How It Was for Me : Stories

Rating:
Summary: Extraordinary
Review: These stories are some of the finest I've read in years. I bought the book because I remembered a story Greer had published in Esquire a few years ago about twin boys that was brilliant. I was happy to see that that story is just one of a whole collection of phenomenal stories. Greer's ability to mine the complexities of human interaction and the lonliness and longing of childhood is masterful. I had the strong premonition reading these stories that Greer will go on to be an important writer; one who will have an impact on literature in the way that James or, more currently, Michael Cunningham or Howard Norman, has. Not only does he have an uncanny ability to translate very specific worlds, whether that be the middle-aged, opera-going upperclasses of the South, or the adolescent backyards of suburban Washington, but his concerns with the barriers of class, age, gender and sexuality all elevate these stories out of the category of merely good or accomplished, they are brilliant. There is a story at the end of the collection titled "Come Live With Me and Be My Love" that is simply one of the best stories I have ever read. I cannot recommend this book more strongly.

Rating:
Summary: These stories have depth and beauty!
Review: This is a fantastic collection of stories beautifully written. Some are funny and some are serious but all of them are touching and leave a lasting impression. Among my favorite stories are Titipu, Lost Causes, and Come Live with Me and Be My Love. Each is a gem of originality and beauty. There is a longing for connection to other people that allows us to relate to the narrator because we all have had these same desires. Ultimately this collection is about desire and connection and how it is fleeting for so many of us. Bravo! This is a beautiful book. I highly recommend it.