All Aunt Hagar's Children by edward p. jones

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Whenever I embark on a new collection of short stories, I invariably flip to the front matter to discover the original publication sources of each piece. And I'm constantly a bit dismayed when several of those stories haven't been published anywhere before their inclusion. Perhaps this makes me a snob, but it's uncommon that such stories (which are scattered throughout Edward P. Jones' second collection) read like anything more than meandering, aimless, and indulgent padding.

While I comprehend Jones' urge to offer a comprehensive tapestry of life in urban DC, All Aunt Hagar's Children would have been twice as good (and half its overly long 400-page length) had Jones omitted some of the filler. Because when he's on, he's truly on. Read any of the New Yorker pieces gathered here and you'll understand what I mean. In particular, read "A Rich Man", which is presented in its entirety online at the New Yorker's site: http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2003.... This story is profoundly disturbing, monumentally tragic, and often quite hilarious. It's a long story that justifies every bit of its length, with one of the most shattering endings you'll ever encounter.

Jones has a remarkable talent, but in this collection, he seems to have let some weaker pieces dilute the overall impact. If he had been more discerning in his selection, the result could have been a truly outstanding work. As it stands, All Aunt Hagar's Children has its moments of brilliance, but it also suffers from some excess baggage.

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serendipitymoose

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Character after character keeps being introduced, each with a little of their own history.

Perhaps I haven't listened far enough into the story, but I'm without patience to continue further into a story that does not feel connected enough to weave a story out of. I was disappointed.

However, after writing and posting the above review, I came to learn this was a book of short stories!!!! I didn't realize that at the time.

The first short story pulled me right in and I wanted to learn more.

I so enjoyed what this author had to offer. If you're a short story fan (which I am not), I have no doubt you will enjoy this book!

For me, I will look to see if this author has any other books.

The experience of reading this book has been quite a journey. At first, I was frustrated with the lack of connection among the characters and the story. But once I discovered it was a collection of short stories, my perspective changed completely.

The author has a unique way of presenting each story, making it engaging and interesting. I'm glad I gave this book a chance and look forward to exploring more of the author's works.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys short stories or is looking for something new to read.

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no-good-reason

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Edward P. Jones has a remarkable way of squeezing every last drop out of his characters.

In each of his stories, he manages to extract the incredible history and emotion of an individual within a relatively short amount of space.

In "All Aunt Hagar's Children", Jones conjures up the insane struggle of three generations of black families in the Deep South.

Each story, as sad and brutal as the next, weighs heavily on the narrator, a protagonist lawyer who has been called upon to investigate the murder of a family member.

As he reflects upon the various past tragedies, he has to deal with the violence and absurdity of the present one.

Jones' writing has a unique way of moving in and out of time, which brings out the best and worst of the novice detective.

We never learn his name, but we learn all about him.

He is a successful African-American attorney, yet he harbors a mysterious fantasy of searching for gold in Alaska.

He is contemptuous and cynical of the white race, but his thoughts are dominated by the words of an East European Jewish grandmother.

He is confident of his own sexuality, but he is torn apart by the rejection of his former girlfriend.

He is intelligent enough to know that he is a prisoner of his culture and/or family history.

Any mystery that he may solve will pale in comparison to his own.

My favorite story here is "Old Boys, Old Girls".

Jones starts off with the most hardened of criminals and ends with the most innocent of schoolgirls.

In between, he weaves the dread and hardship of one Caesar Matthews who has killed one guy, and by the time he kills the second, he must think that it's all over.

He's going away, and he doesn't care. Totally cold-blooded.

Consequently, Jones paints a brutal picture of prison culture.

Another murderer teaches Cesar an important lesson about jailhouse philosophy: "Listen, man, even if you like the top bunk, you fuck him up for the bottom just cause you got to let him know who rules. You let him know that you will stab him through his motherfucking heart and then turn around and eat your supper - you can't let nobody fuck with your humanity."

Here is the twist: Beyond the frightening exterior and jailhouse tattoos, Caesar shows some heart upon leaving prison.

He might not be able to function in a family or social context, but prison wasn't able to erase whatever little bit of tenderness that he may have experienced in his life.

Just like the lawyer in "All Aunt Hagar's Children", Caesar's fate is dominated by elements beyond his control and philosophy.

His life has all the control of a coin flip.

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Kauandal

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

The stories in this collection held great potential. They began with promising starts, captivating the reader's attention. However, as they progressed, most of them seemed to lose their momentum and ended in rather unsatisfactory ways. The author, being male, perhaps had a certain perspective that was reflected in the stories, which were predominantly centered around the feelings and experiences of men.

The male characters in the stories often engaged in lies, cheating, and sulking, and sometimes they even lost their women. These actions were given extensive reflection, as if they were the norm. On the other hand, when it was the women who left or cheated, it was presented as something inexplicable and almost unforgivable.

One particularly bad story that made me truly tired of reading this book was about a wealthy and influential man in DC whose wife had an affair with the mailroom guy. The husband had cheated several times before, but it was the wife's infidelity that was somehow considered the greater sin. They stopped communicating with each other, and when the wife fell ill and eventually died, the author took the opportunity to comment on the fact that the man didn't visit her while she was dying. After her death, she was reduced to a cold wind that some people felt in his house (but never him). And yet, we continued to hear about his story, as if we were supposed to empathize with him.

I'm not sure if I was supposed to feel sorry for him because he was made to look like a fool, or if my instinctive reaction of rolling my eyes was the correct one. Either way, I didn't come away from this story with a good feeling. After this, I stopped paying as much attention to the remaining stories in the collection.

I still have "The Known World" on my to-be-read list as a possible option. Although I'm not overly enthusiastic about it at the moment, I'm likely to read it at some point. This is because almost every reviewer who didn't like this collection seemed to have enjoyed "The Known World". So, perhaps it will offer a different and more satisfying reading experience.

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Arashi_Tempesta

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I had the pleasure of reading his book, The Known World, and I truly loved it. It was a captivating and thought-provoking piece of literature that left a lasting impression on me. Since then, I have delved into some of his short stories, and I must say that I am not disappointed in the slightest.

He is a remarkably clear and sensitive story writer. His writing style allows the reader to easily understand and connect with the characters and their experiences. What sets him apart is his ability to be sensitive without being maudlin. He presents the emotions and struggles of his characters in a genuine and relatable way, without overdoing it or becoming overly sentimental.

As I read his short stories, I get a real feel for his characters and the lives they lead. I can picture them in my mind's eye, and I become invested in their journeys. His stories are not only entertaining but also offer insights into the human condition. They make me think about the world around me and the people I encounter. Overall, I am extremely impressed with his work and look forward to reading more of his stories in the future.

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azzad-track

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I have a great fondness for Edward Jones’ novel “The Known World.” I vividly remember reading it when it was first published. The novel presents a series of stories that are filled with some truly excellent moments.

However, despite these remarkable elements, the overall narrative did not manage to fully draw me in. There was something lacking that prevented me from becoming completely immersed in the world that Jones had created.

Perhaps it was the pacing of the story or the development of the characters. Nevertheless, I still recognize the value and significance of the novel. It offers a unique perspective on a particular time and place, and the writing is of a high caliber.

Overall, while “The Known World” did not have the same impact on me as some other novels, it is still a work that is worth reading and considering.

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Sabaisms

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

A short story collection - It is truly very well-written.

However, I found it rather challenging, perhaps due to the fact that I haven't delved into short stories for quite some time. As a result, I had a difficult time situating myself within the narratives. (Wait a minute, what era is this? Where are we? And who is this character again?)

That being said, on occasion, these stories were absolute whoppers. They were sometimes shocking, capable of jolting you out of your complacency. At other times, they were super emotional, tugging at your heartstrings.

I think they've left an indelible trace on me. I'm still torn up about the stomped on old albums, a scene that has etched itself in my mind.

I am now extremely anxious to read his other books, such as Known World, eager to explore more of his literary universe and be further captivated by his storytelling prowess.

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HikaruShidou

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

This particular piece of work is not on par with A Known World, even though it does possess a certain degree of captivating charm. It has its moments that draw the reader in, but it also has its drawbacks.

As I progress through it, I find that it can be a bit on the dry side at times. The story seems to plod along rather than flow smoothly, and some of the descriptions lack the vividness that would truly bring the scenes to life.

However, I am still persevering with it, as I believe there may be more to discover. Once I have completed it, I will be able to share my final thoughts and give a more comprehensive assessment. For now, it remains an okay book with some potential that has yet to be fully realized.

Overall, it is not a bad read, but it also doesn't quite reach the heights of excellence that I had hoped for.

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All Aunt Hagar's Children

edward p. jones peter francis james

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