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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
I was never big on reading short stories, but this year I’ve suddenly been diving into a lot of collections. This is easily the best I’ve read so far. There’s a lot of variety in the stories, both in terms of content, theme, and technique, and they all pack an emotional punch. Really stirring, stunning work here.
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Watkins proves to be an articulate, powerful writer in these short stories that serve as modern westerns. In the desolation of contemporary society, Watkins shows the isolation of the individual against a harsh Nevada backdrop. Rather than getting involved in gunfights, the characters engage in emotional turmoil, pitting themselves against each other and their pasts. Sharp prose skewers scene after scene and will take your breath away. Not for the faint of heart or those who can't stomach a lot of anguish, but recommended to fans of Karen Russell and George Saunders.
I was surprised that this didn't resonate me, given how much I enjoyed Watkins's novel, "Gold Fame Citrus," and how obsessed I am with the West. Of this collection "Rondine al Nido" stuck with me, and I liked "The Diggings" best. This makes me think that Watkins really shines in the long form (never a bad thing), and despite not being so keen on this collection, I'll definitely read her future novels.
I might have only given this book three stars, but then I read the final story and felt compelled to add the extra. That was the story that resonated most with me. All the stories good. The way she describes the desolation of the landscape and the desolation in her characters is stunning.
Excellent debut short story collection with impressive variety and range. "The Diggings" makes a good Western fix, especially post-The Sisters Brothers.
Best collection I've read in a long time. Loved the Nevada setting, too. Although I've spent no more than a weekend in Vegas, I had such a clear picture of the place and what these characters felt about living there.
4.5 if I had the option.
A stunning collection of brutal, heart-breaking, inspiring and powerful stories. Set in and around Reno, Nevada, Watkins has put together a series of stunning vignettes of relationships or people teetering on the brink of collapse. The setting is critical to the atmosphere of these tense and sometimes tragic stories and Watkins is brilliant at evoking the cruelty of the desert both literally (in stories about people stranded in various ways) and lurking beneath the civilisation of the towns and cities of the region.
A stunning collection of brutal, heart-breaking, inspiring and powerful stories. Set in and around Reno, Nevada, Watkins has put together a series of stunning vignettes of relationships or people teetering on the brink of collapse. The setting is critical to the atmosphere of these tense and sometimes tragic stories and Watkins is brilliant at evoking the cruelty of the desert both literally (in stories about people stranded in various ways) and lurking beneath the civilisation of the towns and cities of the region.
This is a collection of short stories and like most any book that does that, some stories are better than others. Overall, I never pictured myself giving it less than 3 stars. There were 2 stories however, that I'll carry with me for a while I think. For me, those stories were 5 stars worthy.
The stories are strange and often sad, but very well written.
The stories are strange and often sad, but very well written.
more like 3.5 stars, a couple stand out stories, but a couple that didn't work for me, too...I liked the variety of characters and the settings were mostly western US.