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Tao Lin

Bed Paperback – May 15, 2007

by Tao Lin (Author)

4.3 56 ratings

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"Tao Lin writes from moods that less radical writers would let pass — from laziness, from vacancy, from boredom. And it turns out that his report from these places is moving and necessary, not to mention frequently hilarious."—Miranda July

A startlingly original voice announces itself immediately in this collection of award-winning stories. Tao Lin’s absorbing writing style matches a minimalist prose with a lyric sensibility, poignant compassion with a hysterical sense of humor, bitter reality with enchanting fantasy, and youthful outlandishness with a gentle, mature perceptiveness—all in shaped stories that are a tribute to the form.

In a series of pinpoint portrayals, Lin’s tales depict young people in a surreal place between irresponsible youth and workaday adulthood, wanting to reject both cultures in order to craft something different. But such rebellion is harder than ever in a culture dominated by outrageousness, and Lin sensitively portrays the struggle in a way that is highly entertaining, impressively smart, and ultimately moving.

It will leave some cheering the war against a dumbed-down culture, others laughing at the tactics, and all concerned feeling like they’ve got a new champion in Tao Lin.

Tao Lin, also author of the novel Eeeee Eee Eeee, lives in New York City.

Print length

278 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Melville House
Publication date

May 15, 2007
Dimensions

5.31 x 0.84 x 7.47 inches
ISBN-10

1933633263
ISBN-13

978-1933633268
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This set of nine pseudo-autobiographical, woe-is-our-generation absurdist tales updates Oblamov for worried 21st century slackerdom. Lin's characters will be familiar to MySpace denizens, whether they're struggling through college in a busy city, stifling in an exhausted relationship just for the body heat, or missing their parents (but not knowing how to tell them without sounding as if asking for money). Settings are cheekily vague: "Love Is A Thing On Sale For More Money Than Exists," about a much-needed break-up, takes place during "the month that people began to suspect terrorists had infiltrated Middle America," while "Nine, Ten," a love story about two nine-year-olds and their divorced parents, occurs during the year that people "got a bit careless." As precocious children, depressing descriptions of urban pollution and beached marine life pile up, it becomes clear that Lin's subject is the inadequacy of conventional tools and wisdom for coping with the era of the War on Terror: "Was the future now? Or was it coming up still?... all that was promised... was not here, and would probably never be here. They had lied. Someone had lied." Such observations make the flat, matter-of-fact prose and aimless pop culture references come into vivid focus.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"In structure and tone, [the stories in Bed] have the feel of early Lorrie Moore and Deborah Eisenberg. Like Moore's characters, there are a lot of plays on language and within each story, a return to the same images or ideas--or jokes. And like Moore, most of these characters live in New York, are unemployed or recently employed, and are originally from somewhere more provincial (Florida in Lin's case, Wisconsin in Moore's). However, Lin knows to dig a little deeper into his characters--something we see in Moore's later stories, but less so in her early ones."--Jennifer Bassett, KGB Bar Lit

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Melville House; Third Printing edition (May 15, 2007)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 278 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1933633263
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1933633268
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.5 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.31 x 0.84 x 7.47 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,780,844 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #15,782 in Coming of Age Fiction (Books)
- #17,386 in Short Stories Anthologies
- #28,621 in Short Stories (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.3 56 ratings

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Tao Lin

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Tao Lin is the author of ten books, including Leave Society (2021), Trip: Psychedelics, Alienation, and Change (2018), and Taipei (2013). He's working on a nonfiction book titled Self Heal: How I Cured My Autism, Autoimmune Disorder, Eczema, Depression, and Other Health Problems Naturally. He lives in Hawaii. Visit his website at https://taolin.us.

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4.3 out of 5

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Kindle Customer

Tao Lin: Part 3

Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2010

Verified Purchase

I encountered Tao Lin's writing at a time in my life when I was very much predisposed to like it: Eeeee Eee Eeee (as I contemplating quitting an unfulfilling job as an attorney), Shoplifting from American Apparel (in the immediate aftermath of leaving that position and breaking up with my girlfriend) and, finally, Bed (several weeks into my unemployment and bachelorhood). The untethered, wary, existential aspects of his fiction, also knowing that it was being drawn in large parts from the author's life, appealed to my worldview.

I read Bed over the course of two afternoons at a table outside Good Karma Cafe in Philadelphia, drinking a series of iced coffees and taking advantage of the spectacular girl-watching opportunities of that locale. Over the course of my unemployment, this shop became my go-to destination for wasting away the afternoon with a good book. The friendly atmosphere lent itself to conversations with other patrons. I noticed that gay men tended to strike up conversations with me when I read Haroki Murakami, pretty girls when I read David Foster Wallace or Rivka Galchen. No one spoke to me when I read Tao Lin.

This was a bit disappointing, since I feel like Bed marks the author's most accessible work. I generally stuttered and mumbled extremely unsatisfying descriptions when asked about EEE or SFAA but I feel as if I'd have had some really cogent and specific things to say about Bed, if only anyone had bothered to ask. (Thanks, internet.)

The short stories in this collection seem focused in the way that Lin's novels are sprawling, while still maintaining the major stylistic and thematic elements of his work. That's probably a function of the form more than anything else, but regardless of the reason, its nice to see a slightly different version of what the author is capable of as a writer.

For anyone less inclined than I was to enjoy Tao Lin's work, I would recommend Bed as your starting point. Its a decent primer on the talent behind the author's polarizing public image.

10 people found this helpful

Helpful

Adam E. Shanley

Cohesive collection of short Stories

Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2010

Verified Purchase

After reading Eeee Eee Eeeee and Shoplifting from American Apparel I find that this collection of short stories by Tao Lin explores many of the same themes but does so in a way that is easier to follow and is, obviously, more concise. The dialogue as well as the narrative is much easier to follow through most of these stories than it is in Lin's longer works. I have enjoyed this book and read it quite quickly after getting them in the mail. Aside from the content I really like the singular design concept among each of his works.

If you are looking to start reading the works of Tao Lin I feel as this is a great place to start.

2 people found this helpful

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Katelyn

Definitely recommend

Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2020

Verified Purchase

I had to get this book for my American Literature class and instead of renting it I may the decision to buy it and it definitely isn’t something I regret. The books short stories are organized well and it was a pleasure to read. I will say however, that it is a more complex book and to understand each story and the book as a whole you have to look deeper into it. I would also say it’s not really for the light hearted; it’s not necessarily a sad book but it’s not really happy either.

One person found this helpful

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James Fred

"It's probably best not to think about your life..."

Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2015

Verified Purchase

"It was probably best not to think about your life, though—ever—Greg knew, but just to assume that it was there, and happening, to trust that it was out there, doing whatever it was that a life would do."
This is the first Tao Lin book I bought and it's pretty great. He goes to weird places in people's heads like few other author do. Encapsulates the struggle of connecting the world inside your brain with the outside one. The stories are lonely and funny. If you're a David Foster Wallace fan, you will love this.

One person found this helpful

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Ramzi Shalabi

review by ramzi shalabi

Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2013

Verified Purchase

i feel like this book will grow on me. when i first picked it up and found it to lack the 'personified animals' i was a tad dissapointed. i was expecting depressed pandas or something. but i think its gonna get better with another read. i started to 'get it' about half way in maybe. i think it will hold up as one of tao's best. the writing is very focused, like all his stuff, and i found most everything in it very relateable (which isnt a word i guess).

i like just holding the book and looking at it too. its a really nice publication.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

M. J. Platt

aptly titled for a comfy night read before sleep

Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2023

these stories are all relatable and easy to follow. the reader who chooses to plunge into the endless pit of meaning/symbolism/metaphor will ultimately feel dissatisfied or at the least confused by the seemingly ambiguous descriptions of normality. to me this book is a banal yet captivating collection of simple stories about angst, curiosity, pain, loss of youth. read it, it’s pleasant.

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Kenso

Probably his best . . .

Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2013

Verified Purchase

Tao Lin is hardly a mainstream writer, at least in this book, but these stories are good. They are a break from his novels and poetry.

One person found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

I bought brand new, but the book came dirty and stained

Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2018

Verified Purchase

First of all I love the book. I'm only giving 2 stars for how the book was delivered to my house. The book arrived dirty and stained, despite the fact that I bought it brand new.

One person found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

M. A. Ratcliffe

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 19, 2011

Verified Purchase

Didn't make it through this collection of short stories. The stories are totally forgettable; they are peopled by the most uninteresting two dimentsional charactors i have ever come across in any piece of literature. Lin seems to limit the charactors personalities to pretentious, banal musings that just came across as ill-thought-out, flippant waffle; and tries to hammer these home with ridiculous metaphors. I think Lin is trying to convince us of some really fascinating inner-world that simply doesn't exist.

SAVE YOUR MONEY.

There is nothing to see here.

2 people found this helpful

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