Portable Childhoods: Stories

Wow. Not a dud in this collection. The story "Portable Childhoods" made me cry. It will more than likely do the same for any parent, especially if they have a kid who recently graduated from high school. I intend to buy a copy of this because I think I'll read it again and again. Especially "Portable Childhoods" and "In the House of the Seven Librarians."

Normally, I am not a fan of short stories, but these had a magic to them that I loved. Many of the stories are written from the point of view of children, which Klages captures in a way that makes you believe that you are actually reading the thoughts of children. Very refreshing - I highly recommend this book!

Exquisite short stories, most of which are from the point of view of a young girl. Not the same young girl, but very distinct, very real young girls. I adored Klages' YA novel The Green Glass Sea, and I adore these short stories. All are masterfully crafted, some teeter over into breathtaking. Highly recommended even if, like me, you are not particularly a short story fan.

Read this due to librarian Neil Holland's rec. I enjoyed this collection of stories, but the themes are generally pretty similar - the awkward, misfit child, and the magical elements of childhood, often set around the 1950s, compassion and cruelty mixed together. Most of the stories have magical realism elements. Some standout stories were Basement Magic, a twist on the wicked stepmother theme; Triangle, featuring two homosexual scientists, a Nazi artifact, and a disturbing ending; Intelligent Design, about a bored young God and his grandmother; Time Gypsy, where a gay scientist travels in time and meets the scientist who inspired her as a child - who also turns out to be gay, and cute; A Taste of Summer, where a bored child meets a show more food scientist with some unusual skills; Guys Day Out, about a dad and his Downs Syndrome son (have tissue handy); and In the House of the Seven Librarians, about a decommissioned Carnegie Library and the seven librarians who remain in it - and the little girl who is paid as an overdue fine. Librarians should definitely check out that last story. show less

Small wonders and magic are close at hand in the sixteen short stories in this collection. Many, but not all, of the stories do deal with childhood and the unformed longings and tiny but lasting traumas generated by the process of growing up. Many, but not all, of the stories incorporate some elements of magical realism or science fiction, but all of them avoid gimmicks and cliché. Klages demonstrates a wise, often wry, outlook on the vagaries of human relationships and a wide range of writing ability.

Stand-outs in the collection include the sci-fi inflected “Time Gypies,” in which a woman travels to the past and meets her childhood idol; “In the House of the Seven Librarians,” a gentle and wise fairy-tale influenced story show more about a young girl raised by ‘feral librarians;’ and the title story, “Portable Childhoods,” a moving reflection on the bonds between a mother and daughter. show less

The lead story, "Basement Magic," is reason enough to get your hands on this book. "Portable Childhoods" is another favorite, though it seems to a memoir, not fantasy. It brought me back to the days when my daughter was nine or ten, a truly magical time of my life which I will always treasure. I hope Klages continues to write. She has an abundance of original talent.

Short-story collection: some SF, some not, some...impossible to categorize--but all good, several wonderful. At least one heart-breaking. Some of the best short fiction I've read in years.