A review by wincher2031
Complete Stories by Clarice Lispector, Benjamin Moser
4.0
Although these stories are (for the most part) separate from each other, in being collected together they form the larger story of the writer's journey. The changes in voice and theme throughout life are mirrored in each part, from the amateurish First Stories to the poignant portfolio of Via Crucis of The Body.
Lispector's writing often straddles the line between commercial and literary fiction, bringing the criteria for either into question. In her own words "Someone read my stories and said that's not literature, it's trash. I agree. But there's a time for everything. There's also the time for trash."
And this is a collection which can go from trashy-pulp style yarns to hard hitting, introspective think pieces on a dime, surprisingly without an overwhelming tonal whiplash.
These collected stories are a mystery bag (much more good than bad), a bag that's at home both on the spinning rack of a transit lounge and under the scrutiny of a college seminar.
My favourite line:
"People look for reasons to live as if life alone doesn't justify itself."
Lispector's writing often straddles the line between commercial and literary fiction, bringing the criteria for either into question. In her own words "Someone read my stories and said that's not literature, it's trash. I agree. But there's a time for everything. There's also the time for trash."
And this is a collection which can go from trashy-pulp style yarns to hard hitting, introspective think pieces on a dime, surprisingly without an overwhelming tonal whiplash.
These collected stories are a mystery bag (much more good than bad), a bag that's at home both on the spinning rack of a transit lounge and under the scrutiny of a college seminar.
My favourite line:
"People look for reasons to live as if life alone doesn't justify itself."