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Loading... There Are Jews in My House: Stories (edition 2003)by Lara Vapnyar
Work InformationThere Are Jews in My House by Lara Vapnyar
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This is a simple and easily read collection of stories, even though the subject matters aren't always so easy. Perhaps the author having English as a second language limits the complexity of the language, but even if this is the case, I hope it's a style that Vapnyar will continue. The easiness of her language makes her stories about shame and guilt so much more pointed and heartfelt. The title story is the strongest in this collection - maybe because the viewpoint is different from what I've read before - but the other stories are very potent as well and as a debut collection this shows huge potential. A collection of short fiction about ordinary Russian people in various time-and-place settings. Excellent character sketches. Except for the title piece, I liked these very much. "There are Jews in My House" was well written, but its story just peters out, leaving the reader with questions that detract from what I think the author was trying to do. The rest of the selections, however, worked for me on all levels. I find these short stories intriguing. In each, the author explores one individual deeply and how that person relates to others. The author digs finely into the emotions of each narrator and exquisitely explores the puzzling and often conflicted feelings each one expresses. What makes the stories especially interesting is that some of the protagonists are children. I cannot pick favorites out of this collection. These are beautifully rendered short stories not to be missed. I really have enjoyed each story on its own merit and think all of them are truly delightful. I am now eagerly looking for more short stories by this talented author. no reviews | add a review
Reflecting the perspective of a recent immigrant to the United States, a collection of short fiction explores the lives of Russians in Moscow and Russians in Brooklyn. No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)813.6Literature English (North America) American fiction 21st CenturyLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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These stories don't just convey what it was like to be a random person in the past, they miraculously convey all of the emotion behind those experiences. When you read about the bully, you will feel bullied, when you read about the stresses of hiding your best friend from the Germans, you will feel and understand the anxiety in a way you never could have before. ( )