Customer Reviews

Sudden Fiction: American Short-Short Stories

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I disagree with the previous reviewer's rather disparaging comments: This isn't simply a "bathroom read." For writers, it's a great lesson in economy and brevity. The short-short stories contained within will help any writer realize the benefits of using language with precision.

It's also a wonderful read (you don't have to be a writer to enjoy it!) Some of my favorite stories of all time, including Amy Robison's devastating "Yours", and good ones from Grace Paley and Raymond Carver, are here. As with all short-story collections, there's some unevenness in terms of quality--not every story is great. But for the most part, the selections are very well chosen and the contemporaneous pieces (the book was originally published in the mid-1980s) hold up very well in this new millenium.

~It's a great book to have. You can read it on the subway and chew on a few stories in one transit, or just scan the beginnings and look for what catches your eye, or you can curl up on a rainy day and devour the whole book. It's a great way to meet many writers you've heard of but haven't yet read. The only problem is the editor had this in mind so some writers, I presume, were selected because of who they were not what they wrote. Some pieces are vignettes more than "Sudden Fiction." Conversely, some stories are just marvelous: have no wasted words, tightly woven plots, and compelling characters. These stories are a marvel to see and a must for anyone interested in fiction. It's incredible how much depth is possible in such a short space. If you've ever tried to write this book will impress you with how much the right word is essential. Mark Twain once said "the difference between the right word and almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug." Here is lightning-or is it the bug?-bottled up.

Perhaps the first collection of American short-shorts ever published. At the time short-shorts were called a sub-genre, not a genre yet. The great forum in the Afterwords of the book on a name for the emerging genre and on the genre itself is the crowning of the oeuvre. It's precious because it has short-shorts from the primordium times such as Bernard Malamud's, Ernest Hemmingway's and Tennessee Williams's when the genre was not called even a sub-genre; it did not exist. I recommend it to anyone who is curious about emerging hybrid postmodernist autopoietic literary genres.

From Hemingway to Jackson, these authors provide evidence that it doesn't take a lot of words to create immense literary impact. These stories are funny, sad, insightful, odd, and cold - in all the best ways.

The book showed up much sooner than I expected and the book was in great shape. I would buy from this company again.

The book looked awesome. Pages were slightly yellow from time, but other than that it was in perfect condition, no marks, tears or wear.

I am happy to buy this book from Amazon.com. It was sent as promised I am very happy with the purchase.

One of my brother's English classes was using this as a text book. I borrowed it from him (on his recommendation) and absolutely loved it! So much so that I never gave it back to him. Sorry! Anyway, I've been looking for a follow up at bookstores ever since and I am so happy to finally found the New Sudden Fiction edition. Can't wait to read it!

Sudden Fiction: American Short-Short Stories contains memorable flashes from such notables as Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, Joyce Carol Oates, Mark Strand, and Bernard Malamud. It's an anthology to add to those books you enjoy re-reading now and then. Order it today!

Salvatore Buttaci, author of FLASHING MY SHORTS

If given the opportunity, I will buy from this seller again! Very fast shipment, book was in perfect condition, overall wonderful transaction! Thank you!