. This is a pitch-perfect collection of interconnected stories about a dying Pennsylvania coal-mining town. In my Forest Service days, I lived for awhile in a dying logging town, and the feel is much the same. Rumors take on the status of myth, the locals never forget a slight or a good deed, and families fall apart in direct proportion to the lack of opportunity and the rarity of hope.
wildflower37's review
3.0
Linked short stories revisit the town and people of Bakerton, a mining town now in decline. Each story examines a key relationship - husband, wife, daughter, son, sister, brother, father, mother, teacher, friend. And the power of place is woven into and around each story as a common thread in the characters' place of beginning or ending.
8little_paws's review against another edition
3.0
I did myself a disservice by listening to this on audio. I've learned now that I can absorb a short story better when it's in print. This is a pretty good follow up to Baker Towers, I would not recommend reading this without reading that book first. Haigh really does a beautiful job of painting the minutia of small town life, and how to define yourself inside and outside of it.
penny_literaryhoarders's review
4.0
Jennifer Haigh is a wonder with characters. News from Heaven was a collection of short stories, but many connected through the same characters and all connected by the town of Bakerton. Each story never felt like it was a short story but each one ensured you were thoroughly engrossed.
kellyhager's review
5.0
I don't generally read short story collections, but I loved Faith (her last novel) that I was willing to give this a chance---and I am so glad I did.
While this could technically be considered a sequel to Baker Towers, you don't need to have read that to enjoy this. (Although as a warning, I hadn't read that book and after reading this, I bought it because I want to spend more time with these people in this world.)
Which is interesting, really, because these are mostly not happy stories. Bakerton is the kind of town that everyone wants to escape, but few people actually manage to get away. It's a small town with few opportunities and those opportunities are dwindling even more as the mines (which employ many of the residents) start to die off.
Many of the stories are interconnected and so some of the characters pop up in several different stories (and each cameo was like randomly running into a friend).
Highly recommended, even if you don't think you like short stories. Jennifer Haigh will prove you wrong.
While this could technically be considered a sequel to Baker Towers, you don't need to have read that to enjoy this. (Although as a warning, I hadn't read that book and after reading this, I bought it because I want to spend more time with these people in this world.)
Which is interesting, really, because these are mostly not happy stories. Bakerton is the kind of town that everyone wants to escape, but few people actually manage to get away. It's a small town with few opportunities and those opportunities are dwindling even more as the mines (which employ many of the residents) start to die off.
Many of the stories are interconnected and so some of the characters pop up in several different stories (and each cameo was like randomly running into a friend).
Highly recommended, even if you don't think you like short stories. Jennifer Haigh will prove you wrong.
sarahbethbrown's review
3.0
this book was easy and pleasant to read. 3 stars for that.
But two stars off because I hate short story collections (or really linked short stories in this case) that are just a buffet of issues. This is the abortion story! The gay story! The addiction story! etc.
I also felt that the linkage was really confusing. like two sets of spinster sisters in the same family, both with a sister with a v-name (viola, virgie) who are NOT THE SAME SET OF SISTERS, but like, they really could be. A lot of confusing movement through time, etc. I probably should just stop reading linked short story collections, bc I always think the stories are two closely related to stand alone, but not closely related enough to paint a good picture about the group of people/time period. eh, I think i'm just gonna stop reading these books.
But two stars off because I hate short story collections (or really linked short stories in this case) that are just a buffet of issues. This is the abortion story! The gay story! The addiction story! etc.
I also felt that the linkage was really confusing. like two sets of spinster sisters in the same family, both with a sister with a v-name (viola, virgie) who are NOT THE SAME SET OF SISTERS, but like, they really could be. A lot of confusing movement through time, etc. I probably should just stop reading linked short story collections, bc I always think the stories are two closely related to stand alone, but not closely related enough to paint a good picture about the group of people/time period. eh, I think i'm just gonna stop reading these books.
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