Reviews

Among the Missing by Dan Chaon

dustysummers's review against another edition

4.0

"What if you thought of the world as a big random drawing, and you were always winning things, The world offering them up with a big grin, like an emcee's: here you go Hollis, here is a motorcycle. Here is a little boy who loves you. Here is a weird experience, here is something bad that you should mull over because it will make you a better person."

petty_anthropology's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

pharmadelica's review against another edition

4.0

Pretty devastating.

Dan really knows how to use the short story medium. Putting in just the right amount of detail that you can map his characters' entire psychologies without more than a couple paragraphs of description.

Book relies on this to a huge degree. Each story is more a slightly different portrait of a depressed mid-western person than an actual sequence of events.

This hits home with the best stories (which are all at the start) but gets a little boring once you approach the end of the book.

All in all, very masterful work here though. Writer's writer kinda stuff. Would have liked to see some more variety in settings and character, but Dan is big into Write What You Know I guess.

caroline_ds's review against another edition

4.0

Well. Certainly not a very happy bunch of people, but written quite well as to still be very enjoyable.

rocketiza's review against another edition

3.0

I read Dan Chaon because I want to feel uncomfortable. And these stories all got up to speed quickly, but I prefer his novels where I don't get a break.

rebecca2023's review against another edition

3.0

I am just not a short story person.

eileen_critchley's review against another edition

3.0

Short stories. Some are quite haunting. If you don't like stories with a definite ending, these may not be for you; there isn't closure in all of them and you don't always know the final fates of the characters.

sarahbelwv's review against another edition

1.0

I only managed to read two of the short stories in this collection before calling it quits. I read "Safety Man" and "I Demand to Know Where You're Taking Me" and found both to be a bit strange, but not at all interesting. This was a huge disappointment after I recently finished reading You Remind Me of Me, which I adored.

nutmegan's review against another edition

dark emotional funny sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Among the Missing. Was literally so excited for this. Was totally invested after the first two short stories, but around the fourth I made a sad discovery. I feel like all the female characters are written to be hysterical, cold and paranoid women, and the men are overly-rational and constantly confused about the actions of the women. Extremely disappointed that the author is not meta-aware of his misogyny. 2 stars, 3 on a good day just because the first two stories. 

inthecommonhours's review against another edition

3.0

Amazing writing, but, good God, so disturbing. I think the stories might be best read individually, rather than in a collection.

My favorite was "Passengers, Remain Calm", though "Something To Remember Me By" is stronger (and probably the creepiest story I've read).