I have this feeling that including a book which I finished reading in just 5 minutes in my 2013 challenge is a form of cheating. However, I am distressingly far behind. So, for a moment, I push my scruples aside.

Other notes: This could quite possibly be my favorite short story throughout all eternity. It might also be my favorite writing style for all time. In fact, it could be my favorite thing ever - it's like Cupcake Party ice cream, because that stuff is pure bliss when you taste it with a spoon.

(Actually, comparing "Bullet In The Brain" to Cupcake Party ice cream is perhaps the most accurate analogy I have ever come up with. The point here is: Wolff's writing is simply flawless.)

I first came across Tobias Wolff when I saw the 1993 movie "This Boy's Life."

The story, which is about the relationship between a rebellious 1950s teenager (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his abusive stepfather (Robert De Niro), is based on the memoirs of writer and Stanford literature Professor Tobias Wolff.

The movie, also starring Ellen Bakin as DiCaprio's man-crazy mother, was tightly written and extremely well acted.

DeNero was as sinister as his character in "Cape Fear," an unrelenting, abusive drunk.

Relatively new to the big screen, DiCaprio held his own against his two leading stars.

The storyline was so compelling that I had to read the book and discover the author.

The book was 5 star -- I enjoyed it immensely.

Recently I was ordering books from Thrift Books, particularly several collections of short stories by William Faulkner, Eudora Welty, Ernest Hemingway, Willa Cather and Pearl S. Buck.

Before I placed my order, their search engine suggested a "you-may-like-these-too" list.

The title "The Night in Question" by Wolff was suggested, a collection of 15 short stories that I found, upon reading them, absolutely entertaining and delightful.

Stories like "Mortals," about a cub reporter who writes an obituary only to be fired when its subject walks into his office, very much alive.

Or my favorite, "Firelight," in which a character includes the landlord of an apartment who the narrator quotes, "What can I do for you?" And goes on to describe, "His voice was so deep I could almost feel it, like coal rumbling down a chute." He goes on, "He had the kind of size (tall and rotund with a massive head) that provokes, almost inevitably, the nickname 'Tiny.'" What descriptive and colorful language.

Seek out this book. It's a joy to read.

P.S. In further research on Wolff, I discovered that he served in my same Army Division, the 9th Infantry Division, in the Mekong Delta.

During the Vietnam War era, Wolff served in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1972, when he trained for Special Forces, learned Vietnamese, and served as an adviser in Vietnam.

This collection includes a couple of stories featuring Army soldiers.

He has also written two novels with a military theme: "In Pharaoh's Army" and "The Barracks Thief," of which I've added both to my To Read list.

This is the fifth book I have read by Wolff, yet it is the first one since 2017.

Only recently did I discover that he taught at Syracuse from 1980 to 1997. George Saunders was one of his students there and now also lectures at the same place.

I mention this because I have read short story collections by both of them this year, along with one by Flannery O'Connor. In a recent PBS documentary about O'Connor, Wolff is among the many authors who sing her praises.

To me, all three of them are master storytellers. Their stories tend to highlight some of the darker aspects of life in America, but in a realist and non-depressing way.

While reading this collection from 1996, I often found myself pleasurably thinking that a short twenty-minute read could transport me to a new and different world. This might sound a bit cliched, but it is indeed true.

I was also pleasantly surprised to see references to "the sound" in several stories, as I live right next to Puget Sound. Wolff lived in Seattle and the North Cascades with his mother as an adolescent, and several of the stories in this collection seem to draw from his own life experiences.

Wolff served in the army from 1964 to 1968, and two of these fifteen stories are about soldiers. If you have read and enjoyed his short stories, I would highly recommend his memoirs This Boy's Life (1989) and In Pharaoh's Army (1994), which respectively detail his adolescence and his time in Vietnam.

I thoroughly enjoyed this collection. Tobias Wolff is an incredibly talented writer. His writing is filled with an emotional intelligence that is truly captivating. It has a kind of hypnotic quality that sucks you into each story almost instantly. As you read, you can't help but be drawn into the lives and experiences of each character. Wolff has a remarkable ability to make every character feel so real and vivid. You can almost imagine them standing right in front of you. The stories in this collection are diverse and engaging, each offering a unique perspective on life. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves to read. It is a must-read for fans of short stories and those who appreciate great writing.

The book is filled with beautiful short stories that are both thrilling and sometimes educational.

These stories have the power to transport the reader to different worlds and experiences.

They can make you feel a range of emotions, from excitement to contemplation.

The language used in the book is engaging and easy to understand, making it accessible to a wide audience.

Whether you are looking for a quick read to pass the time or a deeper exploration of human nature, this book has something for everyone.

Each story is like a little gem, shining with its own unique light and charm.

You will find yourself getting lost in the pages and reluctant to put the book down.

So, if you are a lover of good literature, don't miss out on this wonderful collection of short stories.

What an incredibly masterful book of short stories this is!

I wholeheartedly agree with other reviewers who assert that Wolff has truly matured and found his unique voice. His first book of stories, although brilliant in many ways, had a tendency to lose momentum towards the end. However, this current collection is filled with stories that are exquisitely crafted and self-sustaining.

Wolff is a true master at avoiding the common pitfall of short story let down. This is defined as the frustrating feeling that accompanies the end of a short story, especially when you've begun to relate to a character and care deeply about what happens to them, only to have the story abruptly end, usually without a proper resolution. But with Wolff's stories, after reading the second or third one, you don't even mind when a story ends because you know that the next one will be just as captivating and well-written. This is an extremely rare quality in a short story writer, as most collections tend to be inconsistent in quality, with some stories shining and others falling flat.

For those who are truly passionate about Wolff's work, I highly recommend checking out these interviews:

http://www.pbs.org/kcet/tavissmiley/a...

http://www.salon.com/dec96/interview2...

He is without a doubt one of our American Treasures, a true master of the short story form.

I've only had the pleasure of delving into Tobias Wolff's short stories, specifically those from this book and the ones in "In the Garden of the North American Martyrs." However, this collection truly left me dumbfounded.

Story after story masterfully zeroes in on the ordinary, everyday occurrences of mostly "regular" people. Wolff's acute and often fanciful attention to detail is reminiscent of eastern poets. But he also infuses his perspective with a uniquely "American" essence,展现出一位美国作家的卓越才华。

Stories such as "The Chain" and "Bullet in the Brain" powerfully convey the human condition while unwaveringly confronting the darker side of humanity. After reading numerous of these tales, I was eager to share specific passages or insights with a friend.

In this collection, more so than in "In the Garden of the North American Martyrs," I had the distinct impression of a vivid, humorous, and quietly wise writer. As Holden Caulfield from "The Catcher in the Rye" might have put it, I truly wish he were a personal acquaintance.

Wolff's stories are not only engaging but also thought-provoking, leaving a lasting impact on the reader.

All books get 5 stars.

The prose within these pages is clear and concise, yet it manages to carry an undercurrent of emotion that remains tantalizingly undefined.

These are not your typical stories; they are subtle and nuanced, delving into the realm of unspoken and unrealized truths.

They explore the concept of self-sabotage, that insidious force that often holds us back from achieving our true potential.

With each turn of the page, the reader is drawn deeper into the complex web of human emotions and experiences, left to grapple with their own unspoken truths and the ways in which they may be sabotaging themselves.

These stories are a powerful reminder that sometimes, the most profound truths are the ones that we are afraid to face.

The article is truly a pleasant read. It engages the reader from the very beginning and keeps their interest throughout. The language is simple yet effective, making it accessible to a wide range of audiences.

The content is well-structured, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. The author presents their ideas in a logical and organized manner, which makes it easy for the reader to follow along.

Additionally, the article is filled with interesting facts and examples that add depth and credibility to the author's arguments. This not only makes the reading more enjoyable but also provides the reader with valuable information.

Overall, this is an excellent article that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a pleasant and informative read.

I have had an absolutely lovely time, meeting the remarkable Miss Dot Allbones in London during the late 1880s. She was a captivating music hall performer, excelling as both a singer and a comedienne. From the very start, I was drawn to her. I learned that she had risen from humble beginnings in the Midlands. Even at a very young age, when she showed signs of talent, she was encouraged. Although she had been married, she was content that she could support herself in her own home in Victoria Park.

That doesn't mean she didn't enjoy the company of men. She had an intimate relationship with journalist Tom Bullen, got on well with her young lodger, the rising artiste Valentine St John, and had a warm, professional relationship with her long-time manager, Monty Hyams.

She truly appreciated her good fortune and always took care of her friends. She liked to be appreciated, and she was a bit concerned that as she got older, she was being pushed further down the bill than before. But she knew she was fortunate compared to others who were much less so through no fault of their own.

Dot was warm and outgoing, witty and self-deprecating. She was excellent company, and her voice always rang true. It's been a long time since I read Laurie Graham, but I remember that she often inserts a fictional character into a well-known story from the past, and that's exactly what she's done here.

In East London, not far away, the brutal killings attributed to Jack the Ripper had begun. Everyone was talking about it. Dot always made sure she had an escort to take her home after her nightly performance. Tom was much busier than usual, chasing stories. Monty joined a group of men who patrolled the streets at night.

Dot was particularly worried about Kate, a childhood friend she had met for the first time in years. She went out of her way to help her, and her help was greatly appreciated. But Dot knew that Kate was too fond of drink. I admired that Dot had the sense to give things and her time rather than just money. I loved that when her friends were critical, she pointed out that they came from the same place and it was just that she'd been lucky and Kate hadn't - though there was actually a bit more to it than that - and I really loved that she stood up for women who 'went with men', pointing out that most of them only did it because they had no other way to get the money they desperately needed for food and shelter.

She was also concerned about Valentine's American friend, Dr Frank Townsend. Valentine was clearly very taken with him, but he was unwilling to step forward when a medical man was needed, he was vague about what he did, and Dot was sure something was amiss, though she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

All of this plays out beautifully. The characterisation is marvellous, the evocation of time and place is spot-on, and the story is clearly underpinned by careful research into the music hall, 19th century London life, and the Ripper case.

Because one of the killings sends shockwaves through Dot's circle of friends. I only knew the broad history, but when I looked up a few specifics, I found that Laurie Graham had fitted her own story around the real history very cleverly. She takes just a little artistic licence, but nothing that I felt was unreasonable.

The tone changes a little in the latter part of the story, inevitably, given what had happened, and it works very well. The story needed a change of gear, and that change made me realise how caught up I was with Dot and her world.

I wondered if the ending would be effective - given that the real history had no real conclusion - but it was. Some things changed, and some things stayed the same. I could pick out some minor niggles - about pacing, about one or two plot developments being a bit too clearly signposted, about one or two attitudes being a bit too modern - but they were just niggles. As a whole, the book worked extremely well.

This was a wonderfully engaging and entertaining story. I loved the way it balanced the darker side of life with humour, and I loved meeting all the people and stepping into their world for a while.

Honestly, I read this because of Lorde.

The piece is dark, as if it is submerged in the shadows of a never-ending night. It is world-weary, carrying the weight of all the disappointments and hardships that the world has to offer. Overall, it seems mundane, lacking in the sparkle and excitement that one might expect.

However, strangely enough, I still found myself enjoying it. There is something about its understated charm, its ability to draw me in and make me feel a connection. Maybe it's the honesty with which it is written, or the way it captures the essence of a moment that is both ordinary and extraordinary.

Despite its flaws, this piece has a certain allure that keeps me coming back for more. It's like a hidden gem that I discovered by chance, and I can't wait to see what else it has to offer.

This one's a real puzzler for me.

Sometimes I found myself really liking it, while at other times, I just didn't have that same enthusiasm.

I always seem to struggle when I'm faced with a situation where I know that a book is truly good or an author is extremely talented.

But for some reason, I just can't seem to fully get into it.

I do have to admit that there are a few really good stories in here.

However, I have a feeling that most of them probably won't stay with me for too long.

Despite that, I'd be really, really interested in reading a full-length novel by this guy.

I'm curious to see if he can hook me in and keep my attention throughout an entire book.

Maybe then I'll be able to truly appreciate his talent and the depth of his storytelling.

Who knows, it could be a completely different experience.