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carolpk's review against another edition
5.0
Local Souls published on September 23rd. I read a review copy so some of my comments may not reflect the finished work. My sincere thanks to Liveright, W.w. Norton Publishing for providing the e-galley and for Joe Foster of Edelweiss for his recommendation.
Rarely do I read reviews before formulating my own comments. In this case I wanted a bit of insight as I was having difficulty describing this read. I was totally enraptured by the whole but didn't know quite how to explain why or the book itself. I'm generally not a fan of short story or novella and wondered if Local Souls was for me. I always feel like I'm missing something, like everyone else gets it and I'm left scratching my head. I needn't have worried in this case. I got it and got it loud and clear but how do I gain your interest if I can't quite explain it.
We have three stories, linked together at least by their location, Falls, NC. Each is told from the viewpoint of one character who expertly fleshes out others in their family and/or the town. I feel like I am in the head of the narrator, and get a strong understanding of their thoughts and feelings. Some of what is told is very painful and made me wince for the character. One I just wanted to shake.
Fear Not the first, begins at a play which the male narrator is attending to see his godson perform. He, this narrator , has just sent his long worked on manuscript out in the mail and is a bit at odds as to what comes next. A couple sits next to him. They seem a bit different than most regulars at these school plays, not quite the right age, not quite as jaded as most who've been to numerous productions by their offspring over the years. They seem delighted to be here and delighted by each other, touching and whispering, very at ease in their knowledge of the other. The narrator and the couple talk a bit before the play begins, spend some time chatting during intermission and generally hit it off well. The narrator is intrigued. Who are they? and what of them? As he learns their story he fills us in, telling us first that the story he is about to relate is mostly true. Soon he tells us the story is 80% true. Either way, it's an excellent tale, with passages both visually stunning and beautifully rendered.
The second story, Saints Have Mothers was the one that blew me away. The narrator here is a mother of somebody. That is how she thinks of her daughter; a somebody. It is a story of a mother's worse nightmare and the one that made me wince. I'll say nothing more except that I loved it.
The last, Decoy, is told from the perspective of a man and his doctor and their long history together and in the town. Good, not as compelling as the first two but worthy just the same.
In the three stories we get a true sense of Falls, NC. It is a small town, 6000+ residents, sounding much like the community I live making me feel right at home.
Nothing extraordinary in these lives, but the ordinariness of theselocal souls is what makes them special.
My favorite quote (Fear Not):
"many routes to joy.
Most of them: detours"
Runner up (Saints Have Mothers):
"Men are so simple, they think women are!"
and lastly (Decoy):
"My body gave signs it itself wanted to retire. From any strenuous further use."
All taken out of context but I love them so.
One reviewer felt this outing did not live up to the author's usual standards. I couldn't say as I've never read him before but if this is a mediocre collection, then I truly need to read more. Gurganus is the author of the acclaimed Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All. Haven't read it. Better put it on my list.
Rarely do I read reviews before formulating my own comments. In this case I wanted a bit of insight as I was having difficulty describing this read. I was totally enraptured by the whole but didn't know quite how to explain why or the book itself. I'm generally not a fan of short story or novella and wondered if Local Souls was for me. I always feel like I'm missing something, like everyone else gets it and I'm left scratching my head. I needn't have worried in this case. I got it and got it loud and clear but how do I gain your interest if I can't quite explain it.
We have three stories, linked together at least by their location, Falls, NC. Each is told from the viewpoint of one character who expertly fleshes out others in their family and/or the town. I feel like I am in the head of the narrator, and get a strong understanding of their thoughts and feelings. Some of what is told is very painful and made me wince for the character. One I just wanted to shake.
Fear Not the first, begins at a play which the male narrator is attending to see his godson perform. He, this narrator , has just sent his long worked on manuscript out in the mail and is a bit at odds as to what comes next. A couple sits next to him. They seem a bit different than most regulars at these school plays, not quite the right age, not quite as jaded as most who've been to numerous productions by their offspring over the years. They seem delighted to be here and delighted by each other, touching and whispering, very at ease in their knowledge of the other. The narrator and the couple talk a bit before the play begins, spend some time chatting during intermission and generally hit it off well. The narrator is intrigued. Who are they? and what of them? As he learns their story he fills us in, telling us first that the story he is about to relate is mostly true. Soon he tells us the story is 80% true. Either way, it's an excellent tale, with passages both visually stunning and beautifully rendered.
The second story, Saints Have Mothers was the one that blew me away. The narrator here is a mother of somebody. That is how she thinks of her daughter; a somebody. It is a story of a mother's worse nightmare and the one that made me wince. I'll say nothing more except that I loved it.
The last, Decoy, is told from the perspective of a man and his doctor and their long history together and in the town. Good, not as compelling as the first two but worthy just the same.
In the three stories we get a true sense of Falls, NC. It is a small town, 6000+ residents, sounding much like the community I live making me feel right at home.
Nothing extraordinary in these lives, but the ordinariness of theselocal souls is what makes them special.
My favorite quote (Fear Not):
"many routes to joy.
Most of them: detours"
Runner up (Saints Have Mothers):
"Men are so simple, they think women are!"
and lastly (Decoy):
"My body gave signs it itself wanted to retire. From any strenuous further use."
All taken out of context but I love them so.
One reviewer felt this outing did not live up to the author's usual standards. I couldn't say as I've never read him before but if this is a mediocre collection, then I truly need to read more. Gurganus is the author of the acclaimed Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All. Haven't read it. Better put it on my list.
dllh's review against another edition
3.0
When I picked this one up from my library, I didn't realize it was a set of novellas. I haven't read many novellas, but the ones I have have been tough. I think it's kind of an awkward form -- long enough to feel a little too long but not long enough to feel like a big hearty novel you can really get into. It's like the awkward teenager phase of fiction that nobody really wants to be all that much involved with.
The first two in this collection of three, and a good half of the third, fell pretty flat for me. The words and sentences were good, but the stories didn't do much for me. They didn't seem to have much emotional freight, and so they seemed oddly sized curiosities, little exercises in building a sense of place and maybe a little sense of character. But of course knowing that the story would be chopped off pretty soon after the development had built, I had trouble really connecting with either the fictional town of Falls or its inhabitants.
Well into the final novella, Decoy, after the catastrophe that basically bifurcates the thing, the piece took a turn for the better for me, and I thought the last 20 - 30 pages were good. But, 30 pages out of 300 make for pretty slim pickings, so it's not one I'd suggest.
The first two in this collection of three, and a good half of the third, fell pretty flat for me. The words and sentences were good, but the stories didn't do much for me. They didn't seem to have much emotional freight, and so they seemed oddly sized curiosities, little exercises in building a sense of place and maybe a little sense of character. But of course knowing that the story would be chopped off pretty soon after the development had built, I had trouble really connecting with either the fictional town of Falls or its inhabitants.
Well into the final novella, Decoy, after the catastrophe that basically bifurcates the thing, the piece took a turn for the better for me, and I thought the last 20 - 30 pages were good. But, 30 pages out of 300 make for pretty slim pickings, so it's not one I'd suggest.
danchrist's review against another edition
Loved the first story, "Lost Souls." Really enjoyed how it handled language and the characters, but there seemed to be something just a little off kilter.
That was confirmed by the second story, the one that drove me out of the book. Yikes. Sorry, but it was just not for me.
That was confirmed by the second story, the one that drove me out of the book. Yikes. Sorry, but it was just not for me.
mazza57's review against another edition
4.0
First book i have read written by Gurganus. he is fabulous at scene setting with a real fly on the wall type of writing. The style is clipped, sentences are short and sharp. He describes and brings characters alive without using masses of descriptive phrasing. The stories seem to be about loss and recovery. There are three tales all related by the setting in which they take place. The first two grabbed my attention and imagination from beginning to end. The third was less enthralling but came through in the end. I can thoroughly recommend giving this book a go
genevieve_c_s_b's review against another edition
Three stars for the first two novellas, but I couldn't finish the third.
sharonfalduto's review against another edition
2.0
I'm not sure what I want to tell you about this book. I checked it out hoping for some Fannie Flagg good ol' storytelling, and I didn'te quite get it. This is three novellas (which I didn't realize going in) all set in the town of Falls, North Carolina. In some ways they are more character studies than plot driven stories--which is fine, of course, but Gurganis abuses the metaphor and sometimes distances himself from the characters he's writing about. So, all in all, I'd give it a B-.
This is also the author of "The Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All," which I've never read, but I just love the title of.
This is also the author of "The Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All," which I've never read, but I just love the title of.
twomble's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rdebner's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the first two novellas in this collection, but couldn't really get into the third one.
piercedkl's review against another edition
5.0
A very nice collection of three novella's. The last one (the longest) took me a while to get through but it was totally worth it.
scherzo's review
2.0
Fear Not - tolerable
Saints Have Mothers - way too long; male thinking misplaced in female first person; 10-year old twins only likable characters; same thing over and over and over and over ...
Decoy - lost interest
Saints Have Mothers - way too long; male thinking misplaced in female first person; 10-year old twins only likable characters; same thing over and over and over and over ...
Decoy - lost interest
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