This is an incredibly powerful collection of short stories touching on parenting, PTSD, psychopharmacology, suicide, class, and immigration. Skip The Semplica Girl Diaries if you are squeamish. Enjoy the wonderful writing!
These are depressing stories about under-paid, overworked, over-medicated, and mostly miserable people. This is America of either the present or very near future, and it's not a pleasant place to be. What humor there is in these stories (and I'm not sure much is present) is very dark. The stories seemed somehow flat to me, but there were occasional moments of empathy, especially in the title story.
Honestly, I liked what George Saunders had to say for himself in the appended interview with David Sedaris more than the writing itself.
Honestly, I liked what George Saunders had to say for himself in the appended interview with David Sedaris more than the writing itself.
A very wide range of themes are played out throughout the stories. Without giving anything away, one story reminded me of a combination of 2 books: Flowers for Algernon and Harrison Bergeron, and another was reminiscent of Sedariss fable-esque stories from Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary. I love writers that are able to infuse humor and wit into their gut-wrenching tales, and this writer does so without skipping a beat. The stories all conveyed strong, emotional qualities and made me question several times over What if that were me? What if I were put in that position, what would I do? I am certain that some of the stories will stay with me for quite some time.
If you don't appreciate this book, you are not reading enough modern fiction. Saunders' characters are damaged, but linger in the imagination. Like all story collections, some of thw work will appeal to you more than others. Glad I read this.
