These sixteen stories by the much-celebrated Alix Ohlin illuminate the connections between all of us—connections we choose to break, those broken for us, and those we find and make in spite of ourselves.
Signs and Wonders (Vintage Contemporaries Original)
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“Smart, satisfying, surprising stories. Ohlin has a big, calm, seductive talent.” —Joy Williams
“Ohlin has a marvelous will to explore and it’s clear that she’s in complete command of her art. These stories are smart, tough, deeply felt and beautifully delivered, without one wasted word. Signs and wonders, all right. I’ve seldom come upon a book so aptly titled for what’s inside, page to page.” —Richard Bausch
“Nothing short of marvelous. Olin writes like an Old Master, with confidence and clarity, a steady hand. She is immensely gifted, and every story here is a lucid chunk of reality—the flesh made word.” – Jay Parini
“With an emotional intelligence that is nearly telepathic and a great storyteller’s knack for riveting your attention from the opening line, Ohlin makes us understand that beneath everything that drives and distracts us there is, first and foremost, the struggle to love. She is a ferocious talent, a writer not only to watch but also to admire.” —Adam Ross
“I love the way Alix Ohlin’s stories teach us, with wit and tenderness, about those grown-up selves we don’t recognize; about the way our failures make us adults; and about how powerfully relieved we are to understand that, despite everything, our hearts can still move.” —Jim Shepard
“Ohlin’s stories are gripping from the get-go, and they don’t turn you loose. On virtually every page she surprised me and, more times than I could count, put a lump in my throat. She is one spectacular writer, and this is a beautiful book.” —Steve Yarbrough
"Unputdownable: crisp, focused, lovely, and lasting. . . . Sixteen stories about connectedness—between friends, families, and lovers—and the predicaments that come from navigating those relationships. Ohlin's characters are so genuine you'll be reminded of people you know, love, and hate. For better or worse, you may even see yourself in these pages." —Marie Claire
“Alix Ohlin working at the top of her powers… showing us in a remarkably mature and flat-out realistic style a new series of twists and turns in the lives of quite ordinary people – school teachers, women on the rebound, married folks and divorced folks, travelers, home bodies… There closely worked stories about life on earth – they soar.” —Alan Cheuse, NPR
“Calling all fans of Lorrie Moore, Deborah Eisenberg, and Robin Black: You have a new favorite writer [with a] deliciously addictive collection.” – Sheila Anne Fenney, Newark Star-Ledger
“Alix Ohlin’s wondrously engrossing Inside and Signs and Wonders display her characteristic strengths—dynamic plots, keenly observed settings, and characters so idiosyncratic, ambivalent, and contradictory they could be your family, your neighbors, people you work with…..She has a rare gift for examining the confusions of the 21st century, exploring the ways in which addictions, afflictions, attractions, and random impulses shape our lives. Her intense and beautifully shaped new novel and stories offer tentative yet illuminating answers.” – Jane Ciabattari, The Boston Globe
“Ohlin’s a master at drawing a character, a skill even more evident in the short story form, [and] she’s got a surgeon’s hand with the fine points of relationship dissection… Signs and Wonders makes me want to say to you, dear reader, one simple thing: Read this!” —Ian McGillis, Montreal Gazette
“Impressive… With enjoyably mordant humour and a surgical hand with relationship dissection… Ohlin crafts stories with consistent excellence.” —Brett Josef Grubisic, National Post
“One of the best story collections I’ve read in a decade… tough, original, funny and tragic, all at once.” —William McKeen, Creative Loafing Tampa
“Ohlin has a marvelous will to explore and it’s clear that she’s in complete command of her art. These stories are smart, tough, deeply felt and beautifully delivered, without one wasted word. Signs and wonders, all right. I’ve seldom come upon a book so aptly titled for what’s inside, page to page.” —Richard Bausch
“Nothing short of marvelous. Olin writes like an Old Master, with confidence and clarity, a steady hand. She is immensely gifted, and every story here is a lucid chunk of reality—the flesh made word.” – Jay Parini
“With an emotional intelligence that is nearly telepathic and a great storyteller’s knack for riveting your attention from the opening line, Ohlin makes us understand that beneath everything that drives and distracts us there is, first and foremost, the struggle to love. She is a ferocious talent, a writer not only to watch but also to admire.” —Adam Ross
“I love the way Alix Ohlin’s stories teach us, with wit and tenderness, about those grown-up selves we don’t recognize; about the way our failures make us adults; and about how powerfully relieved we are to understand that, despite everything, our hearts can still move.” —Jim Shepard
“Ohlin’s stories are gripping from the get-go, and they don’t turn you loose. On virtually every page she surprised me and, more times than I could count, put a lump in my throat. She is one spectacular writer, and this is a beautiful book.” —Steve Yarbrough
"Unputdownable: crisp, focused, lovely, and lasting. . . . Sixteen stories about connectedness—between friends, families, and lovers—and the predicaments that come from navigating those relationships. Ohlin's characters are so genuine you'll be reminded of people you know, love, and hate. For better or worse, you may even see yourself in these pages." —Marie Claire
“Alix Ohlin working at the top of her powers… showing us in a remarkably mature and flat-out realistic style a new series of twists and turns in the lives of quite ordinary people – school teachers, women on the rebound, married folks and divorced folks, travelers, home bodies… There closely worked stories about life on earth – they soar.” —Alan Cheuse, NPR
“Calling all fans of Lorrie Moore, Deborah Eisenberg, and Robin Black: You have a new favorite writer [with a] deliciously addictive collection.” – Sheila Anne Fenney, Newark Star-Ledger
“Alix Ohlin’s wondrously engrossing Inside and Signs and Wonders display her characteristic strengths—dynamic plots, keenly observed settings, and characters so idiosyncratic, ambivalent, and contradictory they could be your family, your neighbors, people you work with…..She has a rare gift for examining the confusions of the 21st century, exploring the ways in which addictions, afflictions, attractions, and random impulses shape our lives. Her intense and beautifully shaped new novel and stories offer tentative yet illuminating answers.” – Jane Ciabattari, The Boston Globe
“Ohlin’s a master at drawing a character, a skill even more evident in the short story form, [and] she’s got a surgeon’s hand with the fine points of relationship dissection… Signs and Wonders makes me want to say to you, dear reader, one simple thing: Read this!” —Ian McGillis, Montreal Gazette
“Impressive… With enjoyably mordant humour and a surgical hand with relationship dissection… Ohlin crafts stories with consistent excellence.” —Brett Josef Grubisic, National Post
“One of the best story collections I’ve read in a decade… tough, original, funny and tragic, all at once.” —William McKeen, Creative Loafing Tampa
About the Author
Alix Ohlin is the author of The Missing Person, a novel, and Babylon and Other Stories. Her work has appeared in Best American Short Stories, Best New American Voices, and on NPR’s “Selected Shorts.” Born and raised in Montreal, she teaches at Lafayette College and in the Warren Wilson MFA Program for Writers.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
By barbara
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
The stories were so lovely - a trip into other worlds and lives worth taking. Olin offers surprise and delight.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Loved it so much I bought one for both my daughters for Christmas
December 31, 2012
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Best contemporary short stories I've ever read! Every story had an unexpected twist. I plan to look for more of her works.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Kelly Marie
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I bought this book for my sister for Christmas so I haven't read the book and have no opinion on that. But she loved it and spent a couple days not putting it down; good product, speedy arrival.
1 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I've known Alix Ohlin and her writing for several years, and this collection contains some of her best yet; these are wise, riveting, keenly perceptive and unexpected stories. Very recommended.
2 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By GPeter
Format:Paperback
After two stories I was hooked. I was completely drawn into the characters and their sometimes extraordinary situations. Ohlin's style is subtle yet absolutely compelling--I can't wait to read more.
2 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I thought this book was quite depressing, the stories were bizarre and sad. Not the feel good read of the summer.
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