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The Unfinished World: And Other Stories
The Unfinished World: And Other Stories | Amber Sparks
A highly anticipated collection of wildly imaginative short stories from one of contemporary fictions true mad scientists (Necessary Fiction). In the weird and wonderful tradition of Kelly Link and Karen Russell, Amber Sparkss dazzling new collection bursts forth with stories that render the apocalyptic and otherworldly hauntingly familiar. In The Cemetery for Lost Faces, two orphans translate their grief into taxidermy, artfully arresting the passage of time. The anchoring novella, The Unfinished World, unfurls a surprising love story between a free and adventurous young woman and a dashing filmmaker burdened by a mysterious family. Sparkss storiespopulated with sculptors, librarians, astronauts, and warriorsform a veritable cabinet of curiosities. Mythical, bizarre, and deeply moving, The Unfinished World and Other Stories heralds the arrival of a major writer and illuminates the search for a brief encounter with the extraordinary.
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AnneCecilie
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December 12: A History of Heart Disease by Amber Sparks. Story published in Wigleaf

The title of the story says it all the first sentence is “Glen‘s father dies in a Burger King.”

This is the shortest story so far

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Christine
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Pickpick

Excellent collection that I've been meaning to get to for ages (so far 2020 is a backlist bonanza for me 🙂). I liked all of the stories and loved many. Such a wide range of memorable characters and dreamy but grounded settings, always with at least an undercurrent (sometimes more like a huge breaking wave!) of creepy. Transporting and thoroughly enjoyable.

rachelm I love her forthcoming collection (I got an ARC) 5y
Christine @rachelm I can‘t wait for that! Sounds amazing. 5y
46 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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balletbookworm
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Pickpick

Oh, so good! I've had this on my TBR since I heard about it on All the Books. A story collection that walks the line between reality and fantasy with a good dose of historical fiction. But it all seems so fresh and compulsively readable - I read it in two sittings separated only by the length of time it took to cook and eat dinner. Definite recommend.

Bookishaf Definitely one of my favorite reads from the last few years!!! 7y
ferskner This is such a gem! 7y
34 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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haileybean
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1.) Minnesota
2.) I don‘t have a planned TBR 😬 this failed me last time. I read the outsiders for the first time and didn‘t want to read after I finished it.
3.) ...Halloween candy that I‘m sneaking
4.) this is only my second attempt at the readathon. This is the first time I‘ve had the weekend off.
5.) NOT READ THE OUTSIDERS

-I tagged who I took the image from, because THANK YOU.

Kalalalatja You are welcome, although I reposted it from someone else, so I can't take all the credit 😊 7y
10 likes1 comment
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haileybean
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JackieSmith This sounds amazing! I look forward to seeing your review. 7y
haileybean @JackieSmith I‘m about 50 pages in of 220, and so far it‘s been really good. I‘m hoping it continues :) 7y
14 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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haileybean
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I really love that little aside. “Holy shit, John.”😂

Cinfhen 😂 7y
9 likes1 stack add1 comment
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RiaWritten
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This one dazzles me. You kind of can't tell from the photo but it literally sparkles.

Rachellynnwright I ❤️ sparkly books! 7y
27 likes1 comment
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janeycanuck
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Mehso-so

I'm just not a short story person. Though, the odd one in here captured my interest. But not the bulk.

7 likes1 stack add
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janeycanuck
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Time for some Tonight Dough while I read a story from the Unfinished World because #booksandicream is the best! I'm not usually a short story person but this was in the @bookriot Best of 2016 box so I'm giving it a go, reading a story every night. #riotgrams

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Beachesnbooks
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Still going strong with my goal to read one short story collection per month! Really enjoying this one so far; the first story was about a janitor in space escaping a traumatic past and was so rich and atmospheric in only 5 pages.

elkeOriginal I bought this months ago due to Litsy posts and keep meaning to get back to it! Thanks for the reminder 😁 7y
29 likes4 stack adds1 comment
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ferskner
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Pickpick

So so so gorgeous! The title novella is particularly wonderful, but all the stories were surreal and mysterious and archane in the best way. I'm surprised at how much I liked this when short stories aren't generally my thing.

20 likes1 stack add
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Amandajoy
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I had to head out of town for a couple of days for a job interview (keep your fingers crossed). In my haste & nervousness I left my current read (Lab Girl) sitting on the table.☹️ But never fear! In true bookworm fashion, I already had this packed in my work bag & another "just-in-case" book packed in my luggage. ?

ValerieAndBooks Good luck! And glad you have back-ups! 8y
Wife Good Luck 🍀 8y
Cinfhen Good luck with your interview 💛 8y
42 likes1 stack add4 comments
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EvieBee
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8little_paws Yesssss her first collection is 💯💯💯 8y
EvieBee @8little_paws I'm so excited about her! 8y
47 likes2 comments
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sweetteabonnie
Pickpick

I wasn't a huge fan of every story, but there was such a huge variety that there we TONS that I loved. A great book to skip around in if you feel like one or two of the short stories doesn't fit your interests. Over all I really liked the odd worlds created within it. 📘

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quietjenn
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Pickpick

I like to read short stories on my commute. This is the title I've been making my way through most recently. Only had a few minutes left, so decided to finish this afternoon. It's a pretty wonderful collection.

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Jokila
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Jokila A gift that made me feel extra special ☺️💕🦄 8y
britt_brooke 💕💕💕 8y
thec0zy So cute 💜 8y
46 likes3 comments
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EmilyAnne
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Pickpick

Started and finished this lovely little collection today 😊 I've just recently gotten into short stories (so I tend to read them like novels), and these were great! Slightly weird and fun, this was a nice quick read to start off the year 😜

8little_paws Too funny, I just started her first collection tonight 8y
EmilyAnne @8little_paws oooooo awesome, let me know how you like it! 8y
8little_paws @emilyanne so far it's absolutely fantastic, some of the best short story writing I've ever read. If you like her style you will also like Kelly Link 8y
8little_paws And Jac Jemc's collection 8y
EmilyAnne @8little_paws I loved get in trouble!! And added the other one to my list 😊 8y
17 likes5 comments
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dylanisreading
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The cover is gorgeous, and the first story is incredibly written. #gorgeouscovers

18 likes1 stack add
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Matilda
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mdemanatee The Unfinished World is so good! 8y
Matilda @mdemanatee looking forward to it! 8y
70 likes7 stack adds2 comments
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catieohjoy
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The beautiful, iridescent cover made me pull this off the shelf at my local bookstore. The blurb from Roxane Gay made me buy it. And now I'm going to try to sneak in a couple stories before I snooze. 💤

jessberk13 I have bought books based on their covers more times than I can count lol 8y
Redwritinghood I really liked that book. It's one of my favorites this year. 8y
BookishFeminist I loved this book! It's magical and wonderful. 8y
WordWaller I've been wanting to buy this book since I saw the cover. ❤️ 8y
46 likes1 stack add4 comments
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MadCatRamble
Pickpick

As soon as I saw Roxane Gay's endorsement for this collection I was in, but Amber Sparks still managed to bowl me over. The titular novella is a subtle meditation on what it is to exist in the world, and the other stories, which cover everything from a taxidermist to murderous families, blew my high expectations out of the water. Brilliant, weird, sad and funny, this is the best collection I've read in ages.

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catiewithac
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When the other books you're reading don't interest you but you don't want to start another novel...a new collection of short stories is so perfect!

BookishFeminist I loved this book. Amber Sparks 🙌🏼 8y
8 likes1 comment
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CAGirlReading
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Pickpick

Excellent collection of short stories, dark, fantastical and almost impossible to put down...thank goodness it was only 220 pages!📚📚📚📚📚

WordWaller OMG I want to read this so bad. Been swooning over the cover for months! 8y
9 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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CAGirlReading
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Currently reading and wondering why I left this on my TBR for so long! When a collection of short stories contains a story titled "The Lizzie Borden Jazz Babies" it has to be interesting...

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JessReads
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Current audiobook listen! I love audio short story collections that have a variety of narrators, because it really makes each story feel like its own little world. So far, this one is great!

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StephAuteri
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I like to juggle heavy and light, but this book seems poised somewhere in between. Already excited by the first story.

3 likes1 stack add
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BookishFeminist
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When your book matches your space pants 🌌 Readathon game strong for hour 18! #ReadWomen

Chessa This is amazing. 9y
squibblesreads I ADORED the first story in this book. I've never been so affected by 5 pages in my life. 😭💜 9y
TirzahPrice I bought this book today solely based on this post. 9y
See All 7 Comments
BookishFeminist @TirzahPrice you won't regret it! I'm nearly done with it and it is fantastic :) 9y
BookishFeminist @squibblesreads Same here! The first story immediately sucked me in. I got this from the library but I think imma buy it I love it so much :) 9y
BookishFeminist @Chessa Thanks!! 💫 9y
TirzahPrice Oh, that makes me feel good about this impulsive book-buying decision! I debated it but the synopsis and cover were so pretty I went back for it!! 9y
26 likes3 stack adds7 comments
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squibblesreads

Every death is a love story. It's the goodbye part, but the love is still there, wide as the world.

13 likes1 stack add
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wendybird
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Pickpick

So fantastical and generally delightful. A+

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Sandra
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Pickpick

Lovely, sometimes sad, with just enough magic.

3 likes1 stack add
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squibblesreads
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I hauled this from the library! A short story collection with magical realism and horror elements, in the same vein as Kelly Link and Aimee Bender. THAT COVER THOUGH 😍🙌🏼

Megabooks I love Kelly Link! I'll have to check that out! 9y
Bookishaf I really enjoyed that collection. Hope you do too! 9y
squibblesreads @Jaderyan21 that is so good to hear, thank you! 💕😊 9y
BookishFeminist About halfway through this right now and love it! Agree with the Kelly Link comparison 9y
courtney I'm so game for anything compared to my bae Aimee 9y
26 likes5 stack adds5 comments
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RebeccaSpeas
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Pickpick

Fabulist, magical, & bizarre stories about everything from space janitors & time travelers to fever librarians & Lancelot in the jungle searching for Prester John. A quick, imaginative read.

9 likes1 stack add
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OneMorePageBooks
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Pickpick

From staffer Rebecca:
"Fabulist, magical, & bizarre stories about everything from space janitors & time travelers to fever librarians & Lancelot in the jungle searching for Prester John. A quick, imaginative read."

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RebeccaSpeas
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RebeccaSpeas
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"Tees a is one of those people who substitute scarves for personality."

WHAT A GREAT DESCRIPTION

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RebeccaSpeas
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Not usually a short story reader, but I've heard nothing but good things about this magical collection! (Magic is always appreciated.)

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kristenlcoates
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I mean. Come on. 💔❤️

estellasrevenge This boooook. 9y
kristenlcoates @estellasrevenge I knowwwew. I am having feelings. 9y
2 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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kristenlcoates
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Currently reading for book club, and I am SO pleasantly surprised. It is so fantastically magical, strange, and beautiful. Cannot recommend this enough.

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jeff
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Treasures from two recent visits to Park Road Books in CLT. I have a book problem.

jeff @CherylRussell, @rebeccaschinsky - I snagged the last copy of "the unfinished world" and got the bookstore owner excited about the book. +1 for your Litfluence. ?? 9y
todd Shotgun to borrow "Unfinished World" after you've read it. 9y
BookNotes 👍 9y
Connie Best problem to have! 😃 9y
14 likes4 comments
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rebeccaschinsky
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Can't stop thinking about these dark, strange, beautiful stories.

jeff Excited about this one. 9y
17 likes9 stack adds1 comment