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A review by hollowspine
Orientation: And Other Stories by Daniel Orozco
4.0
After reading the first short story in this collection I thought I had the book pegged, funny stories with a bit of a sardonic edge to them. A host of slightly odd ducks in a world where things were not quite what they seemed. A little like George Saunders.
However, after the humorous first story things got a little darker. The stories were similar to Saunders in as much as they often had rather neurotic, introverted protagonists and often were set in a world that it just that tiny bit stranger than our own.
However Orozco's tone and setting were much bleaker than Saunders usually goes, even if the stories weren't set in some bleak future. The world these characters reside in is one of separation and never-ending loneliness. Just when you reach a conclusion or have a moment of clarity, you get shot in the gut. Twice.
I enjoyed reading these stories, despite the often depressing message. Often only a small glimpse of a character's life was given to the reader, and one never finds out what happened, but I found that rather interesting in this book, rather than frustrating. Though the world was bleak and there seemed to be little hope for any real connection with another person, the stories had a beauty to them.
I would recommend this book to anyone who also likes Saunders or even fans of Palahniuk, even though there are no repetitive mantras to hold on to in this collection. Except perhaps the knowledge that solitude is not the same as loneliness.
However, after the humorous first story things got a little darker. The stories were similar to Saunders in as much as they often had rather neurotic, introverted protagonists and often were set in a world that it just that tiny bit stranger than our own.
However Orozco's tone and setting were much bleaker than Saunders usually goes, even if the stories weren't set in some bleak future. The world these characters reside in is one of separation and never-ending loneliness. Just when you reach a conclusion or have a moment of clarity, you get shot in the gut. Twice.
I enjoyed reading these stories, despite the often depressing message. Often only a small glimpse of a character's life was given to the reader, and one never finds out what happened, but I found that rather interesting in this book, rather than frustrating. Though the world was bleak and there seemed to be little hope for any real connection with another person, the stories had a beauty to them.
I would recommend this book to anyone who also likes Saunders or even fans of Palahniuk, even though there are no repetitive mantras to hold on to in this collection. Except perhaps the knowledge that solitude is not the same as loneliness.