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readingjag's review
3.0
This is the anthology that I read in college that has the story about the newlyweds and the neighbor and the birds! (The Quail by Rolf Yngve). I'm so freaking glad I remembered this, it was driving me insane.
stellarsphyr's review
4.0
As with any anthology, there will be some sections that fall flat, while others astound. Sudden Fiction is more astounding than flat, and there are quite a few reasons why you should consider reading this collection:
The stories are short-short -- about 1 to 4 pages. You can breeze through ten before bed and feel quite accomplished (though you may want to take a break and digest some of the true zingers in this book).
The Afterwords section has blurbs from the authors of the stories trying to define the subgenre of the short-short story and its popularity -- so you may find yourself falling in love with a new way of telling stories.
For you aspiring writers out there, short-short fiction is a wonderful way to hone your skills as a writer since it focuses on the essentials of the story (you -must- be economical with your words to convey a story in a page or two). Of course, that means the subgenre brings with it a sort of special difficulty to it.
The stories are short-short -- about 1 to 4 pages. You can breeze through ten before bed and feel quite accomplished (though you may want to take a break and digest some of the true zingers in this book).
The Afterwords section has blurbs from the authors of the stories trying to define the subgenre of the short-short story and its popularity -- so you may find yourself falling in love with a new way of telling stories.
For you aspiring writers out there, short-short fiction is a wonderful way to hone your skills as a writer since it focuses on the essentials of the story (you -must- be economical with your words to convey a story in a page or two). Of course, that means the subgenre brings with it a sort of special difficulty to it.
caitpoytress's review
3.0
Some of my favorites:
Mother - Grace Paley
Sunday in the Park - Bel Kaufman
Pygmalion - John Updike
Strong Man - George Garrett
Tickits - Paul Milenski
The Sock - Lydia Davis
Speed of Light - Pat Rushin
The Quail - Rolf Yngve
Yours - Mary Robison
Mother - Grace Paley
Sunday in the Park - Bel Kaufman
Pygmalion - John Updike
Strong Man - George Garrett
Tickits - Paul Milenski
The Sock - Lydia Davis
Speed of Light - Pat Rushin
The Quail - Rolf Yngve
Yours - Mary Robison
jossarian4's review
4.0
This is a pretty average collection of stories, but it has a special place on my shelf because it introduced me to the wonderful absurd Russel Edson.
busyenjoyinglife's review
3.0
some of them were eh...
but worth reading for the few that are amazing, and for most of them - which were good
but worth reading for the few that are amazing, and for most of them - which were good
its_hay's review
1.0
Blandest book I've ever read. Only two good stories: "No One's A Mystery" and "Any Moment..."
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