Molly Antopol

The UnAmericans is a wonderful new collection of short stories. Molly Antopol does an amazing job giving a sense of urgency to these stories, making them feel more novelistic in scope. In a matter of a few pages, I was completely drawn into the tale and felt like I'd spent more time with these characters than just those few pages. These stories are intelligent and well-written, though nothing new or startling in terms of craft and style. They're emotional and really capture those show more idiosyncrasies that make us human. Antopol's characters often react in ways that are shocking, yet understandable—even familiar.

What attracted me to this collection was the title. I loved it. Ironically, the title ended up being the one thing I felt left this book disjointed. Other than largely focusing on a cast of non-Americans, there was nothing “UnAmerican” about this collection. I kept looking for that hint of dissent, for that rejection of “American values”—something that made this “Unamerican.” There are many other titles that would've been a better choice logically, but they wouldn't have caught my attention the same, so The UnAmericans it is. show less

I know my opinion is an unpopular one, but for me this was a really disappointing collection. I have been looking forward to reading The UnAmericans for quite some time. The reviews I read made it sound as if written specifically for me.

Antopol's writing skills are irreproachable. Each sentence is very well crafted, and I admire well-crafted prose. She also clearly benefited from what I assume was a Workman's Circle preschool and a nice Birthright trip. But the stories themselves seem show more clunky and old-fashioned (and not in a good way.) Everything is viewed from a very lefty lens. The book is populated with dissidents whose fervor is now out of style, gritty kibbutzim, and earnest best generation types struggling with evolving definitions of what it means to be a Jew. Even as I write this I am confused as to why I didn't like the book. Depressed Jews at a crossroads? That's my jam! Bring on your Chabon, your Franzen, your Safran-Foer, your Bellow and Roth. But Antopol's depressed Jews don't rail at the heavens or live in-your-face iconoclastic lives. These depressed Jews whine, abdicate responsibility for creating a worthwhile life, or resign themselves to "leave me alone to sit in the dark" martyrdom. I know plenty of real people like that, and they are no bargain. I read to escape them, not to analyze them.

I have some other beefs. Some of the stories felt derivative of things I had read before, and even of one another. Additionally the stories are really slow moving. I don't need car chases, but its nice when something happens in a story.

Antopol is a good writer, and I would be interested to see what she writes next. I hope by then she learns to be interesting, to be audacious. It would be nice if she took on some of the things that give people wings, or even the things they kick against that tether then spreadeagled to the ground. Meticulously chronicling bitter resignation and social obsolescence is not what lures me as a reader. show less

Antopol's writing made me feel very close to the characters, whether or not I cared for them. No one was able to find fulfillment, which was a little tiring, but every story interested and moved me.

The backstory: The UnAmericans, Molly Antopol's debut short story collection, was named one of the National Book Award's 5 Under 35 last year.

The basics: This collection of stories addresses themes of home, immigration, and history.

My thoughts: Longtime readers of this blog know that short stories are not my favorite medium, but the reviews were so universally glowing for Molly Antopol that I've been anticipating this collection since I first heard about it. The collection's first story, show more "The Old World," is among its best. It absolutely blew me away, and perhaps it set my expectations for the rest of the collection too high.

As my reading continued, I found the collection to somewhat uneven, except the highs were exceptional stories and the lows were still good stories. There was one story that I found relatively ordinary, but as a collection, it's impressive. I often struggle with assessing story collections as a whole because the order matters so much more to me as a reader. With only eight stories, of mostly equal lengths, there aren't places to hide. When the three stories I loved ended, I was sad. When the four good stories ended, it seemed appropriate. When the one story I didn't particularly enjoy ended, I was relieved. It's difficult for me as a reader to think about this collection as a whole because one story or another is always more present in my mind. What I loved most about my favorite stories were the characters. Antopol masterfully developed characters and worlds in the lifespan of a short story, and it made me long to read the novel she's currently writing, The After Party.

Favorite passage: "But she had always presented herself to the world in too apologetic a manner for me to take her ambitions seriously--because it hadn't yet occurred to me that it was different to be an artist or writer or thinker here in America. That one didn't need to be a persuasive speaker or have a charismatic presence, as every one of my colleagues had back in Prague. Daniela simply needed to live as an observer, sitting discreetly in a corner, quietly cataloging the foibles of those around her."

The verdict: There are three superb stories in this collection, and it made me a fan of Molly Antopol, even though I didn't love each of the collection's eight stories. Unsurprisingly, I'm eagerly awaiting her first novel because it's a form I adore, and with her stories, she's already established herself as an author I adore. show less