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jhallett's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
tommyhousworth's review against another edition
4.0
T.C. Boyle first caught my attention in the late 90's, when I purchased an anthology of his collected short stories (simply titled "Stories", this massive anthology had me from the first story). His verbal acrobatics were dazzling, and his stories often landed gut punches in the final paragraph. Each story unraveled in a different way, and no topic felt outside his command.
Fast forward to 2022 and he's not writing with the same linguistic pyrotechnics in mind - perhaps it is maturity, perhaps he's just letting the influence of one of his teachers - Raymond Carver - have more sway over his prose. The stories, however, remain captivating: a man can't shake a bar patron who insists she has ESP, a woman engages in conversation with an incel on a long train ride, a man makes an elderly apartment owner a deal he eternally regrets, a cruise ship full of passengers is stricken with COVID, well-meaning parents try to evict their 31-year-old son from their home. These are intriguing premises, and Boyle pays each one off with compelling plots and characters, as well as his trademark dark humor.
This may not be the first collection I'd recommend to someone new to Boyle's work, but it is certainly a worthy addition to his generous canon of short fiction.
Fast forward to 2022 and he's not writing with the same linguistic pyrotechnics in mind - perhaps it is maturity, perhaps he's just letting the influence of one of his teachers - Raymond Carver - have more sway over his prose. The stories, however, remain captivating: a man can't shake a bar patron who insists she has ESP, a woman engages in conversation with an incel on a long train ride, a man makes an elderly apartment owner a deal he eternally regrets, a cruise ship full of passengers is stricken with COVID, well-meaning parents try to evict their 31-year-old son from their home. These are intriguing premises, and Boyle pays each one off with compelling plots and characters, as well as his trademark dark humor.
This may not be the first collection I'd recommend to someone new to Boyle's work, but it is certainly a worthy addition to his generous canon of short fiction.
thomasgammon's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
j2mpala's review against another edition
1.0
Was bored most of the book. A couple of interesting stories, but all seemed to end abruptly. Felt like a scathing review of humanity with nothing new to contribute. I'm not sure there were even any characters I actually liked.
wildgurl's review against another edition
4.0
I Walk Between The Raindrops
by: T.C. Boyle
2022
ECCO/Harper Collins
**** ( 4 stars)
TC Boyle is one of the masters of short, chracter-driven stories, and this one does not disappoint. I love that his stories are all about 20 pages long, easy to read and fall into.
Boyle takes basic human situations on a twisted path with a lot of left turns. Clever and introspective, I enjoyed every story in this collection.
My three favorite stories in this collection are 'Asleep At The Wheel', 'The Thirteenth Day' and 'SCS750'. In 'Asleep At The Wheel', we are taken into the future....maybe our own....where cars are driven by themselves, and the different scenarios that could arise, if this were a reality. 'The Thirteenth Day' is a story about a couple who take a cruise to rejuvenate their relationship, and end up quarantined for 13 days at sea, due to a covid outbreak on the ship. 'SCS750' is a score, in a world where everyone is given a score that they must wear on a badge, the score gives them privileges, and accumulate from your "activity". Everything has a score. Except loyalty.
If you enjoy extraordinary characters in dire situations, that leave you with points to ponder, pick up one of TC Boyles novels of short stories.
by: T.C. Boyle
2022
ECCO/Harper Collins
**** ( 4 stars)
TC Boyle is one of the masters of short, chracter-driven stories, and this one does not disappoint. I love that his stories are all about 20 pages long, easy to read and fall into.
Boyle takes basic human situations on a twisted path with a lot of left turns. Clever and introspective, I enjoyed every story in this collection.
My three favorite stories in this collection are 'Asleep At The Wheel', 'The Thirteenth Day' and 'SCS750'. In 'Asleep At The Wheel', we are taken into the future....maybe our own....where cars are driven by themselves, and the different scenarios that could arise, if this were a reality. 'The Thirteenth Day' is a story about a couple who take a cruise to rejuvenate their relationship, and end up quarantined for 13 days at sea, due to a covid outbreak on the ship. 'SCS750' is a score, in a world where everyone is given a score that they must wear on a badge, the score gives them privileges, and accumulate from your "activity". Everything has a score. Except loyalty.
If you enjoy extraordinary characters in dire situations, that leave you with points to ponder, pick up one of TC Boyles novels of short stories.
sarrra93's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
5.0
speakyourfears's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
gohawks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5