A review by pattydsf
The Nimrod Flipout: Stories by Etgar Keret

2.0

I first encountered Keret as the editior of Tel Aviv Noir. He had one short story in that book. I found the story weird, but I didn’t know anything about him or his usual writing. When I found this collection of thirty short stories for sale at the San Antonio library, I figured it was worth a dollar or two. I am still trying to decide whether it was worth the investment.

For the most part, I found Keret’s stories to be annoying. They were only mildly amusing. I didn’t like many of the characters and I didn’t like the way he portrayed women. This is why blurbs on book jackets can drive me crazy. I don’t think I read the same book as the people who wrote the blurbs.

Maybe it is because I am female. Most of the blurbs seem to be written by males. Also I think Keret’s writing is like the Three Stooges. I never understood why my brothers thought they were funny. From my perspective, Keret is writing about life as a man and I just didn’t get it. I am willing to put myself in characters’ shoes, but I didn’t find much to relate to.

Apparently Keret has been on This American Life. Maybe if I heard him tell his stories, I would have found them funnier.