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I‘m a big George Saunders fan but this short story collection didn‘t work for me as well as some of his others. Interesting things to say, as always/expected, about agency, impulse control, aging, regret, survival, to name a few topics these stories touch on. And yet, several of the stories didn‘t really work for me and I found myself skimming a couple of them. That said, I‘ll happily read whatever he writes next—he‘s always thought-provoking.

It's hard for anyone's work to be as over-hyped as George Saunders, but he always delivers. The title story, "Liberation Day," is inventive, haunting, probing, familiar, and contemporary all at once. No one masters voice like Saunders. "The Mom of Bold Action" and "Ghoul" are so funny yet searing. I love how Saunders blends hope, pain, and humor into an incredible emotional realism set against slightly satirical or exaggerated premises.

No one carries the torch of empathy farther than George Saunders

This didn‘t work for me at all. Frankly, I should have bailed.

Finally got around to reading this. The stories did start to feel a little same-y but I‘m a big Saunders fan, so really enjoyed them anyway.

This wasn‘t bad and may be an interesting collection of stories à la Black Mirror, but I also wouldn‘t call it amazing. The stories are often of dystopian futures of coerced, brainwashed citizens or police states rife with propaganda or existential panoramas of a single event or life and the questions that multiple perspectives raise. They‘re creative and fun themes to explore to be sure, but they‘re not exactly thrilling or filled with tension.

Another excellent short story collection from Saunders. All slightly absurd and satirical, and with the writer‘s trademark wit. “Ghoul” was a standout for me but they were all great.

This was strange. Some stories were amazing, some less so - confusing and a bit too out there for me

Just picked this large print edition up from the library. Is the lack of page numbers a choice? Or a printing error?

I loved Lincoln in the Bardo but this book of short stories just didn‘t capture me. The writing is good but I found the stories a bit confusing.
I‘m going to read another writer I love now Maggie OFarrell ❤️
#fiction #literature #ilovereading ❤️

Current Mood: George Saunders

3.5 stars rounded to 4 because it‘s Saunders. Some great, some ok, collection of (mostly) dystopian/ futuristic short stories. Odd worlds Saunders creates, and if you can go with him, purposeful and meaningful. I couldn‘t go with him on a couple, but that‘s why he‘s the creative genius and I‘m the high school teacher.

These felt like hiking already-walked trails that are not near so interesting this time around. Some felt very rehashed, some I didn't really care for/understand at all. Narration for the audiobook was good, but overall, I didn't love it.

⭐️⭐️ It pains me to say this about one of the most formidable short story authors of our time, but these stories felt so stale. Very reminiscent of earlier collections, and not in a positive way.

^^p 136 just imagine… gloppy run-on sentences of enthusiasm that shorten as doubt and/or shame kick in. The rhythm of stopping and starting, the yes and the maternal obstacle. Such a simple but masterful construction. And then the refuting of emotion, “tender or whatnot.” Feeling from someone who is not supposed to feel, perseverance and pursuit. The oddball love story of “Sparrow” is maybe the favorite in this collection.

A remix of familiar Saunders themes. Systems & resistance (reSystems?). Technology. Servitude. Sacrifice. Moral choices. Guilt. How to be “good.” Family. Historical narrative. Defamiliarized, truncated language. But feels more cautious & hesitant? Still the king of the spiraling plot, hapless characters getting in too deep. A Midwesternly dark politeness. Overly familiar formula, but works, laying bare human behavior. Just now more blandly? 2022

I signed up for the Zoom event with George Saunders through Parnassus Books in Nashville! I watched a fabulous interview with Saunders, and received the book in the mail a few days later. The collection contains nine short stories, and I enjoyed all of them. The stories discuss oppression in its various forms: fascism, classism, inequality, and even parenting. Saunders‘s writing is always purposeful and spare, yet conveys so much meaning.

...we assumed...that some adult or adults would arrive, as they had always arrived in the past, to set things right. It did not seem (and please destroy this letter after you have read it) that someone so clownish could disrupt something so noble and time-tested and seemingly strong, something that had been with us literally every day of our lives. We had taken, in other words, a profound gift for granted.
😢

Saunders is one of those authors that leaves me feeling a little dumb when I finish. 😂 I love his writing and I'm always intrigued, but some of it goes over my head.

This collection was great overall. Two stories I'm still pondering, trying to connect all the dots. My favorite was Mother's Day. It was so dark, but it presented so many concepts about families and relationships.

#NetGalley #ARC

• Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for providing this Advance Reading Copy. Expected publication date is October 18, 2022.

A collection of nine short stories. I hate to say this because I‘ve always enjoyed George Saunders in the past. It felt like homework, grueling homework, trying to get through these stories. They were OK, but I can honestly say that none of them are memorable or outstanding.