A review by marzo
Back in the World: Stories by Tobias Wolff
3.0
Back in the World (published in 1985) is Tobias Wolff’s second collection of short stories, the others being In the Garden of the North American Martyrs (1981) and The Night in Question (1997).
On the whole, I think Back in the World lacks the intensity of the other two collections: it is Tobias Wolff we are talking about, so you don’t really find anything which isn’t worth reading, but some of the stories seemed to me just underwhelming.
What I liked about this book is the unity of feeling. I think I can’t be wrong in saying that this is a book about solitude and the many forms it assumes in the lives of the characters. Every story is soaking with loneliness.
My personal favourites were:
1. Coming attractions
I had actually read this story some time ago and it had stayed with me (even if I forgot it was this story in this book). There were times when I would ask myself: where did I read that good story about the girl cleaning up the cinema and finding the glasses, then waiting for his boss and making strange phone calls? So I was obviously very happy when I found it was the first story in the book.
2. Desert Breakdown, 1968
In this one and in (3.) The Rich Brother I sensed a strong Flannery O’Connor influence in the brutality of the characters’ actions or intentions, even if Wolff’s characters never get to the extremes to which O’Connor pushed hers.
4. Our Story Begins
I didn’t really understand the ending of this one, but I really liked the general atmosphere.
I am really curious to see how many of my favourites from the three collection made it into the 2008 book of collected stories, which is next in my reading list.
On the whole, I think Back in the World lacks the intensity of the other two collections: it is Tobias Wolff we are talking about, so you don’t really find anything which isn’t worth reading, but some of the stories seemed to me just underwhelming.
What I liked about this book is the unity of feeling. I think I can’t be wrong in saying that this is a book about solitude and the many forms it assumes in the lives of the characters. Every story is soaking with loneliness.
My personal favourites were:
1. Coming attractions
I had actually read this story some time ago and it had stayed with me (even if I forgot it was this story in this book). There were times when I would ask myself: where did I read that good story about the girl cleaning up the cinema and finding the glasses, then waiting for his boss and making strange phone calls? So I was obviously very happy when I found it was the first story in the book.
2. Desert Breakdown, 1968
In this one and in (3.) The Rich Brother I sensed a strong Flannery O’Connor influence in the brutality of the characters’ actions or intentions, even if Wolff’s characters never get to the extremes to which O’Connor pushed hers.
4. Our Story Begins
I didn’t really understand the ending of this one, but I really liked the general atmosphere.
I am really curious to see how many of my favourites from the three collection made it into the 2008 book of collected stories, which is next in my reading list.