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discordantpages's review against another edition
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
glfowler's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
abimartho's review against another edition
funny
sad
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
pking90's review against another edition
5.0
This is an insightful, tender collection of stories, probably my favorite of Pink’s books so far. I’ve noticed other reviews mention it being “senseless” or “purposeless,” but I think that they’re not recognizing the space between the sentences (as pretentious as that sounds). These stories breathe, expand, reach out. Or maybe I just have a different idea of what purpose or sense is.
I hesitate to simplify, but you could say “blue collar Lydia Davis” and you wouldn’t be too far off. This is vital literature that is pulsing, pumping, jumping rope in an alley, doing push-ups in the woods behind the house.
I hesitate to simplify, but you could say “blue collar Lydia Davis” and you wouldn’t be too far off. This is vital literature that is pulsing, pumping, jumping rope in an alley, doing push-ups in the woods behind the house.
glamcake's review
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
blueote's review against another edition
4.75
Some of the best minimalist realism being published today. Pink feels like a true successor to Denis Johnson, and Ice Cream Man is one of the best short stories I've read in a long time. The story is both realistic in it's depiction of being exploited at a shitty job while still ultimately sending a positive message about life and work.
staciesbooks's review
3.0
Have you ever had a job that you hated?
Like, really, really hated? You know, that one job where you spent every day despising everyone and everything around you? That one job where it sucked the life out of you and turned you into a venom-soaked creature of perpetual resentment? You know...that job?
Because this short story collection is the literary embodiment of that state of existence.
If you ever wanted to buckle up for another spin through that hate-train, then this is the reading experience for you.
I don't know what it says about me, but I did relate to a solid chunk of these stories. This collection wasn't fun to read. It wasn't easy to read. However, it was oddly relatable in a twisted way. The Ice Cream Man and Other Stories takes the minutiae of every day life, and breaks it down into even smaller misery-filled segments. Pink's writing can be best described as brutally honest stream of consciousness. Some things are eerily accurate to experiences I've had before, and others weren't as impactful.
As with any short story collection, there will be certain stories that just don't click & other stories that you loved. Overall though, this did make me feel something. It wasn't feel-good by any means, but it did get a reaction out of me at the end of the day. If you're a fan of Pink's other work, I think this would be a decent book to pick up.
Like, really, really hated? You know, that one job where you spent every day despising everyone and everything around you? That one job where it sucked the life out of you and turned you into a venom-soaked creature of perpetual resentment? You know...that job?
Because this short story collection is the literary embodiment of that state of existence.
If you ever wanted to buckle up for another spin through that hate-train, then this is the reading experience for you.
I don't know what it says about me, but I did relate to a solid chunk of these stories. This collection wasn't fun to read. It wasn't easy to read. However, it was oddly relatable in a twisted way. The Ice Cream Man and Other Stories takes the minutiae of every day life, and breaks it down into even smaller misery-filled segments. Pink's writing can be best described as brutally honest stream of consciousness. Some things are eerily accurate to experiences I've had before, and others weren't as impactful.
As with any short story collection, there will be certain stories that just don't click & other stories that you loved. Overall though, this did make me feel something. It wasn't feel-good by any means, but it did get a reaction out of me at the end of the day. If you're a fan of Pink's other work, I think this would be a decent book to pick up.