Customer Reviews

Foley's Luck: Stories

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There's a thread of Raymond Carver running through these stories. Especially "Foley as Crabman." It'd be interesting to see the author's original vision for the collection, but the book is a worthy read despite the edited structure.

A fantastic collection of comtemporary short shorties. Chiarella is definately one of America's future literary stars. Foley's Luck is a fantastic read, I'm sure you will enjoy it as much as I did!

It is a shame this book is out of print, as it is undoubtedly one of the best short story collections of the 1990s. Chiarella has a grasp of the human condition as acute as that of Lorrie Moore's, and he has a way of writing frankly and openly in a manner that pays homage to the late Raymond Carver. "Foley's Luck" is a collection of poignant stories that follows the main character, "Foley," through life, love, loss, and everything in between. Chiarella manages to pack an incredible punch into each one of these stories (a couple of which originally appeared in "The New Yorker"), and you will most likely find yourself finishing the book in one or two sittings. Chiarella's writing flows beautifully and this book deserves to be put back into print.

See New Yorker - Nov. 21, 198