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isobel_shobs's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
mylifeincurls17's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mayoroffailure's review against another edition
3.0
This was a book that I originally picked up simply because of its cover art. It was upon a further search into Goodreads that I saw it had an average rating of five stars. I couldn't believe what it was that I had saw and as a result I made the immediate decision to read it one day. I eventually did end up buying the book and my excitement to read it had reached a fever pitch by the time it came time to open the front cover.
Fools is a collection of short stories that all ask the same question, when and for what is it wise to be a fool for something? From the streets of Paris to New York and from charities to anarchists, fools tells the simple stories of everyday people.
The best part about this anthology of stories, at least for me, was not the actual question of foolishness, but rather their interconnected nature. All of the stories are actually linked in some way and this gives an incredible picture of the interconnectedness of life. The other reason that these stories really stood out to me was the fact that the simplest decisions within some of the stories was what led to the largest consequences, just like in real life.
The book was also extremely well written, and its style is put forth in a way that makes you feel as though your simply listening to the protagonist telling a story. These stories were also ones that seemed as though they could really happen and probably have happened at some point in time. This novel should be read by anyone that enjoys life and its little subtle nuances that make up a complex web of interconnected people.
There is a human realization that is referred to as sonder, and is defined this way: the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness—an epic story that continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you’ll never know existed, in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in the background, as a blur of traffic passing on the highway, as a lighted window at dusk.
This is a book that fully takes that idea and puts it forth in a huge way, and when it all comes together and the reader can find all of the subtle complexities within its pages, its only then that the novel's power becomes fully realized.
Fools is a collection of short stories that all ask the same question, when and for what is it wise to be a fool for something? From the streets of Paris to New York and from charities to anarchists, fools tells the simple stories of everyday people.
The best part about this anthology of stories, at least for me, was not the actual question of foolishness, but rather their interconnected nature. All of the stories are actually linked in some way and this gives an incredible picture of the interconnectedness of life. The other reason that these stories really stood out to me was the fact that the simplest decisions within some of the stories was what led to the largest consequences, just like in real life.
The book was also extremely well written, and its style is put forth in a way that makes you feel as though your simply listening to the protagonist telling a story. These stories were also ones that seemed as though they could really happen and probably have happened at some point in time. This novel should be read by anyone that enjoys life and its little subtle nuances that make up a complex web of interconnected people.
There is a human realization that is referred to as sonder, and is defined this way: the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness—an epic story that continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you’ll never know existed, in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in the background, as a blur of traffic passing on the highway, as a lighted window at dusk.
This is a book that fully takes that idea and puts it forth in a huge way, and when it all comes together and the reader can find all of the subtle complexities within its pages, its only then that the novel's power becomes fully realized.
rachelzilkey's review against another edition
5.0
This was an excellent book containing short stories interconnected in an incredibly intelligent way! Spanning years, generations and weaving together people, families and events all over the world. I really enjoyed Silber’s writing - poignant and concise. I looked forward to making connections between stories and characters.
an_enthusiastic_reader's review against another edition
4.0
This collection of connected stories begins in the 1920s with a group of anarchist friends and radiates from there to the 2010s. It's written with tender humor and each story features one character who tells a story. In typical Silber style, the characters are revealed as sympathetic and ready to change.
bellwetherdays's review
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
srkfrk's review
adventurous
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
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