Charles W. Chestnutt's long short story is the second in the anthology Great short stories by African-American writers sent to me by my American friend Carolyn. I have come across Chestnutt before, in the Library of America's Story of the Week program, but they haven't published this one and I haven't written about him before. … Continue reading Charles W. Chestnutt, Uncle Wellington’s wives (#Review)
American writers
Percival Everett, James (#BookReview)
Well, let's see how I go with this post on Percival Everett's Pulitzer Prize winning novel James. I read all but 30 pages of this novel before my reading group's meeting on 27 May. I was not at the meeting as I was in Far North Queensland, but I wanted to send in some notes, … Continue reading Percival Everett, James (#BookReview)
Alice Ruth Moore, A carnival jangle (#Review)
Over the last two years I worked my way through the anthology Great short stories by contemporary Native American writers that was sent to me by my American friend Carolyn. It introduced me to many writers I hadn't read before, and, valuably, to the issues and concerns facing some of America's first peoples. Many of … Continue reading Alice Ruth Moore, A carnival jangle (#Review)
Sherman Alexie, War dances (#Review)
Sherman Alexie's "War dances" is the fourteenth and last story in the anthology, Great short stories by contemporary Native American writers. It is also the longest story in the book, and the most intriguing in form. Sherman Alexie Anthology editor Bob Blaisdell introduces Alexie as "born in 1966, of Coeur d'Alene and Spokane heritage", meaning … Continue reading Sherman Alexie, War dances (#Review)
Shirley Hazzard, The bay of noon (#BookReview)
Shirley Hazzard's novella, The bay of noon, has been in my sights for a long time, but finally, this Novellas-in-November year, I managed to get it out of my sights and into my hands. It's the first of two novellas I read for the month, but the second to review. Such was my November (and … Continue reading Shirley Hazzard, The bay of noon (#BookReview)
Beth H. Piatote, Beading lesson (#Review)
Beth Piatote's "Beading lesson" is the thirteenth of fourteen stories in the anthology, Great short stories by contemporary Native American writers, and with it, we move from the 1990s to the 2000s. Beth H Piatote Anthology editor Bob Blaisdell provides very little information about Piatote. It simply says that she is Nez Perce and a … Continue reading Beth H. Piatote, Beading lesson (#Review)
Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse-Five (#BookReview)
While my reading group's main reading fare has, from the start, been contemporary fiction, we also mix it up a bit. We do non-fiction, for example, and most years we try to do a classic. Over the years we've done Jane Austen, Elizabeth von Arnim, Anton Chekhov, EM Forster, and Randolph Stow, to name a … Continue reading Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse-Five (#BookReview)
Eli Funaro, The dog pit (#Review)
Eli Funaro's "The dog pit" is the twelfth of fourteen stories in the anthology, Great short stories by contemporary Native American writers. Like the previous stories by Thomas King and Duane Niatum, it was written in the 1990s. Eli Funaro Anthology editor Bob Blaisdell provides very little information about Funaro, and I have to say … Continue reading Eli Funaro, The dog pit (#Review)
Sigrid Nunez, The vulnerables (#BookReview)
Sigrid Nunez has been on my radar for a long time. So, why now? I blame Jonathan (Me Fail? I Fly!), since it was his post on Nunez's latest novel, The vulnerables, that captured my attention and encouraged me to make now her time. What an intriguing book! I have no idea whether it is … Continue reading Sigrid Nunez, The vulnerables (#BookReview)
Duane Niatum, Crow’s sun (#Review)
Duane Niatum's "Crow's sun" is the tenth story of fourteen in the anthology, Great short stories by contemporary Native American writers, and moves us into the 1990s, where we will remain for the next two stories before ending up in the early 2000s. Duane Niatum Anthology editor Bob Blaisdell provides more information about Niatum than … Continue reading Duane Niatum, Crow’s sun (#Review)
Whispering Gums 