Float Up, Sing Down

𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐭 𝐔𝐩, 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧 (pub 02.06) Thank you to @bloomsbury and @netgalley for the early access.

I recently read 𝘡𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦 (same author) because @chelseyreads listed it as “𝟻 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 ‘𝘛𝘰𝘮 𝘓𝘢𝘬𝘦’” She was spot on with the comp. She then made me aware of this forthcoming collection of connected stories that take place in a small Indiana community over the course of one summer's day.

This slim novel was quiet, introspective, and full of simple pleasures. It was a slice-of-life story about very ordinary yet poignantly beautiful lives. While the aforementioned Zorrie makes an appearance, it isn’t focused on her. Each story features one of 14 characters, of all ages. I had a deeper affinity with the older characters yet felt a nostalgic pull towards the younger generation as well. While I only allowed myself to read one story per evening, I found myself thinking about these characters during the intervening hours.

As background, I absolutely adored ZORRIE. It was one of my top 3 books the year I read it. With that background in mind, I was excited to learn of this short story collection, especially since I read a lot of story collections. I'm delighted to say that FLOAT UP, SING DOWN exceeded even my very high expectations. Laird Hunt is such a talented writer, and in this collection we meet a cast of memorable characters living their everyday - and yet meaningful and memorable - lives. The writing is beautiful and literary and the plots, while quiet, astonish with their depth. I love stories that make the characters feel like real people, and this collection is likely to be my favorite of the year.

This book has a simple premise - a day in the life of the residents of a small town - and executes it brilliantly, with great feeling. It reminds the reader of what can happen when people tell the truth about who they are, and accept the realities of the life and people around them. The feelings of community and potential community also abound, making this a hopeful read during a time when so many people feel isolated and lonely.

Thank you NetGalley for a free e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Laird Hunt's "Float Up, Sing Down" is a tapestry of life in its most nuanced forms, a collection of stories that captures a single day in an Indiana community, resonating with the quiet depth and richness of everyday experiences. This collection stands as a testament to Hunt's mastery in crafting short fiction that delves into the intricacies of human life, reminiscent of the works of Willa Cather and Elizabeth Strout.

Each of the fourteen stories in this collection is a vignette, offering a window into the lives of the residents of this rural town. From Candy Wilson's forgetfulness about paprika to Della Dorner's secret destination on her new Schwinn five-speed, Hunt captures the small yet significant moments that make up the fabric of daily existence. The stories are beautifully interwoven, showcasing the interconnectedness of lives within a community. Gossip, routine, joy, and regret are all explored with a gentle yet profound touch, highlighting the shared humanity of the characters.

Hunt's prose is exquisite, marked by its clarity and elegance. He has a unique ability to draw the reader into the world he creates, making the mundane mesmerizing and the ordinary extraordinary. The stories are imbued with a sense of place so strong that the community itself emerges as a character, alive with its own rhythms and secrets.

However, the subtlety of the narratives might not cater to all readers. Those looking for dramatic plot developments or sensational twists may find "Float Up, Sing Down" a departure from their usual fare. The strength of this collection lies in its quiet revelations and the introspective journey it offers.

In "Float Up, Sing Down," Laird Hunt has created a symphony of souls, a portrait of loneliness and community that celebrates the extraordinary within the ordinary. This collection is a masterful exploration of the American experience, offering a rich and satisfying reading experience to those who appreciate literary fiction and the beauty of short stories.

Remember Spoon River Anthology? Our Town? Laird Hunt has given us another fine book where small town residents - still very alive in this case - share their thoughts and feelings about their lives in small town America. This is a collection of short stories but reads like a novel because of the shared time and place. Highly recommended whether or not you've read the wonderful Zorrie.

A beautiful collection full of interesting and realistically flawed characters. I think this author is something special and can't wait to continune reading thier work. The setting in this book was utterly captivating.

This book is a masterclass on how to write short stories that are connected. I fell in love with these characters. I love how they all had a connection to Zorrie (A book I adored). These characters has so much personality and heart. These stories are funny and really showcase how most people are really good.