It's pretty late as I'm finishing these stories.

The last one just killed me.

What an excellent collection.

I think this guy Tobias really knows what it's all about.

His writing is so engaging and captivating.

Each story takes you on a unique journey, filled with emotions and surprises.

The characters are well-developed and the plots are intricately woven.

Tobias has a real talent for creating vivid worlds and making you feel like you're a part of them.

I can't wait to read more of his work.

This collection has definitely left a lasting impression on me.

I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good read.

It's one of those books that you'll want to keep on your shelf and revisit again and again.

I bought this book from the Chashmeh Publishing Warehouse. Why? Because it was at the old price and six thousand tomans :)) And I read it during a bus ride. Since it had 150 pages, it was the right size for a bus ride.

However, it was beyond my expectations of a random book and I liked it. The collection of 9 to 10 short and relatively strange stories. Strange not necessarily in terms of the plot and special ending, but more because of the internal and external situations in which the characters are placed.

The stories in this book offer a unique perspective on different aspects of life. They make you think about the various situations that people find themselves in and how they react. The writing style is engaging and keeps you hooked from the beginning to the end.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading short stories that are a bit different from the usual. It's a great way to spend some time and get lost in a world of imagination.

I came across a short story that I was able to read online for free. It was quite an interesting piece. The main character in the story clearly had no regard for anyone but himself. He was extremely jaded, probably due to his mundane routine. As a result, he couldn't take anything seriously. I'm not entirely sure if there was some hidden message within the story. However, I took it as a reflection of how life can be so boring at times that when something traumatic suddenly happens, we often don't know how to deal with the curve ball that is thrown at us. Despite being short in length, the story was a really good read. It managed to capture my attention and make me think about the various aspects of life and human nature. It made me realize that we should always be prepared for the unexpected and try to find meaning and purpose in our daily lives.

Short and Sweet

Stories didn't necessarily have a specific ending, but they were good. In fact, sometimes the lack of a definite conclusion added to their charm. It allowed the readers or listeners to use their imagination and come up with their own interpretations. These short and sweet stories could be about anything - a moment in time, a relationship, or a simple experience. They didn't need to be long and complicated to have an impact. Even a few sentences could convey a powerful message or evoke strong emotions. Whether it was a funny anecdote, a touching tale, or a thought-provoking parable, these stories had the ability to resonate with people on a deep level. They were like little treasures that could be enjoyed over and over again.

I have this feeling that perhaps I'm not fully grasping the essence of the matter, or at least, not understanding all of its implications. But from what I've gathered, it seems that the critic has lost interest in the things he once cherished, which leads him to perceive everything as clichéd. And that, in turn, is what proves to be his downfall. I'm not even certain if I can adequately convey what I mean. I was simply struck by the notion that he despises all these things because they are tired, typical, and predictable. However, it's when the bank robbers start spouting horribly clichéd phrases that he's able to "enjoy" it once more. He laughs, and that's what ultimately gets him killed. And even as he's on the verge of death, he's not reminiscing about the things people typically "remember." Instead, his mind fixes on a moment when someone's speech took an unexpected turn and surprised him.

I really don't know. I truly believe there might be a deeper meaning that I'm missing here. But even with what I'm able to glean from this short story, I'm still inclined to give it four stars. I think it's very well-written, and it definitely makes you think, as the meaning isn't immediately clear upon the first reading (at least not to me).

I've always been an ardent admirer of Tobias Wolff's writing. However, this happens to be the very first book of his short stories that I've delved into. These stories truly pack a wallop. They are filled with damaged individuals, dysfunctional families, and abhorrent situations that are exacerbated by the selfish and self-righteous actions of people. Wolff possesses an incredible talent for portraying the internal monologues of those who are firmly convinced they are in the right, despite all the evidence to the contrary.

The best stories within this collection often draw inspiration from Wolff's military experience. Take, for instance, "Flyboys," where a soldier in Vietnam nearly murders his commanding officer in an attempt to save a friend from being dispatched on a perilous mission. And then there's "The Other Miller," in which a soldier is informed that his mother has passed away, but he decides they've got the wrong person. There are also numerous outstanding stories told from the perspective of kids, grappling with the inadequacies and delusional thinking of adults. Wolff skillfully demonstrates how those kids, in turn, will grow up to be just as delusional.

For some reason, the weakest story in the collection is the first one, "Mortals," where a newspaper writer is duped into running an obituary for someone who is still alive. It's also interesting to note that this book was published in 1996, and the stories were penned in the late 80s and early 90s. It's truly fascinating to observe how much literary fiction has evolved over the past 20 years. Wolff's writing is sharp and powerful, yet it feels nothing like the prose one would encounter in most contemporary literary magazines and collections. He is far more willing to come right out and state what his characters are thinking and feeling, even editorializing here and there, and going a bit over the top in the service of a great moment, than any modern literary writer. Nevertheless, every aspiring author, whether in the realm of literature or otherwise, should read this, just as they should all of Wolff's other works.

I was truly captivated by these stories. It was the first work I had ever read by Tobias Wolff, and I'm extremely glad to have rectified that oversight!

I felt a deep connection to the humanity of the characters. So often, they just couldn't seem to resist doing or saying things that would undoubtedly lead to unfavorable consequences. It was both relatable and fascinating to observe their struggles.

The range of the stories was truly remarkable. Some, perhaps, ended a bit disappointingly, but that didn't overshadow the overall quality. They clearly belonged to a different era, the 1980s and 1990s, and yet, there was a certain nostalgia that washed over me as I read.

This collection is definitely worthy of rereading, and I've already embarked on that journey. I can't wait to discover new nuances and meanings with each subsequent reading. It's a literary treasure that I'm sure will continue to engage and inspire me for years to come.

I’ve grown weary of a certain type of fiction.

Fiction that presents itself as fiction in a rather pretentious way. To put it better, it's the kind of fiction whose language attempts (but without much precision) to capture the vague enchantments of poetry. And its stories and details are the sort that those fruity old professors talk about in overly succulent terms. They describe them like pieces of brownly broiled chicken, smacking their lips maddeningly, not on the actual thing but just on their ideas of something juicy.

Somewhere, a saucy Shakespearean actor shouts the word, “acting,” pronouncing it “ahkh-teen!” and shakes a soft fist at the audience. And so on and so forth. It's really unseemly, this kind of fiction.

The fiction I like now is more like non-fiction. Tobias Wolffe’s fiction, for example, isn't like the former. It's both real and precisely poetic. Wolffe is not only funny but also exacting. He pursues hard details and never repeats himself. The structures of his stories are intricate and interesting. To me, he seems to reveal the basic structure of life in his stories, as if he were opening the hood of an exotic sports car and slowly taking apart the engine, piece by gleaming piece. And he’s very funny, not just in a simple haha way. He’s also wise. I’m definitely going to read his works again.

Laurie Graham's books have always been outstanding. This particular one, while perhaps not as uproariously funny as some of her others, still served as an excellent refresher course in Ripper lore.

The main character, Dot Allbones, was incredibly believable, which made the book a truly easy and enjoyable read.

It was a pleasure to immerse oneself in the story and learn more about the infamous Ripper.

Now, I'm excited to move on to the next Ripper book on my list, "The Five" by Halie Rubenhold.

I'm looking forward to seeing what new perspectives and insights this book will offer.

I'm sure it will be just as captivating as Laurie Graham's book and will further enhance my understanding of this fascinating and mysterious topic.

Bullet in the Brain
There is no denying the intense novelty that this piece holds. Right from the very start, I was captivated by the unusual main character and his cheeky wit. However, I was completely enthralled when this was maintained even in the brief moments after his arrogant words led to him being shot in the head and before it caused him to become brain dead. Even in this rapid succession of memories, Anders is so cocky that his rhetorical impertinence seeps into the narrator's syntax. He manages to get by with his smart and brilliantly phrased affirmations. Nevertheless, his nature of spite and general dislike for people is crystal clear. It is truly remarkable how the author is able to create such a vivid and complex character in such a short story. The way Anders' personality shines through even in his final moments is both fascinating and somewhat disturbing. It makes one wonder about the true nature of human beings and how our actions and words can have such a profound impact, even in the most unexpected of circumstances.

Quindici racconti, più o meno della stessa lunghezza, costituiscono questa raccolta. Il loro motore è essenzialmente l'istintiva ricerca della soddisfazione del piacere e l'istintiva presenza della morte nell'agire dei personaggi. In una tensione, si vede il prevalere di uno o dell'altro aspetto o il conflitto tra essi, a seconda che i personaggi siano giovani o adulti. Sono storie poliedriche, con molte sfaccettature, che aprono molte porte attraverso apparenti divagazioni che non sono mai casuali.

I racconti sono caratterizzati da una scrittura fluida, concentrata, mai cupa e mai banale. Man mano che la lettura procede, sembra di essere di fronte al racconto perfetto e rappresentativo. È difficile indicare una preferenza. Tuttavia, fra tutti, "Una pallottola nel cervello", forse perché è l'ultimo della raccolta, in questo momento mi sembra il racconto "magistrale". Questo racconto ha qualcosa di speciale, qualcosa che lo rende unico e memorabile. Forse è la sua capacità di coinvolgere profondamente il lettore, di farlo immergere nel mondo dei personaggi e di farlo sperimentare le loro emozioni.

Wolff has an extraordinary ability to completely dissolve into his characters.

He can read their minds with an uncanny level of insight, as if he has direct access to their innermost thoughts.

The peeves and quirks of his characters are recorded with a merciless yet sometimes mirthful precision.

They move through familiar terrain, but they never truly feel at home.

His masterful use of simile adds a powerful sense of recognition. For example, in "Firelight", when a mother and her boy are making themselves at home in a stranger's house, he writes: "The logs settled in the fireplace, very softly, like some old sleeping dog adjusting his bones."

The situations he presents are revelations in and of themselves.

These stories, whether rich and delightful, vengeful or noble, beautifully limn the edges of human nature, morality, and judgement.

They offer a profound exploration of the complex and often contradictory aspects of our lives.

Wolff's writing is a testament to his talent for creating vivid and engaging characters and stories that stay with the reader long after the book is closed.