A review by alisonhori
Fortune Smiles by Adam Johnson

1.0

So, it made the short list for the National Book award so I read it without knowing much but honestly, I have no idea why anyone would want to read this book. I don't think the stories are so well written or so emotionally powerful or so interesting in any way that it makes up for how uncomfortable they are to read. The story about the breast cancer mother viewing her husband and children was excrutiating to read but turns out not to be the worst....more of a toss up with the Nazi prison guard and solidly not as bad as the pediphile. I found the Hurricane Katrina story quite touching but overall, not sure why anyone would want to read these stories.