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kyledhebert's review against another edition
4.0
There were some laugh out loud moments in this collection. I grew to admire Lipsyte's style while reading it.
jdintr's review against another edition
2.0
I've never been to Brooklyn.
I have seen Brooklyn from across the East River several times on visits to The City that never lasted longer than two days, walking along the riverfront, posing for touristy photos with the Brooklyn Bridge in the background.
But I've never been to Brooklyn. I don't claim to be a history or even garden-variety sophisticate in any manner other than some of the [ages of books that fly past my eyeballs.
This is just to say that I didn't get the humor in this book. I could see it from afar--and I stood amazed at the dexterity with which Lipsyte crafted his sentences, and I could see the tropes he was sending up in his plots. But the depth was missing. It's like a painter whose skill you find impressive, but whose work you wouldn't hang up in your living room--or walk-in closet, for that matter. I picked it up, I put it down for months, I finally finished it after 15 months.
I'm sure that it's my fault. There's hope, right? Someday I'll make it to Brooklyn.
I have seen Brooklyn from across the East River several times on visits to The City that never lasted longer than two days, walking along the riverfront, posing for touristy photos with the Brooklyn Bridge in the background.
But I've never been to Brooklyn. I don't claim to be a history or even garden-variety sophisticate in any manner other than some of the [ages of books that fly past my eyeballs.
This is just to say that I didn't get the humor in this book. I could see it from afar--and I stood amazed at the dexterity with which Lipsyte crafted his sentences, and I could see the tropes he was sending up in his plots. But the depth was missing. It's like a painter whose skill you find impressive, but whose work you wouldn't hang up in your living room--or walk-in closet, for that matter. I picked it up, I put it down for months, I finally finished it after 15 months.
I'm sure that it's my fault. There's hope, right? Someday I'll make it to Brooklyn.
rocketiza's review against another edition
3.0
Picks up some steam in a few stories, but all and I all I got to say I really prefer his novels.
nixieknox's review against another edition
3.0
As always, short stories to me are not long enough to get me involved, and therefore kind of fall short. That said, I really enjoyed a couple of these stories (Dungeon Master, The Worm in Philly, The Climber Room, Deniers) but some of them went right over my head. And one was too gross to read.
lattes_lipstick_literature's review against another edition
2.0
This is the first time I’ve read Lipsyte so I was not prepared for the number of flaws his characters have. Usually, a flawed character makes a story more realistic but in the book ‘The Fun Parts’ I feel like his characters are just a little too flawed and I kept wondering why these characters are able to stay in a normal society and wondering why they weren’t just locked up in an institution. It was because of this that I found the book hard to read and I had to struggle through just to finish. I actually started reading this as soon as I’ve gotten but just took me just until this month to actually finish
This does not mean the book was a complete disaster as I did actually enjoy the first couple of stories. The first three stores; ‘The Climber Room’, ‘The Dungeon Master’ and ‘The Deniers’ were very good and I found myself wishing for longer stories with these characters. I feel most of the stories started abruptly and also ended abruptly and I was left slightly confused on some of them.
This book will not be on my bookshelf very long and I think I will be donating it to the local library.
This does not mean the book was a complete disaster as I did actually enjoy the first couple of stories. The first three stores; ‘The Climber Room’, ‘The Dungeon Master’ and ‘The Deniers’ were very good and I found myself wishing for longer stories with these characters. I feel most of the stories started abruptly and also ended abruptly and I was left slightly confused on some of them.
This book will not be on my bookshelf very long and I think I will be donating it to the local library.
nickdleblanc's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this collection much more than I liked Venus Drive. The Climber Room, Dungeon Master, Snacks, Ode to Oldcorn, and This Appointment Occurs in the Past are complete knockout stories. The Republic of Empathy almost is as well--I love the conceit and the perspective switching--but it loses me right in the end with the second to last perspective change. It's just a little too much for me. If anything, that's my critique of this collection, at times it reads as just too much, whether that be in his tightly written prose style or character/story choices. Lipsyte is funny and definitely not for everyone, but this collection definitely resonated with me. I hate when writers try to make characters likable or feel the need for audience cyphers in every story. Lipsyte is not one of these and is completely unafraid to leave you with your jaw hitting the floor. Good stuff, heavy stuff.
blevins's review against another edition
3.0
There were two short stories in this story collection by Sam Lipsyte that I enjoyed about as much as I can enjoy when reading--The Dungeon Master and Ode to Oldcorn. I laughed all through both of those and I wish I could have read about the characters in The Dungeon Master for another 200 pages. It took me to my D & D memories of my own teenage years. There's also a funny story about a conversation between a drone weapon and its commander--that might be in the drone's imagination. In Lipsyte's world a drone can talk to itself or others. This is my introduction to Lipsyte and he has a real talent for quirky dialogue and eccentrics but as usual with short story collections, some I liked less. But the high of the two I mentioned made this collection well worth reading.
lola425's review against another edition
3.0
Funny in parts, but I'm not sure I'm Lipsyte's audience. He's clever, but the stories lack heart. Which is likely the point, I guess.
brittnorwood's review against another edition
3.0
Had I read this collection of short stories in high school, I would have convinced myself that I liked it. I would have felt like, as an avid reader and 'intellectual person', I was supposed to like it. I would have talked about it with my friends at school, all of us pretending to have gained some sort of Deeper Understanding from its sardonic, abstract perspective. But I am now an adult, and I can confidently say (with only minimal damage to my pride) that I did not quite ~get~ this book.
Yes, it was well written. But more often than not, at the end of each tale, I was left waiting for the moment of epiphany that I felt the story building up to. That being said, author Sam Lipsyte does have an uncanny knack for making you laugh when you least expect to. I also very much appreciated the consistently tragicomic tone each story had, and the references to previous and upcoming stories that he peppered throughout. I sympathized with his tragically feckless narrators, complete with sordid pasts and ennui. At times I marveled at his use of language, dictionary on my nightstand ready to look up the many words I had not been encountered before. All in all, I did thoroughly enjoy some of the stories. But there were some that just flew right over my head. To be fair, I think this is more personal preference than anything; these stories were just very hit and miss for me. Here is my personal ranking of them, from best to worst:
1. The Wisdom of The Doulas- the story of an unconventional, and possibly psychotic, male doulo
On his career as a doula: "It's true I just sort of fell into this work while stalking my ex-girlfriend, but once I came under the tutelage of Fanny Hitchens, former doula to the stars, I knew I had found my calling."
2. The Worm in Philly- a drug addict has aspirations to write a children's book
On unsuccessfully pawning his roommate's guitar: "life is funny, because as I shoved the guitar back into Gary's closet, I kicked over a rotted duck boot and a wad of bills rolled out. It was as though Gary secretly wanted me to hijack his property and try to pawn it or else just steal money from him outright."
3. The Real-Ass Jumbo- a doomsday-sayer searching for truth and making money along the way
On the world ending in a few years: "Was that time enough? For Gunderson, it was time enough for another book, some lecture tours, a cable deal."
4. Nate's Pain is Now- a(nother) drug addict capitalizes on his pain, only to discover the fickleness of his audience
On being replaced by a newer, younger pundit: "'He's poking my wife,' I said. [...] 'I don't poke her,' said Nate. 'He doesn't,' said Diana. 'I only need to hear his voice to come.'"
5. The Dungeon Master- a teenage boy encounters a monster, in fantasy and reality
On feelings: "It must be the dumbest thing he's ever said. No hard feelings? What could be harder than feelings?"
6. Deniers- the daughter of a Holocaust survivor crosses paths with a man with a questionable past
On having sex with him: "'Are you even attracted to me?' 'Not in a healthy sense,' Cal said. 'I mean, I definitely went out of my way to find the cutest girl at the JCC.'"
7. This Appointment Occurs in the Past- a man has an eye-opening reunion with a former college buddy
On his malfunctioning phone: "Every time I tried to add to my schedule, these words would flash on the calendar display: 'This appointment occurs in the past.' I grew to rely on the feature. It granted me texture; a sense of rich history."
8. Snacks- a young boy navigates life and an over-eating problem
On masturbation: "Somebody on TV said sex could make you skinny. I knew I'd have to go it alone."
9. Ode to Oldcorn- a high school shot-putter meets his hero
On his shot-putting rival: "I do know the world is divided, or even just sub-divided, between those who have met their Bucky Schmidt and those who have their Bucky coming. I've met my Bucky Schmidt and so I'm never disappointed by the way of things. I don't want and want. Good money, good times, I'm happy for what I get. You don't worry so much about it all when you know there is somebody out there who can take everything away like some terrible god."
10. The Climber Room- a childless 30 something has her first experience with baby fever
A cashier on uneccessary self-sacrifice: "'You didn't die for my sins, lady. So don't go building a cross for yourself. We need the wood.'"
11. Peasley- a 127 year old World War I veteran reflects on his life and his mistakes
On his home in England: "Pale light trickled through the parlor's leaded windows in that trickling manner of English light as pictured by a person who would not know."
12. Expressive- a day in the life of an asshole who doesn't appear to have any redeeming qualities
On getting caught by the girlfriend of the woman he was sleeping with: "I give Roanoke one more look before I leave her to the business of ducking creamers, ramekins. I call it 'Remember, the World is Not Broken, Even If Your Crockery Is.'"
13. The Republic of Empathy- a story told from many perspectives, including that of a sentient drone(?)
A husband on his wife trying to convince him to have another baby: "'This is emotional blackmail.' 'The emotional aspect is implicit. You could jus say blackmail.' 'But why, Peg?' 'This morning I smelled the top of Philip's head. That sweet baby scent is gone. Now it just smells like the top of any dumbshit's head.'"
To conclude, this author's style is not my cup of tea, but if you have enjoyed Lipsyte (or authors like him) in the past, I say check this book out! It was a quick read, and definitely kept me interested.
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Book 2/100
Yes, it was well written. But more often than not, at the end of each tale, I was left waiting for the moment of epiphany that I felt the story building up to. That being said, author Sam Lipsyte does have an uncanny knack for making you laugh when you least expect to. I also very much appreciated the consistently tragicomic tone each story had, and the references to previous and upcoming stories that he peppered throughout. I sympathized with his tragically feckless narrators, complete with sordid pasts and ennui. At times I marveled at his use of language, dictionary on my nightstand ready to look up the many words I had not been encountered before. All in all, I did thoroughly enjoy some of the stories. But there were some that just flew right over my head. To be fair, I think this is more personal preference than anything; these stories were just very hit and miss for me. Here is my personal ranking of them, from best to worst:
1. The Wisdom of The Doulas- the story of an unconventional, and possibly psychotic, male doulo
On his career as a doula: "It's true I just sort of fell into this work while stalking my ex-girlfriend, but once I came under the tutelage of Fanny Hitchens, former doula to the stars, I knew I had found my calling."
2. The Worm in Philly- a drug addict has aspirations to write a children's book
On unsuccessfully pawning his roommate's guitar: "life is funny, because as I shoved the guitar back into Gary's closet, I kicked over a rotted duck boot and a wad of bills rolled out. It was as though Gary secretly wanted me to hijack his property and try to pawn it or else just steal money from him outright."
3. The Real-Ass Jumbo- a doomsday-sayer searching for truth and making money along the way
On the world ending in a few years: "Was that time enough? For Gunderson, it was time enough for another book, some lecture tours, a cable deal."
4. Nate's Pain is Now- a(nother) drug addict capitalizes on his pain, only to discover the fickleness of his audience
On being replaced by a newer, younger pundit: "'He's poking my wife,' I said. [...] 'I don't poke her,' said Nate. 'He doesn't,' said Diana. 'I only need to hear his voice to come.'"
5. The Dungeon Master- a teenage boy encounters a monster, in fantasy and reality
On feelings: "It must be the dumbest thing he's ever said. No hard feelings? What could be harder than feelings?"
6. Deniers- the daughter of a Holocaust survivor crosses paths with a man with a questionable past
On having sex with him: "'Are you even attracted to me?' 'Not in a healthy sense,' Cal said. 'I mean, I definitely went out of my way to find the cutest girl at the JCC.'"
7. This Appointment Occurs in the Past- a man has an eye-opening reunion with a former college buddy
On his malfunctioning phone: "Every time I tried to add to my schedule, these words would flash on the calendar display: 'This appointment occurs in the past.' I grew to rely on the feature. It granted me texture; a sense of rich history."
8. Snacks- a young boy navigates life and an over-eating problem
On masturbation: "Somebody on TV said sex could make you skinny. I knew I'd have to go it alone."
9. Ode to Oldcorn- a high school shot-putter meets his hero
On his shot-putting rival: "I do know the world is divided, or even just sub-divided, between those who have met their Bucky Schmidt and those who have their Bucky coming. I've met my Bucky Schmidt and so I'm never disappointed by the way of things. I don't want and want. Good money, good times, I'm happy for what I get. You don't worry so much about it all when you know there is somebody out there who can take everything away like some terrible god."
10. The Climber Room- a childless 30 something has her first experience with baby fever
A cashier on uneccessary self-sacrifice: "'You didn't die for my sins, lady. So don't go building a cross for yourself. We need the wood.'"
11. Peasley- a 127 year old World War I veteran reflects on his life and his mistakes
On his home in England: "Pale light trickled through the parlor's leaded windows in that trickling manner of English light as pictured by a person who would not know."
12. Expressive- a day in the life of an asshole who doesn't appear to have any redeeming qualities
On getting caught by the girlfriend of the woman he was sleeping with: "I give Roanoke one more look before I leave her to the business of ducking creamers, ramekins. I call it 'Remember, the World is Not Broken, Even If Your Crockery Is.'"
13. The Republic of Empathy- a story told from many perspectives, including that of a sentient drone(?)
A husband on his wife trying to convince him to have another baby: "'This is emotional blackmail.' 'The emotional aspect is implicit. You could jus say blackmail.' 'But why, Peg?' 'This morning I smelled the top of Philip's head. That sweet baby scent is gone. Now it just smells like the top of any dumbshit's head.'"
To conclude, this author's style is not my cup of tea, but if you have enjoyed Lipsyte (or authors like him) in the past, I say check this book out! It was a quick read, and definitely kept me interested.
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Book 2/100
shawntowner's review against another edition
2.0
I just couldn't get in to this collection. The best story ("The Dungeon Master") I had read in The New Yorker, and there weren't any other stories in the collection that really jumped out to me. It's been a pretty good year for story collections (Saunders and K-Russ), so maybe that's making me view this assess than it actually is.