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eileen_daly_boas's review against another edition
5.0
The good short story is no easy task. Ten good ones together is really surprising. This one has many great stories-even the one that didn't strike an emotional chord with me fit so well with the others that I didn't hold a grudge.
These all pull you into a full universe right at the start, and make you feel like an explorer for the few pages that you're in them. Heartbreak and hope, the small heroic actions and the long-term consequences of a momentary lack of attention- they dance with each other in these LA-based stories.
The fictions that sustain us and the ones that break us are all a part of this wonderful universe of stories. It reminded me of my favorite parts in Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders: the truly human, American stories of life and love as well as the stories we tell ourselves. Writing the truth in fiction is Scott O'Connor's greatest strength, and his writing is elegant.
These all pull you into a full universe right at the start, and make you feel like an explorer for the few pages that you're in them. Heartbreak and hope, the small heroic actions and the long-term consequences of a momentary lack of attention- they dance with each other in these LA-based stories.
The fictions that sustain us and the ones that break us are all a part of this wonderful universe of stories. It reminded me of my favorite parts in Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders: the truly human, American stories of life and love as well as the stories we tell ourselves. Writing the truth in fiction is Scott O'Connor's greatest strength, and his writing is elegant.
meganremschel's review against another edition
4.0
Entertaining but I kind of wished the stories tied together a bit more! Was a little disappointed to find there wasn't any big twist or surprise.
sausome's review against another edition
5.0
This short story collection was truly masterful, and made me feel SO MUCH. The stories ranged from fairly brief to a bit longer, varied in plot and style, and were somehow truly piercing. The first story, "Hold On," was intense, and you got the sense of being inside the man's head with him, as he traverses a new world in which he is the sole survivor of a collapsed building during an earthquake. He's grieving for something, for who he was? the world he was in before? the him he was before he was a survivor? But you feel, with him, that what's happening externally is alien, unknown, bad in some unknowable way, but making him feel something. The second story, "It Was Over So Quickly, Doug," was brilliant. I'm still confused about feeling simultaneously irritated and saddened and shocked. Told only through broken alternating dialogue and thoughts of 3 different people, it provides a setting, a rushed morning feeling, an irritation of customer privilege, a build up of irritation, then a climax, and it all unravels. All from dialogue and thoughts gone on not more than 3 pages. Amazing. The third story, "Jane's Wife," is a bit longer, but equally devastating in its simplicity and ability to hone right in beyond the extraneous to the meat. "Golden State" was longer, written to describe the pure expansive, somewhat lonely, feel of L.A./California suburbs, about connection within this vastness of empty space. "Interstellar Space," "In the Red," "Flicker," and "Soldiers" were longer, and more emotionally raw and 'violent' in this rawness. Hard to describe, but they didn't resonate quite as much as the first 4 stories. And the last story, "Colnago Super," was long, and similar in feel to "Golden State," with a bit more freedom and speed interwoven.
bookslifeandeverythingnice's review against another edition
5.0
I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways. As always, an honest review.
A Perfect Universe is comprised of ten engaging short stories. The stories follow everyday people in everyday situations which sounds mundane and is anything but. As we a get a glimpse into their lives, what will we learn about them and life itself?
I really enjoyed this novel for its well written passages, thought given to ordinary moments of people’s lives, and unique perspective on life. A few of the short stories were a bit slow for a few pages, but overall a wonderful book.
There were very few downfalls to this book. Some moments were not as intriguing as the rest. But truthfully that didn’t last very long or distract from the storytelling.
I felt the story was especially strong in the area of storytelling. The author takes ordinary people in ordinary situations and transforms them into a wonderful, beautiful exploration of life. The writing is wonderful, giving us a unique perspective than most would take. The characters’ inner monologue and perspective about their lives was so well created. I absolutely devoured this book in only 3 days.
I was a bit unsure about this book when I first picked it up, as I don’t read a lot of short stories. I was so pleasantly surprised with the wonderful storytelling in A Perfect Universe by Scott O’Connor.
A Perfect Universe is comprised of ten engaging short stories. The stories follow everyday people in everyday situations which sounds mundane and is anything but. As we a get a glimpse into their lives, what will we learn about them and life itself?
I really enjoyed this novel for its well written passages, thought given to ordinary moments of people’s lives, and unique perspective on life. A few of the short stories were a bit slow for a few pages, but overall a wonderful book.
There were very few downfalls to this book. Some moments were not as intriguing as the rest. But truthfully that didn’t last very long or distract from the storytelling.
I felt the story was especially strong in the area of storytelling. The author takes ordinary people in ordinary situations and transforms them into a wonderful, beautiful exploration of life. The writing is wonderful, giving us a unique perspective than most would take. The characters’ inner monologue and perspective about their lives was so well created. I absolutely devoured this book in only 3 days.
I was a bit unsure about this book when I first picked it up, as I don’t read a lot of short stories. I was so pleasantly surprised with the wonderful storytelling in A Perfect Universe by Scott O’Connor.
missmesmerized's review against another edition
4.0
“A Perfect Universe“ is a collection of ten stories all set in California, yet not the Hollywood California of stars and success, but the part where life is a bit sadder and less full of hopes. It’s about a young man buried under a building which had crumbled, a business woman hated by the other clients in a coffee shop, a relationship which ended and does not provide solace anymore, a woman’s preparation for a big day which ends in a disappointment, a girl hearing voices, a class of men trying to control their emotions and others. Scott O’Connor provides a huge variety of topics, yet all taken right from life. His characters are not the rich and famous, not the especially talented or gifted. It’s the average boy and girl or their grown-up version.
As always in collections of stories, you like some more and others less. I cannot really say why this is the case, since it’s neither due to the topic nor the protagonist that I prefer some. The first one, “Hold On” got me immediately. The man waiting to be rescued, finding comfort and hope in the woman’s voice who is reading out their names, thus signalling them that they are not forgotten but searched for. His anger when the mayor decides to give up and the joy of surviving after all – you could easily feel the emotional rollercoaster Robert went through.
“Interstellar Space” also caught me, but this time there isn’t much hope, it’s a really melancholy story of schizophrenia. Her slowly deteriorating condition is sad to read. She seemed to be bright, joyful and lively and suddenly her mind decides to play tricks on her and have her finished in a hospital, locked-up in her body and the world outside shut out.
One which made me ruminate a bit was “The Plagiarist”. I often wonder if there can be indeed something completely new that can be written or if not rather all has already been said somehow. How can today’s works actually be “original”? There are some plot concepts that you can easily recognize, phrases that have been used again and again – so, what is invented and what is rather copied?
As always in collections of stories, you like some more and others less. I cannot really say why this is the case, since it’s neither due to the topic nor the protagonist that I prefer some. The first one, “Hold On” got me immediately. The man waiting to be rescued, finding comfort and hope in the woman’s voice who is reading out their names, thus signalling them that they are not forgotten but searched for. His anger when the mayor decides to give up and the joy of surviving after all – you could easily feel the emotional rollercoaster Robert went through.
“Interstellar Space” also caught me, but this time there isn’t much hope, it’s a really melancholy story of schizophrenia. Her slowly deteriorating condition is sad to read. She seemed to be bright, joyful and lively and suddenly her mind decides to play tricks on her and have her finished in a hospital, locked-up in her body and the world outside shut out.
One which made me ruminate a bit was “The Plagiarist”. I often wonder if there can be indeed something completely new that can be written or if not rather all has already been said somehow. How can today’s works actually be “original”? There are some plot concepts that you can easily recognize, phrases that have been used again and again – so, what is invented and what is rather copied?
amalia1985's review against another edition
5.0
One of the strongest traits of Contemporary American Literature is the Short Story. A genre that can be more touching and powerful than the Novel when done right, serving a long tradition of exceptional short - story writers. I've always been an avid reader of short stories. The open ending, the ambiguity, the uncertain resolution or complete lack of it, appeal to me and this collection by Scott O'Connor is among the finest I've read so far. Complex themes, antiheroes, stories that are bound to take you on an intense emotional journey. Beware, though. It is probable that the course will be uncomfortable...
"Hold On": An immensely moving story about a survivor who is trying to cope with the aftermath, the severe alterations in his life, and to discover the identity of the woman whose voice helped him to hold on to life.
"It Was Over So Quickly, Doug" : A gang shoot -out in a coffeeshop told from the perspectives of three people who couldn't be more different.
"Jane’s Wife": Two women go through the implications of their troubled marriage within the context of the 2016 Presidential elections in the USA. I wasn't satisfied with this story, to be honest. I found it unnecessarily melodramatic and a bit of a gimmick with two very unsympathetic, selfish and absurd protagonists.
"Golden State": A young mother and her teenage son move to California from New York, chasing an irrational dream. The story touches upon the frenzy over TV shows, the hypocrisy of the suburbs, the feeling of being the "new face" in the neighbourhood. Still, the tone of it is light, bittersweet and hopeful.
"Interstellar Space" : A moving, eerie story taking place in the late 70s. Two sisters are fighting with the imposing enemy of mental illness.
"In the Red": A bunch of despicable men take part in an anger management class. Jonas, possibly the least despicable of them but not less of a criminal, tries to find some escape through a TV sales programme.
"Flicker": A story that starts with the echoes of frustration from an unsuccessful actor becomes a tragic research on love, death and remembrance.
"Soldiers": A bully from a broken family, a boy with a drunkard father and an exhausted, indifferent mother, learns a good lesson from three siblings. An ugly story with an ending that offers plenty to think of.
"The Plagiarist" : A well-known writer of short stories is exposed as an utter fraud.
"Colnago Super": A young bicycle - thief is determined to find a missing boy. This was one of the most touching stories of the collection.
These stories don't need many words. O'Connor doesn't shy away from issues that are universal, relevant to our troubled modern times, and chooses characters that come from all walks of life, different backgrounds, teenagers and adults. They are shady -even the children and morally ambiguous, troubled, confused, tortured and haunted by the past and by their own guilt. Some of them are immoral, verging on the territory of "despicable", but the power of O'Connor's writing is such that draws you in and make you care for them. You want them either to be punished or to find some kind of absolution, a new will to change their way.
The overall tone isn't happy. None of them is a "feel-good" story and I wouldn't like them if they were. Life isn't made of unicorns and rainbows and fantasy creatures. These stories are real. They are grey and sad, full of desperation, exhaustion and pain, difficult, toiling and demanding, like most things in life. But a glimpse of hope is always present, kind of escape, even momentarily. The state of California, its areas, its people, the particular way of life, becomes a character in its own and Thalassa (the Greek word for "sea") is always present along with the hills and the nightly sky. But the Golden State of O'Connor hides a multitude of coals, in a universe that is far from perfect. A universe that is real and absolute.
Many thanks to Scout Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.
My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com/
"Hold On": An immensely moving story about a survivor who is trying to cope with the aftermath, the severe alterations in his life, and to discover the identity of the woman whose voice helped him to hold on to life.
"It Was Over So Quickly, Doug" : A gang shoot -out in a coffeeshop told from the perspectives of three people who couldn't be more different.
"Jane’s Wife": Two women go through the implications of their troubled marriage within the context of the 2016 Presidential elections in the USA. I wasn't satisfied with this story, to be honest. I found it unnecessarily melodramatic and a bit of a gimmick with two very unsympathetic, selfish and absurd protagonists.
"Golden State": A young mother and her teenage son move to California from New York, chasing an irrational dream. The story touches upon the frenzy over TV shows, the hypocrisy of the suburbs, the feeling of being the "new face" in the neighbourhood. Still, the tone of it is light, bittersweet and hopeful.
"Interstellar Space" : A moving, eerie story taking place in the late 70s. Two sisters are fighting with the imposing enemy of mental illness.
"In the Red": A bunch of despicable men take part in an anger management class. Jonas, possibly the least despicable of them but not less of a criminal, tries to find some escape through a TV sales programme.
"Flicker": A story that starts with the echoes of frustration from an unsuccessful actor becomes a tragic research on love, death and remembrance.
"Soldiers": A bully from a broken family, a boy with a drunkard father and an exhausted, indifferent mother, learns a good lesson from three siblings. An ugly story with an ending that offers plenty to think of.
"The Plagiarist" : A well-known writer of short stories is exposed as an utter fraud.
"Colnago Super": A young bicycle - thief is determined to find a missing boy. This was one of the most touching stories of the collection.
These stories don't need many words. O'Connor doesn't shy away from issues that are universal, relevant to our troubled modern times, and chooses characters that come from all walks of life, different backgrounds, teenagers and adults. They are shady -even the children and morally ambiguous, troubled, confused, tortured and haunted by the past and by their own guilt. Some of them are immoral, verging on the territory of "despicable", but the power of O'Connor's writing is such that draws you in and make you care for them. You want them either to be punished or to find some kind of absolution, a new will to change their way.
The overall tone isn't happy. None of them is a "feel-good" story and I wouldn't like them if they were. Life isn't made of unicorns and rainbows and fantasy creatures. These stories are real. They are grey and sad, full of desperation, exhaustion and pain, difficult, toiling and demanding, like most things in life. But a glimpse of hope is always present, kind of escape, even momentarily. The state of California, its areas, its people, the particular way of life, becomes a character in its own and Thalassa (the Greek word for "sea") is always present along with the hills and the nightly sky. But the Golden State of O'Connor hides a multitude of coals, in a universe that is far from perfect. A universe that is real and absolute.
Many thanks to Scout Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.
My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com/
renaegade's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this collection of short stories. They are immersive and creative and evoke different emotions and aspects of the human condition. Well written.
thelovelylibrarylady's review against another edition
4.0
A collection of engaging short stories. Some stories I found myself becoming very invested in, but others fell short. Overall, a decent, fun read!