Customer Reviews

The Penguin Book of Modern British Short Stories

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

i picked up this book one night and started reading a random story by Malcolm Lowry the book opened on. By the time it was finished, I was hooked. I finished a few others before i finally fell asleep around 4 AM. Stories by Julian Barnes, Ian McEwan, Salman Rushdie and Martin Amis were were written when they were younger, but it's clear why they became celebrated as Britain's finest. Established great writers like Graham Greene, Kingsley Amis, David Hodge, Angela Carter, Rose Tremain are included whose stories leave you satisfied and entertained with a feeling of having secretly glimpsed into another person's unique experience. I looked forward every night to get into bed for a literary treat; I was never disappointed.

Every story seems to exceed the former in biting realism, an unexpected end, or human fantasy. Highly recommended for the insomniac as well.

This book was exactly what I thought it would be. I was looking for a book of short stories to use in my classroom, and this book has a nice selection appropriate for senior English.

Good book, haven't read all the stories yet but I only have 3 to go. Faves: I love Ian McEwan's short stories, and I hadn't known about Martin Amis or B.S. Johnson before this. Nice compilation for some good reading, and a dry sense of humor pervades the whole thing.