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A review by jodyjsperling
The Complete Stories by Bernard Malamud
5.0
For such a massive volume, it is difficult to arrange my thoughts. Malamud achieved a feat I've never seen before: He failed to write a single uninteresting short story in his entire life. Some stood out, but none bored. Each of the Fidleman stories--save the last--is a masterpiece. "Still Life" may be the greatest short story I've ever read, certainly in the top three. "The First Seven Years", too, is extraordinary.
As one who had read several of Malamud's novels, and adored his long-form fiction, I wondered if he could possibly achieve such heights in short-form. The answer is yes, yes, yes. I can confidently say that if anyone does not see the brilliance of Malamud, s/he is not reading attentively enough.
As one who had read several of Malamud's novels, and adored his long-form fiction, I wondered if he could possibly achieve such heights in short-form. The answer is yes, yes, yes. I can confidently say that if anyone does not see the brilliance of Malamud, s/he is not reading attentively enough.