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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
Nine short stories in this new collection coming from George Saunders in October. I'm already a fan, and these just fix me more firmly. There are three speculative stories spaced throughout in which characters have their eyes opened to what their reality actually is. The others are perhaps smaller stories, but no lesser for that: a mother grappling with guilt, a grandfather writing to his grandson about the state of America, colleagues back biting, two women remembering one man. Highly recommended.
Probably the best short story collection I've ever read.
Brilliant. Every story has soul. Particularly admired 'Liberation Day' and 'Ghoul'. There's a flavour of context in these short stories that does not undermine their timeless weight.
I’m glad I read this, but this is not an easy or comforting read. It’s very funny, though, which helps. Dystopian short stories told from the perspective of narrators who seem to all have had their voices (and selves?) limited by an outside force, which we usually don’t learn much about.
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Saunders writes in an unusual voice, often verging on bizarre: clipped fragments, weird capitalization, characters' stream of consciousness taking abrupt turns. The cadence tends to match the premise, which in most of these stories pushes outrageous. Liberation Day wants to unsettle you. It worked for me.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
“Everyone had a thing, or several things, and her view was, if you loved the universe (which she did, or liked to think she did, or anyway sure tried to) you had to love all of it.”