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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
It’s eccentric and dystopian, as is the writing style. Full of metaphors and symbols and allegory, I was entertained by the stories, even if I didn’t always understand them. My favorite story was “Love Letter.” I also quite enjoyed “A Thing At Work,” “Sparrow,” and “My House.”
There are two basic writing styles on display here: Terms in Capitals with odd syntax and grammar indicate a narrator living in a dystopia, and sort sentences. Trailing off. Like this. Indicate a narrator who is a caricature of a middle to upper-middle class suburbanite. Both grew tiresome, and neither was great. People talk about there being a lot of sentimentality in these stories, but it’s hard not to feel like there’s also a sort of contempt as well. Two of the stories are largely political in the sort of cringy way political fiction often is. Not sure if there’s even one story in here I’d really recommend.
One constant in George Saunders’ stories is the quality of his writing. The man can string together sentences that are punchy, simple, efficient, yet prosy. Liberation Day is a collection of short stories that all deal with morality in some way, but are all very different and creative. Bravo!
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Niet altijd meteen duidelijk waar elk van de verhalen zich afspeelt, en wie wie is, een prachtige diverse verzameling verhalen. Van een dystopisch, sci-fi achtig verhaal over mensen? robots? opgeprikt aan de muur? die een historisch drama verbeelden
All Speaking stops, all Singing stops. As instructed by Mr. U., we go limp, stand motionless, hang our heads, there upon the Speaking Wall. At Podium, Mr. U. also hangs his head. He does not need to turn to know what Company thinks. He knows. We know. We know very well how powerful we have been. Company rises to its feet, its wild enthusiasm seeming impatient that its only path into the world is via these limited, applauding, middle-aged bodies.
tot een moeder die een tikje aan het doordraaien is.
God, the hours of her life she’d spent trying to be good. Standing at the sink, deciding if some plastic tofu tub was recyclable. That time she’d hit a squirrel and circled back to see if she could rush it to the vet. No squirrel. But that didn’t prove anything. It might have crawled off to die under a bush.
All Speaking stops, all Singing stops. As instructed by Mr. U., we go limp, stand motionless, hang our heads, there upon the Speaking Wall. At Podium, Mr. U. also hangs his head. He does not need to turn to know what Company thinks. He knows. We know. We know very well how powerful we have been. Company rises to its feet, its wild enthusiasm seeming impatient that its only path into the world is via these limited, applauding, middle-aged bodies.
tot een moeder die een tikje aan het doordraaien is.
God, the hours of her life she’d spent trying to be good. Standing at the sink, deciding if some plastic tofu tub was recyclable. That time she’d hit a squirrel and circled back to see if she could rush it to the vet. No squirrel. But that didn’t prove anything. It might have crawled off to die under a bush.
I'm not sure how funny this was supposed to be, but I didn't really find it funny at all. Some of the stories were interesting but I am left wondering what the point is so maybe the short story format isn't for me.
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
medium-paced