These stories about the working class in black DC are truly both beautiful and painful.

It's quite astonishing that I can't quite figure out his trick in this collection. There are no blatant hooks, and often very little to almost nothing "happens." The sentences, though eerily perfect, don't draw attention to themselves.

Yet, despite all this, I found myself constantly gasping, or choking up, or even putting a hand over my heart and exclaiming "oh my god."

You really must read these. This guy is undoubtedly one of the most exciting American authors of our time. His ability to create such powerful emotions with seemingly simple stories is truly remarkable. It makes you think about the hidden depths and complexities of the lives of the working class in black DC.

Each story is like a little gem, shining a light on a different aspect of their experiences. It's a collection that will stay with you long after you've finished reading.

So, don't miss out on this amazing work.

If Edward P. Jones were asked to suggest an epigraph for Lost in the City, I believe he would seriously consider the inscription over the door to Plato’s Academy: “Let no one enter here who is ignorant of geometry.” The streets of Washington D.C. are a significant element both within these stories and in the realm of conspiracy theorists. The original street layout of the national capital was designed by Pierre Charles L’Enfant, a Freemason like many of the founding fathers. A quick look at a city map reveals numerous possible cultic symbolic interpretations. However, the author’s intention is not to take such a reductive stance. The stories focus on how the streets impact the lives of the characters, providing a framework for their tangential interactions.

The stories are thematically connected by a sense of place created from the vicissitudes of survival on the streets. This sense of place ultimately challenges the value of a strictly survivalist worldview. In many of the stories, the streets define themselves within and upon the characters. Sometimes, this is through subtle word choice, as seen in “The Girl who Raised Pigeons” and “The Night Rhonda Ferguson was Killed.” Other times, it occurs in a more radical and overt way, closely tied to the plot and story structure, as in “The Store,” “Lost in the City,” and “Marie.”

When the action becomes violent or unpredictable, the details often have a geometrical quality. For example, in “Young Lions,” Caesar and Carol exit each other’s lives along diagonal lines. In “Marie,” the action follows the smaller incidence of a dropped fingernail file after the title character slaps a Social Security secretary. Of course, there are other elements at play in Lost in the City, such as stormy weather, music, and a specific dialect. However, even these qualities seem subordinate to the streets. The book also explores the city’s changing racial identity and ties to the south, which play out on the streets. The paradoxical ending, when considered with the title, suggests that part of the people’s voice is lost in the maze of the city.

These stories all share a common setting and have some interrelated characters.

However, each story stands alone as a finely wrought, exquisitely detailed and evocative depiction of the lives of Black working class Washingtonians and their boundaried world.

In a completely unexploitative way, many of the stories contain an act of violence that impinges on the characters and shapes their actions and outcomes.

Each story helps to construct an entire world that the reader comes to see as incredibly rich and complex.

Although highly contingent and inevitably shaped by factors and circumstances beyond the control of the characters themselves.

Jones is perhaps best known for his incredible novel The Known World, which is a masterpiece.

But these stories, and those in the companion volume All Aunt Hagar's Children (which I'm currently reading), are worth exploring and delving into on their own terms.

They offer a unique perspective on a particular time and place, and on the lives of those who lived there.

By reading these stories, we can gain a deeper understanding of the human experience and of the forces that shape our lives.

Whether we are interested in history, sociology, or simply in good storytelling, these stories have something to offer.

So, I encourage you to pick up a copy of these books and discover the world that Jones has created.

You won't be disappointed.

These short stories are centered around Chocolate City, USA, which is Washington, DC.

I am truly grateful that Edward P. Jones penned these stories. They play a crucial role in preserving the history of this city, a history that is being gradually erased due to gentrification and the Black flight to Maryland and Virginia.

Jones is highly skilled in character building. Even within a brief time frame, readers will find themselves becoming emotionally attached to the characters and cheering for them to overcome the numerous obstacles placed in their path. Each story is filled with melancholy and serves as a vivid reminder of how systemic racism can have a profound impact on the life outcomes of Black communities.

If one desires to truly understand Washington, D.C., this is an outstanding book. It provides a vivid depiction of what life is like in SE D.C. and what life used to be like throughout the entire city.

Disclaimer: I took a long time to finish this book not because of any lack in the power of these short stories. Instead, it was because I didn't have the capacity or the mental focus this Fall to read and concentrate as I did earlier in the year.

I remember the moment when I bought this book. I thought to myself, "Great! Something new." As I had never heard of this author before, I was filled with anticipation.

The first story was simply outstanding. When I finished it, I closed the book and took a moment to savor it. For me, when reading a book, it's not just about the story itself. It's about the way the story is told, and the feelings it evokes within me. And this book made me feel all kinds of wonderful emotions.

Immediately, I did my research to find out what else this author had written. When I read his other two works, I was not disappointed in the slightest. He has a remarkable way with language, just like Michael Jordan had a way with a basketball, or Michael Jackson had a way with music and dance. To me, he is truly that awesome. He belongs in the same class as greats like James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, and the old Terry McMillan. His prose is sheer poetry.

I just can't say enough good things about this book! If you have a short attention span or only read for the excitement and flashiness, this may not be the book for you. But if you read to take a journey into the mind of the author, to a place you never knew you wanted to go until you got there, then this is definitely the book for you.

I love how he interweaves stories from this book with his second collection "All Aunt Hagar's children," and even within "The Lost City" some stories are interwoven. It's truly fantastic. I just can't believe that there are some people who would give this book a mediocre or bad review. Shame on them! I suggest taking your time and really absorbing the words, rather than rushing through looking for the plot or action. I know this author takes his time when he writes, and it shows in his works. As much as I would love for him to write more and more books, I can appreciate the fact that he doesn't just throw something together for profit. A lot of authors have made that serious mistake, and it ultimately costs them. Whoever you are out there, if you haven't read anything by this author, I highly suggest you do so.

This book had been gathering dust on my shelves for a whopping 25 years. It wasn't until last month that I made the decision to assign it and teach it without any prior preparation. However, as it turned out, I didn't so much teach it as it taught me and taught itself to a group of undergraduates.

Most of them were white, hailing from small towns in Wisconsin or the suburbs of Milwaukee. Their experiences were worlds apart from those of Jones's characters. These characters were African American men, women, and children, aged from 5 to 91, living in various neighborhoods of DC between the late 1950s and early 1980s.

I myself grew up in DC and was familiar with the "urban renewal" projects that uprooted nearly 5000 African American families from their homes and transformed places like Southwest Washington into exclusive enclaves for the professional class. But to truly step into the shoes of those displaced or affected by these ongoing "renewal" projects, which served as a model for many other cities across the country, was to gain a real understanding of the human toll of institutional racism. This is something that only the very best fiction can vividly bring to life.

The book's politics are not overt. It's a collection of stories filled with brilliant echoes and intersections, making it read more like a novel, with the unforgettable protagonist of Washington, DC at its core. Jones seems almost superhuman in his understanding of people. He's like a mind reader and a genius of observation. There's brutality, hilarity, and everything in between. These 250 pages are among the most expansive I've ever read, densely populated with people, milieu, events, and emotions. These stories, this map of the true DC, are a great work of art. No longer hidden in plain sight, it now sits on a nearby shelf of my favorite books, a place I'll keep returning to.

This is Jones's first book, and within its pages, you can catch a glimpse of the meticulous and straightforward approach to character development and the fully realized world (in this case, Washington D.C.) that was employed with such mastery in "The Known World."

These are all remarkable stories. Some of them astonish you with their unexpected twists and turns (Jones skillfully refrains from passing any judgment), while others don't quite gain as much momentum. There's nothing negative to say; I simply believe that his later stories pack a more powerful punch. And I'm so thoroughly impressed by the novel (as seen in my review of that) that it's difficult for me to have the same level of affection for these. Let's rate it at three and a half stars.

Overall, this debut work shows great promise and sets the stage for Jones's future literary achievements. It offers a unique perspective and engaging narratives that will keep readers entertained and intrigued.

Despite not being as impactful as his later works, it still has its own charm and value. It's a worthy addition to any bookshelf and a great starting point for those interested in exploring Jones's literary universe.

Edward P. Jones’ 4 star is truly everyone else’s 5 star. His works are remarkable as he manages to pack an astonishing amount of life into stories that frequently have little to no action. It is a unique talent that he possesses.

His conceptualism, however, is easily overlooked. This is because of his incredibly skilled storytelling and outstanding character development. The way he weaves the narratives and brings the characters to life is simply masterful.

One can think of his stories as quilting stories. Just as a quilt is made up of various pieces carefully stitched together to form a beautiful whole, his stories are composed of different elements that blend seamlessly to create a rich and engaging literary experience. Each story is like a carefully crafted quilt, with its own unique pattern and texture, inviting the reader to explore and discover the hidden gems within.

My brother sent me this book after we had an in-depth discussion about "The Known World."

This is truly an impressive compilation of stories that are masterfully written. I must confess that I didn't fully grasp the endings of some of the stories, not understanding precisely what they were intended to signify. However, it's evident that Jones possesses a remarkable skill level that is not commonly witnessed.

Perhaps it's just me not being overly intelligent, but who can say for sure?

I firmly believe that in order to consider oneself literate in the 21st century, "The Known World" holds great significance. If you derived enjoyment from that novel, this collection will also strike a chord with you. Interestingly, some of the characters featured here are revisited in "All Aunt Hagar's Children: Stories," which is his subsequent collection of tales.

Overall, this book offers a captivating read that showcases Jones' literary prowess and leaves the reader eager to explore more of his works.

As in most short story collections, I didn't enjoy all of the stories.

There were some that didn't quite capture my interest or failed to engage me on a deeper level. However, what truly stood out was his writing style. In every single story, it was evident that he had a unique and captivating way with words.

The characters he created were all memorable. It's not easy to bring characters to life in such a vivid and lasting way, but he managed to do so with great skill. Each character had their own distinct personality and backstory, making them feel real and relatable.

As a DC resident, it was an added bonus to be able to picture the various neighborhoods described in the book. The author's detailed descriptions allowed me to envision the streets, buildings, and people of different areas in the city. It was like taking a virtual tour of DC through the pages of the book.

Overall, while not every story was a hit for me, I still found value in the collection due to the author's excellent writing style and memorable characters.

I am typically quite picky when it comes to choosing which short stories to read. However, based on the reviews I had come across, I decided to give "Lost In The City" a try.

To my surprise, I did enjoy most of the stories within the collection. They had a certain charm and appeal that kept me engaged. But as I reached the end, I found myself feeling more clueless and puzzled than ever.

I couldn't help but wonder if I had "missed" something crucial, perhaps a hidden lesson that I was supposed to learn but somehow failed to grasp.

Nevertheless, what I can say with certainty is that Jones is indeed a talented writer. Despite the brevity of his characters, who are developed within just 20 - 30 pages, they manage to evoke deep emotions within the reader.

Based on this aspect alone, I feel compelled to give him a rating of four. His ability to create such vivid and engaging characters in a short space of time is truly remarkable.

It's truly strange to read stories about the very town where you reside. Here we have one of the greatest living writers in America, and he is right here in DC.

This elegaic examination of life in DC is, at times, harsh, lonely, and violent. However, it also gives rise to those bittersweet epiphanies that make each of us human.

Although it has been mentioned as an homage to Joyce's Dubliners, I can also detect traces of another American short story master, Raymond Carver.

They both seem to be crying out that there is beauty somewhere within all that misery, but it requires a poetic soul to assist us in seeing it.

It makes one wonder about the hidden aspects of our own lives in this familiar town, and how the written word can uncover and illuminate those often overlooked corners.

Perhaps through the eyes of this talented writer, we can gain a new perspective on the place we call home and the complex tapestry of human experiences that unfold within its boundaries.