So many great stories are included in this collection.

Wolff truly demonstrates his remarkable writing skills, showing himself to be a minimalistic genius.

His ability to convey complex emotions and ideas with just a few well-chosen words is truly astonishing.

Each story is a gem, carefully crafted and filled with depth and meaning.

Wolff's minimalistic approach allows the reader to engage with the text on a deeper level, as they are forced to fill in the gaps and create their own interpretations.

This collection is a must-read for anyone who appreciates great literature and the art of minimalism.

It will leave you thinking long after you have turned the last page and will surely become a favorite among your literary treasures.

Spoilers for book club!

I don't think the book club is going to like this collection very much, but I did

I’ve never been much of a short-story reader.

Yes, during my youthful pseudo-intellectual phase, I delved into Cheever (which later gave way to the more ordinary pursuit of newspapering). And more recently, in an attempt to overcome my monolingualism, I struggled through a couple of García Márquez collections in Spanish (La Frontera de Cristal is truly amazing). But generally speaking, I’ve always felt somewhat short-changed by the short story.

The truncated nature of the tale has never quite satisfied me. If I liked a story, I craved more. It’s like visiting a great restaurant and only having an appetizer. I felt cheated, as if the kitchen hadn’t served me the rest of the meal.

Then a friend presented me with a well-worn copy of Tobias Wolff’s Back in the World (1985). This collection of stories is centered on – or perhaps more accurately, delightfully off-centered on – post-Vietnam War America. In this era, the battered nation was filled with damaged individuals who, mysteriously, were still alive despite a part of them having died.

Among these wounded souls are a priest who has lost his faith; a single woman adrift in loneliness; a pair of brothers divided by money yet bound by blood; and a young father whose harsh desert reality clashes with his Hollywood dreams. Disaffection unites them. The joys of life, no matter how ordinary, elude them.

In its ten stories, Back in the World – where the World refers to any place other than ‘Nam for the U.S. soldiers of that time – reminds us that nothing in life is ever truly finished, hardly anything is as it appears, and no one can exist in isolation.

Wolff is an astute observer, whether it’s the disappointments of Las Vegas, the boredom of military life, or the fear instilled by an angry whale. He presents what he sees in descriptive, engaging sentences that often end with a surprise (once again proving that hardly anything is what it seems).

As for my previous metaphor of the short-story as an insufficient serving, reading Back in the World has convinced me to modify it: A good short-story is like a piece of excellent sushi, just one or two bites, but a complete meal in itself. In Wolff’s capable hands, Back in the World is a truly satisfying omakase.

Great short fiction by one of the well-known masters of the form. This work truly showcases the remarkable talent and expertise of the author. The story is crafted with precision and finesse, captivating the reader from the very beginning. The characters are vividly drawn, each with their own unique personalities and motives. The plot is engaging and full of unexpected twists and turns, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. The language used is rich and descriptive, painting a vivid picture in the reader's mind. It is a masterclass in the art of short fiction, demonstrating how much can be achieved in a relatively short space. Whether you are a fan of the genre or simply looking for a great read, this short fiction is not to be missed.

An old Bob Geldof song from 1990 contains the lines:

"And I got into bed

And started reading a book

By a guy named Tobias Wolff

It’s good it’s short stories

Just before you sleep he’ll take

You off to Burma…Mandalay

Places like that."

This might have been the very first time I heard of Tobias Wolff (so, thanks for that, Bob Geldof). Since then, I've delved into his novel The Barracks Thief and at least one other collection of short stories. Wolff is truly a master of the short story form, on par with greats like Raymond Carver.

In a collection such as this, there are often several stories that really shine. It's extremely difficult to pick a favorite. With the exception of one or two stories (that are merely very good), all of these are excellent. The first story in the book, "Coming Attractions," really seized my attention and made me yearn for more. I constantly find myself reflecting on how wonderful it was. "Desert Breakdown 1968" might be another more outstanding story.

All of these stories are set in America (no Burma or Mandalay here; Geldof must have been reading a different book), and many of them take place in rural settings. This is a phenomenal collection and highly recommended to anyone who has an appreciation for the form.

It's not the first time I've delved into this collection, and now it seems a touch antiquated. "Coming Attractions" is an outstanding story. It constructs incident upon incident, and then that final scene, it's truly remarkable. "Sister" is one that I recall from an anthology many years ago. It's very much an 80s tale. The characterization of people at a specific point in their lives is brilliant. There's no attempt to disclose their entire life histories, just focusing on the here and now. Nevertheless, it has a universal quality that is rather subtle, yet I believe that's the story's enduring power. "The Poor Are Always With Us" is another excellent story of menace, and it's established right from the start. "Say Yes" is a classic power struggle between a husband and wife, and the content of the argument is very much in line with the 80s. "Leviathan" is yet another 80s slice of life, but this one is a sneaky gem that packs a devastating punch. It almost seems a pity to have squandered the denouement in such a period piece.

**Title: An Intriguing Article**

In this article, we are presented with some interesting information.

However, the current form of the article is rather concise.

To expand it, we can explore the details further.

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By doing so, the reader will have a better understanding of the subject matter.

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This could involve using more vivid adjectives or stronger verbs.

Overall, expanding the article will not only make it more informative but also more enjoyable to read.

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I recently had the pleasure of delving into In the Garden of North American Martyrs by Tobias Wolff. This collection truly stands out as a remarkable sophomore effort. The stories within are of the highest caliber, captivating the reader from start to finish.

My personal favorites include “Say Yes,” which explores complex themes with great depth. “The Missing Person” is another gem, filled with mystery and intrigue. “Desert Breakdown, 1968” offers a vivid snapshot of a particular time and place.

However, it is “The Rich Brother” that truly shines. This concluding story accomplishes everything that a great final piece should. It packs a powerful emotional punch, leaving a sting that lingers long after the final page. It has the ability to leave you completely blown away, lost in thought for hours. Wolff's writing in this collection is masterful, and “The Rich Brother” is the perfect capstone to a wonderful collection of stories.

This was in the little free library thing right before I left town.

It has the handwritten notes of a very diligent MFAer in it.

The first story, "Coming Attractions," is a real marvel of compression and implication.

I tend to like story-told-within-a-story things. Maybe in part just because it's one of the times literary fiction writers use summary rather than scene.

Nice versions of this can be found in "Our Story Begins" and "Leviathan."

There's also a teachable alternating POV story called "Desert Breakdown, 1968."

This collection of stories seems to offer a diverse range of literary techniques and styles.

The handwritten notes add a personal touch and perhaps some additional insights into the stories.

The marvel of compression in "Coming Attractions" makes it a captivating read, leaving the reader with much to think about.

The use of summary in story-told-within-a-story scenarios can be an effective way to convey information and build suspense.

"Desert Breakdown, 1968" with its alternating POVs likely provides a unique perspective and engages the reader in a different way.

Overall, this find in the little free library has the potential to be a great source of inspiration and learning for any lover of literature.

While I clearly recognized that Tobias Wolff is an excellent writer in this book, I have to admit that I wasn't particularly captivated by his characters or stories. They all seemed to be笼罩着 a layer of darkness that was rather depressing.

One review puts it well when it states that as he tells the story of his characters, "he reveals the disparity between their realities and their dreams." This observation is spot-on and perhaps it's the reason why I don't like his overall tone. I'm too much of a dreamer, and I firmly believe in dreams that are not naive or immature but rather transformative and filled with hope.

The one story that did strike a chord with me was the first one, "The Missing Person." The character of the priest in the story, as he struggles to hold onto his dreams, is interesting in his plight and definitely worth reading.

Perhaps I should pick up a couple more of his works before passing too much more judgment. After all, there might be other aspects of his writing that I haven't yet discovered and that could change my perspective.

Tobias Wolff is truly one of my favorite writers. However, I have always had the impression that his nonfiction works are slightly superior to his fiction. "This Boy's Life" and "In Pharaoh's Army" are both outstanding books, filled with countless memorable moments. In these books, Wolff seems to take greater risks with language and explores his themes more skillfully.

Wolff also has moments of brilliance in his short fiction. Stories like "The Other Miller", "Hunters in the Snow", and "Maiden Voyage" are remarkable. But perhaps he isn't as consistent as a short story writer. He has often been compared to Raymond Carver and Richard Yates, sharing some of their strengths and flaws. Wolff is excellent on a sentence-by-sentence basis, but sometimes, especially in "Back in the World", his writing can be a bit too simple and straightforward.

His writing feels real and believable, yet it doesn't always have a powerful impact. The majority of the stories in "Back in the World" seem ordinary and mundane (which is a characteristic of realism), but they don't always have enough palpable tension or narrative momentum to truly engage the reader. I have the same feeling about some of Carver's short stories and most of Yates'. The theme often revolves around subtle suffering, and sometimes the best one can get from a story thematically is a vague sense of unease and sadness.

My favorite stories in this collection are "The Missing Person" and "Soldier's Joy". The latter, in particular, has a surface impact that others in the collection lack. Ultimately, if one takes the time to think about these stories, each of them has something meaningful to convey. But many initially give the impression of "that's it?" before one considers the understated thematic implications. Some stories, like "Coming Attractions", have beautiful moments but don't completely wow me overall.

As a whole, this collection is worth reading, but it isn't quite as powerful as Wolff's best works.

This is the third collection of stories by Tobias Wolff that I've read, and I have to say that there has yet to be a story that has let me down.

Tobias Wolff's writing is truly remarkable. His ability to craft engaging and thought-provoking stories is second to none. Each story in this collection is unique, yet they all share a common thread of authenticity and depth.

Other than Alice Munro, there's really no other author I know who is that consistent. Wolff's stories have a way of drawing you in and making you feel as if you are a part of the characters' lives.

Whether it's a story about love, loss, or the human condition, Wolff manages to capture the essence of it all in a way that is both beautiful and profound. I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.