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issyt's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
A decent short story collection about ordinary people. My favourite is A Fair Trade
librarianna81's review against another edition
4.0
Byers writes beautifully. I'm not really a short-story reader, but he really put a lot of humanness into his characters - they were very easy to relate to, and to imagine. I would be interested in reading his novel at some point.
cuocuo's review against another edition
4.0
A beautiful collection, wide in its range and emotional scope. My favorite story was "Shipmates Down Under." I admired how Byers wove the (fictional) Australian novel into the family's story as subtext. Also, Byers writes children well.
erinbottger's review
4.0
This collection of short stories is a good read set in the Pacific Northwest.
The author is under 30 when these were written yet most of his characters are middle-aged and a few of them are seniors. He likes quirky personalities and focuses on lonesomeness of the childless, divorced and estranged. There are few "traditional family units", more are nieces/nephews and aunts/uncles or cousins.
The first 4 stories are lengthily (some spanning years) while the final 3 are abruptly short - and a little confusing as to their point. Byers has a natural writing style and these stories have a flowing prose.
The author is under 30 when these were written yet most of his characters are middle-aged and a few of them are seniors. He likes quirky personalities and focuses on lonesomeness of the childless, divorced and estranged. There are few "traditional family units", more are nieces/nephews and aunts/uncles or cousins.
The first 4 stories are lengthily (some spanning years) while the final 3 are abruptly short - and a little confusing as to their point. Byers has a natural writing style and these stories have a flowing prose.
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