On with the Story : Stories Tag - A New York Times Notable Book of the Year

Rating:
Summary: fact or ...?
Review: John Barth has proven his ability to create interesting, fantastical yet plausible worlds with a deft magical realism. But I found this, his most recent collection, severely lacking and even cannibalistic--there are passages repeated from earlier stories of his verbatim! A sorely disappointing collection, in comparison to his eariler works.

Rating:
Summary: Lacking in comparison to his earlier works
Review: John Barth has proven his ability to create interesting, fantastical yet plausible worlds with a deft magical realism. But I found this, his most recent collection, severely lacking and even cannibalistic--there are passages repeated from earlier stories of his verbatim! A sorely disappointing collection, in comparison to his eariler works.

Rating:
Summary: amazing storytelling
Review: the intricate intertwining of these short stories was so good that after finishing I didn't just recommend it to everyone, I bought 25 copies to force on friends so they almost HAD to read it. lots of literary games going on, but not at the expense of the story in general. the main story focus of a married couple, their struggles, and exactly what's wrong with the health of one of them gives these stories a dark edge.

Rating:
Summary: amazing storytelling
Review: the intricate intertwining of these short stories was so good that after finishing I didn't just recommend it to everyone, I bought 25 copies to force on friends so they almost HAD to read it. lots of literary games going on, but not at the expense of the story in general. the main story focus of a married couple, their struggles, and exactly what's wrong with the health of one of them gives these stories a dark edge.

Rating:
Summary: fact or ...?
Review: This collection of stories is really a collection of ingenious essays -- on narrative, fiction writing, and stories themselves -- masquerading as fiction. Witty and inventive. Great fun for grad-student aspiring fictioneers.