Scan barcode
bhnmt61's review against another edition
4.0
Saunder’s prose is so sharp, so fine-edged, that reading this book is like swallowing a knife. Sometimes his satire is so horrific--like in "The Semplica Girl Diaries"--that I wondered if I really wanted to keep reading. And sometimes he goes beyond brilliant satire into cruelty--like in "Al Roosten," a Walter-Mitty-type tale. But where Thurber in his version seems clearly to be making fun of himself (at least that's what I remember from reading it 25 years ago), Saunders is an over-educated professor at a top university making fun of someone less fortunate than himself, which my mama always told me was rude and catty. But he makes up for it all in the utter and complete right-on social observations of "Escape from Spiderhead," and in the unsentimental pathos of the final story, which gives the book its title. Tenth of December is not an easy read, but it is a thought-provoking one.
shp49's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
iheartfratlife's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
A fantastic collection of stories, will definitely be seeking out more of Saunders' work.
bittersweet_symphony's review against another edition
3.0
I can't recommend all of Saunders stories in this collection, but I can't praise "Escape from Spiderhead" highly enough. It left me very affected. Next to that I would include "Sticks" and "Puppy."
Honestly, the "Tenth of December", the namesake story for the book, was difficult for me to digest, demanding too much of the reader. It meandered rapidly through scenes and the inner minds of characters to the point that attempting to follow became more painful than pleasurable.
As a writer I found the interview with Saunders, at the end of the book, to be the most insightful portion of the collection. Despite this less than warm review, I feel a connection to Saunders and hope my encounters with is other writings will be more enjoyable. He's definitely a very talented writer.
Honestly, the "Tenth of December", the namesake story for the book, was difficult for me to digest, demanding too much of the reader. It meandered rapidly through scenes and the inner minds of characters to the point that attempting to follow became more painful than pleasurable.
As a writer I found the interview with Saunders, at the end of the book, to be the most insightful portion of the collection. Despite this less than warm review, I feel a connection to Saunders and hope my encounters with is other writings will be more enjoyable. He's definitely a very talented writer.
emilyplun's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
The story Tenth of December was my favorite-- extremely good.
Stories in this collection:
Victory Lap
Sticks
Puppy
Escape from Spider-Man
Exhortation
Al Roosten
The Semplica Girl Diaries
Home
My Chivalric Fiasco
Tenth of December
Stories in this collection:
Victory Lap
Sticks
Puppy
Escape from Spider-Man
Exhortation
Al Roosten
The Semplica Girl Diaries
Home
My Chivalric Fiasco
Tenth of December
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
cassiakarin's review against another edition
2.0
The problem is that if I were to say that I disliked or disapproved of this book it would automatically judge me a bigoted, insensitive, and make me out to be a upperclass snob. So what do I say? This is a virtue-signaling book.
I see very well the skill, insight, and mastery that Saunders has as a writer. He captures with remarkable accuracy the voice of the common generations of today. I enter into the thoughts and feelings of my fellow man with raw sensitivity and pity, and the crudeness of the state in which I find these fellow-men is deplorable, revolting, and uncomfortable. Shame on me, one would easily judge. But why do you judge me so?
Here is my true and honest opinion of the book: I did not like it at all. Did I learn from it? Yes, somewhat. Do I respect, admire, and aim for the virtues of humble kindness which Saunders demands of his readers? Absolutely. Does that mean that our writing and our reading needs to be debase? Does it need to be crude and vulgar? Does it need to use bad grammar and have no punctuation in order for us to feel the pain of the those we read about who do not know how to use good grammar and who can't use proper punctuation, even if they are fictional? Is this the only way to stir hearts to love people? To be active in kindness, in change, in empathy, and in righteous pity for our fellow mankind? No. I think not. Many classics written in masterful language, in poetry, in song, and epic, and in sorrow have stirred my heart to love this world, to love people, and to strive for goodness and kindness. This book is a virtue signaling book and I distain it. Even at the end in the interview section Saunders states his intentions here. This is an activists writing, bent on putting certain impressions on the mind of the reader. I'm with C.S. Lewis, "No one likes a book that has an aim upon its reader." (Paraphrase)
I read it because it was on Karen Swallow Prior's list of books to read in her book "On Reading Well." I was the dummy, though, for thinking she asked her reader to read the whole book titled "Tenth of December" and not just the one short story. In the table of contents she does put this title in quotes instead of italics, which was my clue--but I didn't get it. She is, however, a huge Saunders fan, and perhaps would recommend the whole book, which is a shame, I think, but I cannot say one way or the other. I wish I had known this. It would have spared my eyes entertaining 2,000 foul four letter words, crass images of sexual manipulation, and 30+ pages of mind-numbing cave-man diary talk (accurately written--and I applaud Saunders for his accuracy and fortitude... but one page of caveman/journal entry text would have sufficed to give the picture).
I see very well the skill, insight, and mastery that Saunders has as a writer. He captures with remarkable accuracy the voice of the common generations of today. I enter into the thoughts and feelings of my fellow man with raw sensitivity and pity, and the crudeness of the state in which I find these fellow-men is deplorable, revolting, and uncomfortable. Shame on me, one would easily judge. But why do you judge me so?
Here is my true and honest opinion of the book: I did not like it at all. Did I learn from it? Yes, somewhat. Do I respect, admire, and aim for the virtues of humble kindness which Saunders demands of his readers? Absolutely. Does that mean that our writing and our reading needs to be debase? Does it need to be crude and vulgar? Does it need to use bad grammar and have no punctuation in order for us to feel the pain of the those we read about who do not know how to use good grammar and who can't use proper punctuation, even if they are fictional? Is this the only way to stir hearts to love people? To be active in kindness, in change, in empathy, and in righteous pity for our fellow mankind? No. I think not. Many classics written in masterful language, in poetry, in song, and epic, and in sorrow have stirred my heart to love this world, to love people, and to strive for goodness and kindness. This book is a virtue signaling book and I distain it. Even at the end in the interview section Saunders states his intentions here. This is an activists writing, bent on putting certain impressions on the mind of the reader. I'm with C.S. Lewis, "No one likes a book that has an aim upon its reader." (Paraphrase)
I read it because it was on Karen Swallow Prior's list of books to read in her book "On Reading Well." I was the dummy, though, for thinking she asked her reader to read the whole book titled "Tenth of December" and not just the one short story. In the table of contents she does put this title in quotes instead of italics, which was my clue--but I didn't get it. She is, however, a huge Saunders fan, and perhaps would recommend the whole book, which is a shame, I think, but I cannot say one way or the other. I wish I had known this. It would have spared my eyes entertaining 2,000 foul four letter words, crass images of sexual manipulation, and 30+ pages of mind-numbing cave-man diary talk (accurately written--and I applaud Saunders for his accuracy and fortitude... but one page of caveman/journal entry text would have sufficed to give the picture).
savaging's review against another edition
5.0
A lot of writers write about white, suburban, middle-class, heteronormative society. Too many writers, even. But Saunders is looking hard at the culture he came from in order to show how underneath the image of Decency and Normalcy rests horrendous cruelty.
Aside from "My Chivalric Fiasco," which seemed a bit too much of a lark about rape, I loved every story in this collection. Each one pinpoints a site of suffering, a foundational abuse -- and just when you've reached the point of furthest disgust for this culture, Saunders ends with the title story, "Tenth of December," which suggests that even with all the horror there's still something to be said about these humans caring for each other.
Aside from "My Chivalric Fiasco," which seemed a bit too much of a lark about rape, I loved every story in this collection. Each one pinpoints a site of suffering, a foundational abuse -- and just when you've reached the point of furthest disgust for this culture, Saunders ends with the title story, "Tenth of December," which suggests that even with all the horror there's still something to be said about these humans caring for each other.