Aren't You Happy for Me?: And Other Stories |
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Author:
Richard Bausch
By Picador
Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Paperback
EAN: 9780330344470
ISBN: 0330344471
Label: Picador
Manufacturer: Picador
Number Of Pages: 288
Publication Date: 1996-06-09
Publisher: Picador
Studio: Picador |
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A cartographic journey into the American heart, 2000-07-17
A lot of short story writers are said to be explorers of the human condition but it's rare to find one who manages to convey the complexities of relationships, the weight of the past and the way life inevitably dashes your systems of belief at regular intervals so effectively. I find it strange that Bausch hasn't joined the clutch of so-called "contemporary masters of the form" yet but it may be down to the fact that he never sacrifices the balance of his stories to literary pretension or allusion. The result is a gorgeously rounded and narratively generous collection which are written with real verve and precision. The title story and "All The Way in Flagstaff, Arizona" are two of the many stories I use in my writing group and, even though I re-read them at least three or four times a year, I still find something in them to marvel at.
 Wonderful, 1999-04-20
A truly excellent book, full of wonderful observations and lovely touches. Engrossing because the author has a real affection for the down-on-their luck characters he has created. A perfect compliment to Raymond Carver, but because his prose style is fuller, Bausch never suffers from the comparisson. My favourite story was about Tondolfo the clown, which made me laugh out loud on the bus
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