As with most collections of short stories, the contents actually vary from 5-star to *meh* ... I also recognize that the stars could vary from one reader to another -- one person's *meh* is another's solid gold ...
This collection, with its clever starting point of stories ripped from the headlines of America's finest supermarket checkout tabloids, contains one of my very favorite short stories, "Jealous Husband Returns in Form of Parrot." Like a masterclass in the creative use of Point of View, it's a must for any writer who wants tips on how POV can help shape your character, and your narrative. (I used this story repeatedly in my Creative Writing class ...) Watching as the consciousness of the Jealous Husband drifts away from the human he once was (and, indeed, the jealous human he once was ...) and become more and more birdlike, is just brilliant -- hilarious and sad, and very vivid. I hadn't read it for almost 10 years, so I was delighted to discover that it lived up to my very fond recollections of it.
My other two favorites were the opening and closing stories which -- no spoiler, I think -- are linked. (The "Titanic Victim ..." and "Titanic Survivors ..." in the titles might be a bit of a giveaway ...) I thought Butler gave in to the temptation to be a bit too, hmmm ... lyrical, which he resisted in "Jealous Husband," but even so, separately, they are lovely stories, and together they bring everything to a satisfying conclusion. Also found "JFK Secretly Attends Jackie Auction" very touching.
I wasn't blown away by any of the other stories, and (sadly) the conceit of the tabloid headlines began to feel forced. Again, thinking about the use of POV, Butler interpreted his grand design to mean that all of the stories are 1st person, and not all of the characters seem as engaging and sympathetic as the two from the Titanic stories, and the Jealous Husband. Perhaps it would have been better if he'd allowed himself some leeway in his interpretation of the headlines.
This collection, with its clever starting point of stories ripped from the headlines of America's finest supermarket checkout tabloids, contains one of my very favorite short stories, "Jealous Husband Returns in Form of Parrot." Like a masterclass in the creative use of Point of View, it's a must for any writer who wants tips on how POV can help shape your character, and your narrative. (I used this story repeatedly in my Creative Writing class ...) Watching as the consciousness of the Jealous Husband drifts away from the human he once was (and, indeed, the jealous human he once was ...) and become more and more birdlike, is just brilliant -- hilarious and sad, and very vivid. I hadn't read it for almost 10 years, so I was delighted to discover that it lived up to my very fond recollections of it.
My other two favorites were the opening and closing stories which -- no spoiler, I think -- are linked. (The "Titanic Victim ..." and "Titanic Survivors ..." in the titles might be a bit of a giveaway ...) I thought Butler gave in to the temptation to be a bit too, hmmm ... lyrical, which he resisted in "Jealous Husband," but even so, separately, they are lovely stories, and together they bring everything to a satisfying conclusion. Also found "JFK Secretly Attends Jackie Auction" very touching.
I wasn't blown away by any of the other stories, and (sadly) the conceit of the tabloid headlines began to feel forced. Again, thinking about the use of POV, Butler interpreted his grand design to mean that all of the stories are 1st person, and not all of the characters seem as engaging and sympathetic as the two from the Titanic stories, and the Jealous Husband. Perhaps it would have been better if he'd allowed himself some leeway in his interpretation of the headlines.
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