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A review by kell_xavi
American Innovations by Rivka Galchen
2.0
I find it difficult to fathom the minds that make up Galchen's following - not because I dislike her writing, but because what I read most often begins somewhere and ends nowhere, and I wonder at who it is finds meanings and resolution in these stories. Galchen is fond, in these stories, of what read as arbitrary elements thrown in to show the character's way of seeing things, or to move the place the story is in forward. In part worth reading, but all but a few endings left me still with confusion. I have mostly left these stories out of the following ratings, but I'd say they'd still be worth a consuming if the reader can forgo completeness for absurdity and moments of odd knowledge and reflection. Despite my frustration, I still think I enjoy Galchen, and will likely attempt to read her future work.
The Region of Unlikeness - 5
*Extremely enjoyable and impressively thought/recorded story. Time travel features, as a phenomena of physics rather than a science fiction outside true scientific thought (this makes it extremely appealing, as the latter kind of writing is definitely not). Can be found on the New Yorker website ;)
American Innovations - 2.5
*I liked it, and having read "The Nose" by Gogol and an interview with the author to supplement the piece, see that Galchen means to draw attention to the way physicality an impact impressions of oneself, or be taken in stride; to me, though, it seems not to possess enough clarity or go deep enough to be satisfying
Wild Berry Blue - 3.5
*Crush obsession and its total oddity. Wonderful engagement with the topic
The Entire Northern Side - 2.5
*It's short and the (what seems like) arbitrariness partially fascinating
Dean of the Arts - 3
*Strange elements interesting and frequent enough to string it along above ground
The Region of Unlikeness - 5
*Extremely enjoyable and impressively thought/recorded story. Time travel features, as a phenomena of physics rather than a science fiction outside true scientific thought (this makes it extremely appealing, as the latter kind of writing is definitely not). Can be found on the New Yorker website ;)
American Innovations - 2.5
*I liked it, and having read "The Nose" by Gogol and an interview with the author to supplement the piece, see that Galchen means to draw attention to the way physicality an impact impressions of oneself, or be taken in stride; to me, though, it seems not to possess enough clarity or go deep enough to be satisfying
Wild Berry Blue - 3.5
*Crush obsession and its total oddity. Wonderful engagement with the topic
The Entire Northern Side - 2.5
*It's short and the (what seems like) arbitrariness partially fascinating
Dean of the Arts - 3
*Strange elements interesting and frequent enough to string it along above ground