A review by raykluender
Cool for America: Stories by Andrew Martin

5.0

The touchpoints of this story collection (depression, Rites of Spring and the teenage punk scene, Larry McMurtry novels, drinking to excess, a brand of self-loathing particular to the overeducated) are all things I’ve aspired to or indulged in at various points in my life, which made the each of these stories hit the way Martin presumably intended. I typically have a hard time getting through short story collections—as someone with a terrible memory for characters, finding my footing in a new story takes effort I’m not always willing to invest—but this was a delightful exception. I’m sure this is in part due to the familiarity of the emotions and experiences, but these stories were pitch-perfect for me. Looking forward to reading his novel.