Reviews

The Bus Driver Who Wanted To Be God & Other Stories by Etgar Keret

visualradish's review

This is his first collection of short stories. You can see him on his way to full-Keret-surrealism.

imkegobel's review against another edition

2.0

Sexist, racist, some interesting stories, but most of them where just weird and sexist and racist. There. Done.
Just thought of what these stories are. The weird fantasies/dreames of a teenage guy who wants to become a writer but for now is obsessed with 'hot babes' and hating on Arab people.

kristy's review against another edition

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A

5.0

Quirky

serialreader's review against another edition

dark funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

kmarkovich's review

4.0

Good short, very short, stories. 1-3 pages each. Israeli writer, shout out.

madtraveler's review

2.0

It was OK. I really liked the title story with the bus driver strictly adhering to rules for the greater good then considering a moment of personal mercy. I won't forget that. I've finished and already forgotten most of the rest. These are little 3-page "stories" often absurdist, occasionally amusing or clever. Then there is an extended story at the end that prattles on. Tough read for me. No attachment to characters.

heypretty52's review

3.0

Finally finished chugging through. Despite some clever ideas, Keret's stories fall short on execution. Perhaps something is lost in translation or perhaps the writing style just isn't for me.

jaeclectic's review

2.0

Very odd short stories. That's very odd, and very short.

wtb_michael's review

2.0

These brief absurd stories left me pretty cold - there are flashes of humour and pathos, but it all felt too arch and self-consciously wacky to me.

torts's review

4.0

Keret's short stories are strange and amusing and perplexing (not always all at once). The last story was especially amusing, and reading the author's biography in the back definitely made me want to see the non-literary stuff that's been based on his stories.