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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
Most of these stories employ Saunders' signature reductio ad absurdum in service to a larger, humanist point. This can be powerful, but it is also wearing. One short, gentle story, "Sparrow," escapes the antic earnestness and shows that he doesn't need to turn the volume to 11 every time.
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
I listened to Saunders speak recently on a podcast interview. This is the first time I've read his work. Liberation Day is an anthology of 9 stories. Several lean into the realm of dystopian sci-fi, others examine the more negative impulses, foibles, and weaknesses of present day society.
Anthologies of any kind are difficult. It's nearly impossible to assemble a collection of equal pieces. This is true whether each is by a single author as with Liberation Day, or a group of writers. I found the more ordinary stories in this book, like "Sparrow" and "Mothers Day" more successful than the Science Fiction themed pieces. Among the latter "Ghoul" was the best. The title story, concerning human beings who are reduced to machine controlled automatons, performing for the entertainment of the wealthy, is interesting, but lags through overly lengthy description of the group's "performance".
Saunders was best in Liberation Day when storytelling through unreliable narrators. It takes skillful writing especially to not only employ an unreliable narrator, but to simultaneously show the reader a truth lying in contrast to the character's own words. I am interested in reading more from this author.
Anthologies of any kind are difficult. It's nearly impossible to assemble a collection of equal pieces. This is true whether each is by a single author as with Liberation Day, or a group of writers. I found the more ordinary stories in this book, like "Sparrow" and "Mothers Day" more successful than the Science Fiction themed pieces. Among the latter "Ghoul" was the best. The title story, concerning human beings who are reduced to machine controlled automatons, performing for the entertainment of the wealthy, is interesting, but lags through overly lengthy description of the group's "performance".
Saunders was best in Liberation Day when storytelling through unreliable narrators. It takes skillful writing especially to not only employ an unreliable narrator, but to simultaneously show the reader a truth lying in contrast to the character's own words. I am interested in reading more from this author.
reflective
My favorite book of the year so far. Just brilliant writing, a pleasure to read.
I love the sound of Nick Offerman reading a story. After you initially acknowledge the obvious nature of that statement, you might pause and wonder what it has to do with *Liberation Day*...fair enough.
On a whim and with an Audible credit, a while back I purchased Saunders's *Lincoln in the Bardo* based mostly on Offerman being a narrator (and a bit on Saunders's rep). It was one of the best credits I had ever spent. I loved it. Then, I got Saunders's essay collection on Russian literature. I liked it even more. I had not even tried my hand at Saunders's shorts, which is where he shines brightest, and I was already enamored with his work.
So, when I saw that a short story collection was coming out, it was an easy preorder. And it is an easy 5* and, at least a couple of the stories will be multiple rereads. Saunders is the type of author that makes you want to be an author and simultaneously makes you lament the fact that, if he is what qualifies as an author, you probably will never be an author. The plots are interesting, but the prose is superb. I have heard him referred to as the best short story writer working and, while admittedly falling a bit short of reading every other short story writer alive, I would be surprised if his rep of utter supremacy is overblown. All of these stories are either very good or great, and I have a new author who has earned his way into my absolute favorites.
Oh, and Melora Hardin's narration is freaking perfect. Perfect.
Great collection.
On a whim and with an Audible credit, a while back I purchased Saunders's *Lincoln in the Bardo* based mostly on Offerman being a narrator (and a bit on Saunders's rep). It was one of the best credits I had ever spent. I loved it. Then, I got Saunders's essay collection on Russian literature. I liked it even more. I had not even tried my hand at Saunders's shorts, which is where he shines brightest, and I was already enamored with his work.
So, when I saw that a short story collection was coming out, it was an easy preorder. And it is an easy 5* and, at least a couple of the stories will be multiple rereads. Saunders is the type of author that makes you want to be an author and simultaneously makes you lament the fact that, if he is what qualifies as an author, you probably will never be an author. The plots are interesting, but the prose is superb. I have heard him referred to as the best short story writer working and, while admittedly falling a bit short of reading every other short story writer alive, I would be surprised if his rep of utter supremacy is overblown. All of these stories are either very good or great, and I have a new author who has earned his way into my absolute favorites.
Oh, and Melora Hardin's narration is freaking perfect. Perfect.
Great collection.
Another great collection of short stories; seeing Saunders revisit several themes from his earlier works, makes this an exciting case study in the evolution of an author. “Love Letter” in particular is astounding.
The first story, Liberation Day, was a puzzling narrative and required a few rereads to figure out what the heck was happening. Required a bit more work than I initially desired in a short story but Saunders is never one to disappoint and the remaining stories were a 5 star amazing read. A thing at Work, Sparrow and My house were just a few of the resonant stories that kept me reading the book start to finish in one day.
George Saunders short stories are always perfection.