I tend not to read short stories…I find myself too often disappointed by the rushed storyline, lack of character development. I’m not sure how to categorize these stories, other than unsettling. Solid, quality writing, but I’m left undecided whether or not I enjoyed it.

Yet another absolutely exquisite book of provocative and often harrowing book of short stories by short story master T. C. Boyle. I thoroughly enjoyed these varied, raucous tales of deceit, ineptitude and lust. Perfection in every sense.

I’ve read quite a few of T.C. Boyle’s novels because he usually seems to pick subjects which interest me, often involving nature, other species, or non-mainstream human lives. This may be the first collection of his short stories which I’ve read, but the stories were just as interesting as the novels.

After I read this collection, I made a list of the stories and their topics. Looking over the list now, I found myself smiling with memories of the characters and plots even when some of the subjects may not seem pleasant—a Covid cruise, credit ratings as social control, a 31-year-old who won’t move out of his parents’ house, a town hallucinating from bad flour, a med student operating on a dog (the toughest for me to read, but stick with it). Boyle writes in a mostly straightforward style with a sense of humor and honesty which might offend the overly politically correct (for example, one story titled Not Me begins with the warning that it happened a long time ago).

Big thanks to the author for his work, and to Ecco and NetGalley for the advance copy to review.

Thanks to Netgalley and Ecco for the ebook. As wonderful as a novelist as he is, T.C. Boyle will always be a master of the short story and here is his latest collection that jumps around the world and time as he lets his grand imagination roam from a luxury liner that can’t find a port that will take them as a new virus makes its way around the world, to a man who pays a monthly fee for the right to move into an elderly woman’s apartment after she passes away, only to see her have one birthday after another. And he takes you so many other places, with his endless wit and intelligence.

I requested this book from Netgalley solely based on the strength of Boyle’s novel Talk to Me. And sure enough, in short form the author doesn’t disappoint either. In fact, this collection is pretty terrific. Some writers just that that certain quality – the organic storytelling technique. They write as if they are speaking directly to you, the natural raconteurs. Boyle is that kind of author. An absolute pleasure to read.
Even though some of the stories weren’t as plot driven as I might have liked. Even though Boyle is prone to page-long paragraphs and paragraph-long sentences. No matter the destination, the journey there was a joy each and every time. Such a striking reminder of the power of words, the evocative potency of language and the beauty of unfolding narrative.
Great collection of short stories. Just what literary fiction ought to be. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.