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rbreade's review
You wouldn't think to find a heart beneath the glittering surface of such postmodern stories, would you? Yet there it is. In part, this unexpected gift is due to the poignant and just plain funny ways Barthelme will build a sentence.
Consider "Rebecca," about Rebecca Lizard's effort to change her "ugly, reptilian, thoroughly unacceptable last name" and her love for Hilda. Yes, Rebecca is a lizard, though she's also a person. Is that a problem to reconcile? Not for Barthelme. And so, near the end of the story--most of these sixty stories are only a few pages long--Hilda places her hands on Rebecca's head, signaling an end to their argument:
"The snow is coming," [Hilda] said. "Soon it will be snow time. Together then as in other snow times. Drinking busthead 'round the fire. Truth is a locked room that we knock the lock off from time to time, and then board up again. Tomorrow you will hurt me and I will inform you that you have done so, and so on and so on. To hell with it. Come, viridian friend, come and sup with me."
An earnest, almost stately declaration to appear in such a postmodern tale, but here and in hundreds of other places in this book, Barthelme shows that heart can coexist with clever formal hijinks.
"Viridian friend." Wonder of wonders.
Consider "Rebecca," about Rebecca Lizard's effort to change her "ugly, reptilian, thoroughly unacceptable last name" and her love for Hilda. Yes, Rebecca is a lizard, though she's also a person. Is that a problem to reconcile? Not for Barthelme. And so, near the end of the story--most of these sixty stories are only a few pages long--Hilda places her hands on Rebecca's head, signaling an end to their argument:
"The snow is coming," [Hilda] said. "Soon it will be snow time. Together then as in other snow times. Drinking busthead 'round the fire. Truth is a locked room that we knock the lock off from time to time, and then board up again. Tomorrow you will hurt me and I will inform you that you have done so, and so on and so on. To hell with it. Come, viridian friend, come and sup with me."
An earnest, almost stately declaration to appear in such a postmodern tale, but here and in hundreds of other places in this book, Barthelme shows that heart can coexist with clever formal hijinks.
"Viridian friend." Wonder of wonders.
rocketiza's review
3.0
A mixed bag - as a person who needs a strong narrative the stories with structure rocked my world, but I wasn't feeling the more experimental stuff with less form (though I was far more tolerant of it than I usually am). Definitely imaginative and worth reading, just know what you're getting into and realize you might skip a few on the way through.
davygibbs's review against another edition
3.0
As strange as anything I've ever read, but happily so. And the stories are short enough that the strangeness never overwhelms. Years ago, in a different life, my wife and I took turns reading these stories out loud to one another before going to sleep.
beckydham's review against another edition
2.0
I can see bits and pieces of this appeal, but it's not my kind of thing.
podbod's review against another edition
4.0
When I first started reading Sixty Stories, I wondered what the point of some stories were and wasn't sure if I was really enjoying it.
As I kept reading, the variety of stories started to impress me. When I started reading just two stories a day instead of five or six, the dangling endings and unusual language became a lot more enjoyable.
There are stories that are stinkers here, but not many. There is a lot of awesome prose and many strange ideas and also a few bland stories that make me question how in the world they ever got published.
Really good collection overall.
As I kept reading, the variety of stories started to impress me. When I started reading just two stories a day instead of five or six, the dangling endings and unusual language became a lot more enjoyable.
There are stories that are stinkers here, but not many. There is a lot of awesome prose and many strange ideas and also a few bland stories that make me question how in the world they ever got published.
Really good collection overall.
joeduncan's review against another edition
4.0
Love Love Love. With 60 stories, you'll definitely get some duds, but there are so many winners here, it's hard to complain.
mistypane's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed many of the stories. Not completely sure I 'got' some but enjoyed them anyway. Favourites include Daumier, nothing and the leap - awesome.
From the leap:
"No. Here I differ with Kierkegaard. Purity of heart is, rather, to will several things, and not to know which is the better, truer thing, and to worry about this, forever."
From the leap:
"No. Here I differ with Kierkegaard. Purity of heart is, rather, to will several things, and not to know which is the better, truer thing, and to worry about this, forever."
barrybonifay's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25