Customer Reviews

There Is No Other

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"There is No Other" is a gripping collection, which not only takes you all over the world, but to every nick and cranny of the human experience. All the characters--whether it's a teenage boy in Toronto, a middle-aged woman on a kibbutz, or a dying real estate mogul in midtown Manhattan--reveal to us something poignant about being alive. Papernick tackles love, loneliness, regret, fear, and grief with powerful skill; he walks a fine line, never lapsing into melodrama or forsaking power by applying too much restraint. Refreshingly, Papernick is not compelled to tie every story up with a neat little ending. He often allows things to remain paradoxical or answered, the way they do in life, which makes the stories fierce and real. I most admired Papernick's ability to tease out the absurdity of humanity without ever being snide or condescending. "There is No Other," like all the great works of fiction, is at once hilarious and terribly sad. In short, you must read it.

I bought this book from Jon Papernick as his alter-ego Papernick the Book Peddler, while out photographing Waltham's Steampunk Festival in Massachusetts. Surrounded by industrial goggles and the occasional Absinthe Fairy, I asked the very engaging Jon to describe his work. Generally, I enjoy reading satire and humor, so I wasn't sure if I'd be drawn into the darker themes of the book. After describing my reading habits to Jon, he thought that this collection of short stories included themes that would appeal to me. "Do you like reading about sex? Relationships? And there's definitely humor in this one, too", he added, handing the book to me. Sold. After tendering his signature, off I went with my book.

Grabbing stolen moments after my daughter went to bed, I began to read the stories bit by bit. Each story grabbed me, lingered in my mind, sometimes darkly, sometimes humorously, often ending with a metaphorical boom. Jewish themes entwine throughout the book, coloring each story with a familiarity or a tingle of recognition, given my own Jewishness. Often, I'd feel myself deeply frustrated when a story ended, because I needed to know what happened next to the character, having become so involved. The dark areas made the humor and the joyous moments shine, and created characters and stories so real they seemed tangible.

I've finally finished every story (some I read twice), and this book stays with me. Contrast is what draws the eye to both image and story, and these stories left a lasting impression. Highly recommended.

Jon Papernick's collection of short stories adds a new and contemporary voice both to the short story form and to the jewish literary narrative. His book evokes comtemporary and very human feelings of regret, anger, confusion and love, and the overwhelmingly human desire to do better and be better in the face of inevitable limitations . It is accurate to say he is the heir of Philip Roth and Howard Jacobson, for a very different world and a new jewish generation. Beyond that, for jewish and non-jewish readers alike his stories are tightly focused and poignant in the great tradition of U.S. short story writers. Read them one by one and savor the experience, reflecting on their truth, or do what I did - read them all in one sitting. It was an intriguing evening.

I've been an avid reader of short stories my entire life, and while I've tried desperately to become drawn to more contemporary writers, I've always ended up disappointed, often returning to Hemingway, Carver, Joyce, and Faulkner, among others. As you might expect, I was surprised when I picked up Jon Papernick's copy of "There is No Other" in a local Barnes and Noble, and was unable to put it down. I had never heard of Papernick before, but I decided to purchase the collection of stories merely on the strength of the very short first story, "Skin for Skin." I was unaware at how pleased I would eventually become with the book, which I read in a single day.

There is not a single story that falls flat. Each story is excellent, each character is human and captivating, and it's a shame that Papernick is not a household name among short story fans. My prediction: He will be soon, as long as he continues writing with the confidence and authority he demonstrates in these extraordinary stories. He holds a profound understanding of the human condition, of love, sex, religion, and many other themes, which he explores beautifully. His writing is tight and fearless. My favorite stories, if I had to pick: "There is No Other," "What is it then, Between Us?" and "My Darling Sweetheart Baby." I advise everyone to pick up a copy of "There is No Other." It's one of the best short story collections I have read in recent years.

Jon Papernick is a master at short story telling. His characters are consistently colorful and fascinating. This book is filled with gripping stories; in my view, he saves his best for last in The Last Five-Year Plan - about baseball, American Jewish Zionists, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

I'm not usually a big short story person, but once I started reading this book I could not put it down. Jon Papernick is a freaking genius with details. Every story, every character, is so exact and specific. He has an unbelievable talent for creating singular people, and the details that define them are at once completely personal to them, but also universal - his stories are threaded through with a search for self and meaning, and a haunting kind of loneliness that comes from being lost. His characters quite believably grapple with questions of faith and humanity, but they never lose their immediacy because they are written like regular people - not ideas or symbols, which I think sometimes is a trap short stories fall into. He has a really interesting style - there's something vaguely magical about his stories. Sort of uncanny or off-kilter. In a good way - his plots are always unexpected, everything feels really fresh and new. One of my favorite stories is "There Is No Other" - it's like a punch in the stomach, everything comes together so completely exactly devastatingly right -- I thought about it for a long time after I finished reading it. He writes really insightful dialogue. The whole collection is awesome.

There is No Other is aptly titled. This collection brings unique insights into the lives of a diverse group of characters. Each story is carefully crafted and touches on common place themes while giving the reader a view of life from the standpoint of different people. There is nothing trite or too familiar in these stories. This book is like a great record album. Each story is beautifully crafted and could stand on its own, yet taken all together, they paint a picture of life that is rich in its entirety. I am currently enjoying Jon's earlier novel, Who By Fire, Who By Blood and would highly recommend that book as well, whether you are a long time fan of Papernick's work or just getting to know him through his short stories.

Papernick's newest collection of short stories, There is No Other, is by far one of the strongest collections I have read to date. The narrative is engaging and eloquent, the characters realistic, the settings resonant and familiar-- even if you haven't been there yourself. Papernick's ability to create such vivid characters and bring the reader into the story is one of many fine qualities he exerts in every story. A personal favorite, "Skin for Skin", is a wonderful and humorous piece of short-short fiction that gives the reader a glimpse of what it is like to be a teenager, to be Jewish, to be conflicted...the list goes on, as Papernick taps into a variety of common, human themes within this and other stories. In addition, his recent ventures as "Papernick the Book Peddler" bring this collection even closer to home as he attempts to bridge the gap between author and reader, making personal connections not only through his writing but through his one-on-one interactions with the public. Highly recommended for anyone looking for an honest, powerful read.

I picked this up and then couldn't put it down. Pretty much read it straight through in a couple of days, pausing between stories to take in the aftershocks. I have my favorites, but the book as a whole is like the best albums -- unified in a thematic sense that adds weight to each piece. I especially liked "There Is No Other," which reminded me of Phillip Roth's early story, "The Conversion of the Jews," yet was wholly original and exciting. Another top pick is "The Miracle Birth," which felt a bit like an Old World fable as translated through the lens of the Coen brothers. A must read.

I picked up the book, skeptical that short stories involving Judaism would interest me, but I was shocked at how great the book was. I couldn't put the book down until I had read every story. The endings never failed to surprise me, and there was depth to the book, but not too much, so it didn't give me a headache. It was offbeat, captivating, thrilling, and wrenching at times. I highly reccommend this book. It's the best one I've read all summer. Each story is packed with surprises and I guarantee you won't be able to put the book down. When I finished the book, I had to go back and read it all again.