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Great Short Stories Collection 2009-10-20

Reviewer: Busy Mom

I am not a fan of short stories. It's not that I don't think they're not well-written, because I do think they are. It is just that they're not always so satisfying and leaves one wanting more.

Not this time. I enjoyed every single one of Kingsolver's short stories. I have read a few of her novels and think her last book, "Animal, Food, Miracle" is the best book yet so far. Obviously, this collection of short stories are her earlier works ... and still just as good. These short stories told stories of people's lives, such as a young shoplifter moving into an old house wanting to change her ways. She ends up helping her elderly neighbor and yet witness a crime that led to the neighbor's downfall. Then there is the story of Rose-Johnny, a sad reflection of the life of prejudice and racism. Then there's the last story of an union worker who was arrested to break up the union. All of these stories in this collection are realistic and shares the ideals that we humans have ... as well as the imperfections. One cannot help but relate to each of the characters in this collection.

This is another recommendation for short stories fans out there and I am glad that I discovered this gem!

10/19/09

Daring to Engage 2009-04-04

Reviewer: Patricia Kramer

The breadth of Barbara Kingsolver's work continues to amaze me. Some of the stories in this book were just ok, but many of them blew me away with how powerful they were. This book is about relationships and the struggle to overcome the ongoing dialogue going on in our head and daring to reach out and risk everything and authentically engage.

Another great book by Barbara Kingsolver 2009-03-18

Reviewer: SusieQ Porter

I would heartily recommend all of Barbara Kingsolver's books, but I would suggest starting with her first book and reading them in order. She started out as an intelligent, compassionate, passionate and excellent writer, but reading them in order also allows you to see how her writing has matured, or ripened. She is one of my favorite fiction writer, although not all of her work is pure fiction. She manages to inject her world view in every book.

Her novels are brilliant, her short stories aren't quite... I still always recommend her! 2006-11-05

Reviewer: R. Peterson

Kingsolver, who has never written anything that hasn't awed me, manages to capture much of the very essence of the human existence in our culturally and socially backward world (and country). These stories, however, are not nearly as powerful and earth-moving for me as her novels (Prodigal Summer, Poisonwood Bible, Pigs in Heaven, etc..)

This is a collection of short stories that each deal with the frustrations that average people face in their desire to lead normal, quiet, decent lives. Frequently her personages are `different' in some way and their frustrations are compounded in economic, social, cultural and sometimes just personal ways. And the power of persistence, love, and respect is frequently what combats those frustrations. None of these stories are loud and angry, none are suspenseful or thrilling, but each is softly, powerfully moving and thought provoking.

I respond to Kingsolver because she presents her characters in ways that pull in the reader, leaving the reader as an ally, quietly rooting for the protagonist. I always recommend Kingsolver to other readers because she can enlighten you without you even knowing it!

Talented writing, but the stories get redundant 2006-04-17

Reviewer: Mark Daniels

My sister and I are both big readers; my favorite novelists are John Irving and Anne Tyler, her favorite is Barbara Kingsolver. I decided to give Kingsolver a try, and decided to start with this book - her short stories - to get a taste, and see if it was worth my time to try one of her longer works.

The writing talent is certainly there, but I feel after reading this collection (and reading the summaries of Kingsolver's full length novels), I've already read enough to decide not to go further.

The similarity of subject matter becomes redundant after awhile. Every story (and - apparently - every Kingsolver novel) tells the story of a semi-lost woman (usually living in Arizona or Appalachia), each containing an element from the natural world as a metaphor for that confused woman's life. Kingsolver's naturalist interests are obvious; we get an Indian woman's God-like reverence for the stars, another character's interest in Geology, a child's interest in endangered species, etc.

We're also occasionally shamed into caring more for the environment, as Kingsolver does. The story "Extinctions" is a good example of what I mean, with the heroine's two children interested in whales and dinosaurs: "(Matt's) infatuation is not whales but dinosaurs - species that are already gone. It strikes her that by the time her sons are grown there will be little difference. Their own children will view whales as kinds of dinosaurs - mythical beasts - not something real, to mourn. They will never believe those huge, fishlike creatures moved through the seas in modern times, while people were driving around in Hondas and drawing money from bank machines." Now, I'm as Liberal as a hippie, and perhaps we SHOULD care more for the natural world than we do, but must I be ashamed that I don't, and shamed for owning an automobile and ATM card? I think that's a bit preachy, Barb. Subtle perhaps, but preachy.

With all due respect for my sister's tastes, I'll stick with my John Irving novels for the time being. I guess I like male protagonists from New England better than female protagonists from Kentucky and Arizona.