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grgrhnt's review against another edition
5.0
When I read Tenth of December, I remember thinking that George Saunders was the greatest living short story writer. His next collection I read, Pastoralia did nothing less to change that assessment. After his third collection, I still maintain that he is the greatest short story writer currently alive.
mischavn's review against another edition
4.0
Dark, twisted, funny, and a wonderful author’s note at the end that gives supreme insight into his life and process.
amandarecupido's review against another edition
3.0
Good writing, but women (except one) are weak and only used for sex. Forget about the Bechdel test.
joyce_porter's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
irinagoldberg1's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't enjoy all these stories as much as I loved the Tenth of December because some were too disturbing and I had trouble getting through them. George Saunders is a genius.
jmcphers's review against another edition
3.0
I was mostly enticed to read this because I enjoyed Saunders' [b:Tenth of December|13641208|Tenth of December|George Saunders|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1349967540s/13641208.jpg|19256026], and was hoping for more of the same. Indeed, this is what I received, but almost too much of it. This feels like very early writing, in the "finding his voice" sort of way, and the stories are nearly all very similar in theme and content.
The best part of the book is the afterword, in which he explains how the stories are written, *why* they are all similar, and the circumstances of his life in which they were written. I found this frank and self-aware commentary much more engaging than at least half the stories. If you start to get bored reading the stories, read the afterword, and then go read some more stories.
The best part of the book is the afterword, in which he explains how the stories are written, *why* they are all similar, and the circumstances of his life in which they were written. I found this frank and self-aware commentary much more engaging than at least half the stories. If you start to get bored reading the stories, read the afterword, and then go read some more stories.
andrewsutton's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
4.0
ljjohnson8's review against another edition
3.0
I came to this book with no expectations, having never heard the name George Saunders before. I've since learned that he's somewhat of a literary lion, albeit one surprisingly off my radar. This short volume - 5 short stories and a novella - was his first publilshed effort. I liked it.
I always admire authors with the creative chops to create a complete and different world than our reality. While Saunders' USA was set (possibly) in a future (or concurrent) time after perhaps some cataclysmic event (or not), the twisted and skewed reality he created had elements that were all too uneasily familiar. His world was strange but always believable - within striking distance, not like flying to Venus.
It doesn't hurt that I'm a sucker for dystopia. And black humor. And an author who unbalances me enough that I'm laughing one moment, disgusted the next, and teary-eyed after that.
I always admire authors with the creative chops to create a complete and different world than our reality. While Saunders' USA was set (possibly) in a future (or concurrent) time after perhaps some cataclysmic event (or not), the twisted and skewed reality he created had elements that were all too uneasily familiar. His world was strange but always believable - within striking distance, not like flying to Venus.
It doesn't hurt that I'm a sucker for dystopia. And black humor. And an author who unbalances me enough that I'm laughing one moment, disgusted the next, and teary-eyed after that.