These stories are truly perfect.

That's all I can really say.

"The Devil Swims Across the Anacosta" completely blew my mind and left me helplessly amazed.

I'm not kidding or exaggerating in the slightest.

I read it with my lips ajar, much like I imagine all those boys out there read "Lolita" (I hate that book, but I love everything else by Nabokov and have read a great deal of it.

How come no one gets as excited by his books like "King, Queen, Knave" or "Pnin"? They are masterpieces.).

I didn't read every single story.

I want to save something for later.

What I did read was, as I've already said, perfect.

It's rare to come across a collection of stories that can have such an impact.

Each one seems to draw you in and take you on a unique journey.

The writing is so vivid and engaging that you can't help but be fully immersed.

I can't wait to go back and read the rest of the stories.

I'm sure they will be just as amazing as the ones I've already read.

This is definitely a collection that I will be recommending to others.

He had a truly remarkable way of really captivating me and getting me deeply immersed into every single story he told.

His narratives were so engaging that I would find myself completely lost in the world he was creating, hanging on to every word.

However, what was rather frustrating was the way he would end each story.

Just when I was completely hooked and eager to know more, he would abruptly bring it to a close.

It left me with a sense of dissatisfaction, longing for more details and a proper conclusion.

Despite this frustration, there was something undeniably good about his storytelling.

The way he could draw me in and make me feel so invested in the story was a talent in itself.

Even though the endings were not always to my liking, I still looked forward to hearing his next tale, hoping that perhaps this time he would satisfy my thirst for a complete and fulfilling story.

I embarked on this book some time ago and then set it aside. Just like numerous single-author story collections, I noticed that after a while, the stories started to sound rather similar, notwithstanding Jones's refined writing.

However, when I returned to it (almost precisely in the middle), I discovered that the stories were far more diverse in style. Some even had resonances of fairy tales. Jones's characters are truly captivating. Not the least of which is Washington, DC, which looms so large that it seems like a character in its own right.

The characters' relationships with the city form a recurring theme in these stories. Their expectations, sense of possibility, and their experiences within the city's unyielding boundaries are all explored. It's as if the city is both a backdrop and a driving force behind the characters' actions and emotions. This interplay between the characters and the city adds an extra layer of depth and complexity to the stories, making them all the more engaging and thought-provoking.

I'm not going to rate this collection because I didn't finish it.

Jones has a slow narration style, which, as I've heard, works beautifully in a novel. However, I found these stories difficult to become involved in, despite the fact that he's clearly a very skilled writer.

Moving through a significant amount of time in a short story presents a challenge. Many of the characters were only minimally revealed, and they didn't accumulate enough details to feel fully developed. Once again, this is an issue that would likely be resolved in a longer form.

So, I won't complete this collection, but I do plan to read his novels. I'm hopeful that in the context of a full-length novel, Jones' slow narration style will draw me in more effectively, and I'll be able to fully appreciate his storytelling abilities.

I believe that his novels will offer a more in-depth exploration of the characters and their experiences, allowing me to become more invested in the stories. I'm looking forward to seeing how he handles the longer format and what kind of literary treasures he has in store for readers.

There are two things that I truly adored about these stories.

First, the way they conclude is remarkable. He leads you right up to the point where the car just starts to decelerate. He never brings the car to a complete stop but instead allows you, as the reader, to have sufficient autonomy to envision for yourself where the red light is. This creates a sense of engagement and active participation, making the reading experience all the more immersive.

Second, the way he maneuvers through time is simply astonishing. It's almost like a montage. In a single paragraph, he might begin with a seven-year-old girl, then jump to her sixty years in the future, then go back thirty years before that, and finally return to her seven-year-old self. The fact that he can do this without causing the reader to experience dizziness or confusion is a feat in and of itself. It showcases his masterful storytelling skills and his ability to create a seamless and captivating narrative that transcends the boundaries of time.

It's been a while since I read this, but I'm putting it here, now.

When I learned that Edward P. Jones writes in this kind of monkish, secluded state for a week to a few months, it truly made perfect sense. He has these greater motifs that he meticulously weaves into these short-yet-feel-long stories. He masterfully keys in details with flashbacks and flash-forwards in a way that reads seamlessly. However, in reality, he is doing all this work to make each story actually feel like a complete world. On careful reading, one can key into certain spiritual themes that add a whole dimension of depth that I really relished.

I don't have any real sense of what Jones was aiming for in terms of 'tone'. Where the author stands and what he was striving for remain in a state of mystery for me. But curiously, it doesn't feel unsatisfying. In a way, this mystery defines the very essence of his work. It keeps the reader engaged and constantly seeking to understand the deeper layers hidden within his stories.

If this wasn't a book club read, I wouldn't have finished it.

It simply wasn't compelling enough to hold my attention from start to finish.

The plot seemed disjointed, and I found it extremely difficult to figure out the link between the various stories.

Each chapter felt like a separate entity, lacking a cohesive thread to tie them all together.

As a result, I often found myself losing interest and having to force myself to keep reading.

While there were some moments that showed promise, overall, the book failed to deliver a satisfying reading experience.

I'm glad it was a book club read, as it gave me the motivation to complete it, but I don't think I would have bothered otherwise.

Perhaps with a little more work on the structure and the connections between the stories, this could have been a much better book.

Well written, but I wasn't a fan of most of the collections.

It's true that the writing was of a high standard, with each piece crafted with care and attention to detail.

However, for me personally, the majority of the collections failed to truly engage me.

I did appreciate seeing certain characters get their "due", which was a nice touch and added a sense of closure to their storylines.

But overall, as individual pieces, they didn't have the same pulling power as "The Known World" did as a whole.

"The Known World" had a certain magic and cohesion that made it a truly captivating read from start to finish.

In comparison, these collections felt a bit disjointed and lacking in that overall sense of unity and purpose.

Perhaps it's because I was expecting something more along the lines of "The Known World", and these collections didn't quite measure up.

Nonetheless, I can still appreciate the skill and effort that went into creating them, and I'm sure that others may find them more to their liking.

This is a remarkable collection of 14 short stories.

Set in Washington, D.C., it delves deep into various aspects of the African-American experience during the 20th century in that vibrant city.

The characters within these stories are as diverse as they come. There are those who have journeyed to Washington from the countryside, hoping to find a better life and new opportunities.

And then there are those who were born and raised right in the heart of the city.

Since I myself was born in Washington, D.C., into a family where all four of my grandparents had made the move from the Virginia countryside in search of economic advancement, I felt an immediate connection to many of the episodes and attitudes presented in these stories.

Moreover, I thoroughly enjoyed this book because Washington, D.C. itself became a character in each of the tales.

I could vividly visualize the places that the characters visited, the routes they traveled, and the locations that were so descriptively described.

All of this made these stories extremely personal to me, but I am confident that any reader would equally enjoy and be captivated by them.

It is a literary gem that offers a unique and engaging perspective on a significant period of history and a particular community.

I was completely glued to each and every one of the 14 stories that were included in this remarkable collection. Each story had its own unique charm and吸引力.

However, my absolute favorite was undoubtedly “A Poor Guatemalan Dreams of a Downtown in Peru.” The author managed to create such complicated and multi-faceted characters within the framework of his simple stories. It was truly a remarkable feat.

The way he delved into the inner thoughts and emotions of the characters made them come alive on the page. I found myself completely immersed in their world, sharing their joys and sorrows.

I can't wait to get my hands on his other two works and explore the wonderful worlds he has created. I have a feeling that they will be just as captivating and engaging as this collection.

I have an intense love for Edward P. Jones. His stories are truly remarkable, filled to the brim with intricate details that draw you in and make you feel as if you are right there in the midst of the action. What's more, his ear for dialogue is simply wonderful. It's as if he can capture the essence of each character's speech perfectly, making them come alive on the page.

All of these captivating stories are set in Washington DC, and they revolve around a diverse cast of characters. From innocent children to hardened convicts, and even a young doctor who embarks on a journey of learning roots work from an elderly woman in rural NC. The book is like a beautiful patchwork quilt, carefully stitched together to showcase the rich tapestry of the lives of the African American community in DC.

It serves as a companion piece to the Pulitzer-winning Lost in the City. In fact, each central character in this set of stories previously appeared as a minor figure in the earlier work. I must also mention that the narration on the audiobook version of this work is absolutely amazing. It's so engaging that I could listen to this man read the phone book for days on end. His voice brings the stories to life in a whole new way, adding an extra layer of depth and emotion.

Edward P. Jones is truly a master storyteller, and his work is a must-read for anyone who appreciates great literature.

Jones's stories are truly remarkable. They possess the scope and weight that one would typically expect from novels.

Each story is crafted with such precision that it leaves the reader in awe. The details are carefully chosen and arranged, creating a vivid and immersive world.

The staggering nature of Jones's work lies in its ability to capture complex emotions and ideas in a concise yet powerful manner.

Whether it's a tale of love, loss, or self-discovery, Jones manages to convey a depth of meaning that lingers long after the story has ended.

His stories are not only entertaining but also thought-provoking, challenging the reader to view the world from a different perspective.

Overall, Jones's body of work is a testament to his talent as a storyteller and his ability to create works that have a lasting impact on the reader.