Like You'd Understand, Anyway: Stories (edition 2007)

These eleven short stories are beautiful and bleak. Not to be read all at once all, but collectively they are very powerful. ( )

3 stars? 4 stars? Let's say a high 3.

Now what are these stories like, anyway?

- Ending: One of the things that caught my eye is how Shepard chooses not to provide a denouement for some of his stories, but leaves us with the thoughts of the narrator at a crucial moment. He would leave the narrator in front of the two doors holding the lady or the tiger, leaving it up to the reader to imagine what happened next. This often saves his stories from what could have been a flat and predictable ending.

- Setting: Shepard puts his characters in extreme and adventurous conditions, usually very far removed from the kind of experiences most of us would have had. It could be an expedition group spending months in an uninhabited desert (before they had motor vehicles), an executioner from barbaric times, Valentina Tereshkova right before becoming the first woman to enter space or a warrior holding a spear, anticipating an attack at any moment.

The emotional setting, however, is not always so distant. The emotional content has often to do with the narrators' relations with family, friends or love. Threadbare father-son or brother-brother relations are the most common. He largely sticks with timeless emotions and carries them to a variety of time periods and situations.

- Characters: Since all the stories are written from a first-person point-of-view, the narrators are very self-aware and self-reflective, so as to be able to convey their thoughts to the reader. Barring one story, all have a male narrator. Female characters mostly appear only in small roles, as wives or mothers to complete the family. Perhaps the author isn't comfortable writing from a female point-of-view.

- Writing: Shepard doesn't resort to any gimmicks or theatrics, but simply lets the content hold up the stories. Given the research he must have done to come up with the unconventional settings, it makes sense not to obfuscate all of that with fancy writing techniques. What that gives us are event-driven and easily readable stories.

- At least five brothers, and a few sons, had to die for these stories to be written. ( )

Most of these stories are historical in setting, and very convincingly done. All done in first person. The stories are intense, absorbing, and ultimately negative in their outlook on life. I don't think there's a happy ending in the whole book. His ability to change writing styles to suit his story is impressive. But it seems that, whatever the time period, the protagonist finds himself living a pointless life, lacking love and connection to others. Not recommended for anyone who is recovering or dealing with depression. (That wasn't a joke, btw.)

One thing I noticed: the standard disclaimer states that no one in the book is real, yet "Eros 7" is based on Valentina Tereshkova, without changing her name. This woman is still alive, too. Other members of the historic launch team are named, as well. I wonder how the publisher's legal department feels about that. I guess they are public figures, and thus are fair game. But the disclaimer is incorrect. ( )

Started this in January, put it aside and then picked it back up again. Some of the stories were very hard for me to get into. I think history buffs would enjoy it very much, but I had a hard time recalling some of the historical references --it's been too long since I took a history class! It's hard to imagine a broader cast of narrators, though, from Aeschylus to a Soviet female cosmonaut to an executioner during the French revolution. The vast amount of research that went into getting into the narrators' heads was impressive to say the least. ( )

Pamela asked:
"only 3 stars? any particular reason? I had heard such great things about this!"


My response:
"I know, I did too! I think it just wasn't my cup of tea, even though I can see why people praise his writing. The stories ranged from ancient rome to current day, and the only thread I could find to relate them all was a dark, masculine voice which I just don't think I liked. I really wrestled between 3 and 4 stars because I did recognize the strength of his writing, but I finally decided on 3 because it's supposed to be my personal review and I just didn't love it. I did finish all the stories, but I'm not sure I enjoyed the process."
( )