A review by jrboudreau
The King Is Always Above the People: Stories by Daniel Alarcón

3.0

I would really like to give this book 3 1/2 stars. Like most short story collection each story hit me differently, so it's hard to give a fair account of the whole book. The title story for instance, didn't land for me, and I had a hard time linking the images and metaphors to the choices the main character made. I connected a lot with "The Provincals" and its themes of trying to decide if you are defined by where you come from or where you end up resonated strongly with me.

Throughout the stories, Alarcón has a flair for a striking image and a good turn of phrase. Even if the emotional journey of the story didn't stick with me, reading them was a pleasure.

My favorites from the collection are:
"The Thousands"
"The Provincals"
"The Bridge"
"The Auroras"