Wonderful!

I continue to be in awe of Jones' writing. Her words flow like a gentle river, carrying the reader along on a captivating journey. Each sentence is vivid, painting a clear picture in the mind's eye. The descriptions are so detailed that one can almost feel the emotions and experiences of the characters.

Moreover, her writing is resonant, leaving a lasting impact long after the last page is turned. It has the power to touch the heart, stir the soul, and make one think deeply about life and its many mysteries. Jones' talent as a writer is truly remarkable, and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.

I couldn't finish it.

To be honest, I just didn't get it.

The stories seemed to lack a clear direction or purpose.

Nothing ever seemed to go anywhere, and I didn't really feel like there was any point to any of them.

Despite the fact that it had received rave reviews, I'm still not sure what my problem is.

Maybe it's just not my cup of tea.

However, based on my experience, I wouldn't recommend it to others.

I think there are many other books out there that are more engaging and worthwhile.

It's important to find something that speaks to you and holds your interest from start to finish.

So, if you're looking for a good read, you might want to skip this one and explore other options.

Hagar's Children

In his highly-acclaimed volume of 14 stories, "All Aunt Hagar's Children", Edward P. Jones presents vivid portraits of African Americans who have journeyed from the South to Washington D.C. The stories span from around the start of the 20th Century to the present day. They depict a diverse range of people, from young children to the elderly, and from the impoverished and illiterate to the highly educated. The tales speak of loneliness, change, the frustrations - both sexual and otherwise - that come with relocating to a new urban environment, of criminality and drugs, and of education. The stories are concise yet deeply textured, like tapestries (as in the title of the final story). Characters, histories, and sub-themes are brought to life in brief spaces.

The writing style is a crucial element in the success of these stories. All but two are narrated in the third person by an omniscient narrator. The exceptions are "Spanish in the Morning" told from the perspective of a precocious young girl and the title story "All Aunt Hagar's Children" told by a young Korean War veteran hoping to move to Alaska for fortune and women. The writing is rich in Biblical allusions. Hagar, the concubine of Abraham, was cast into the desert after mocking Sarah's childlessness, and God spared her and her children. Here, Hagar represents the outsider and outcast, symbolizing the lives of the African American characters. The language, with its richness, complexity, and frequent elliptical nature, especially in repetition and use of names, owes much to the Old Testament. There are also echoes of the African American preacher in James Weldon Johnson's poem "God's Trombones". The rich narrative voice is complemented by the contrasting voices of the characters, with their slang, dialect, and frequent use of obscenity.

The stories develop character and place. Jones reveals a Washington D.C. distinct from the national political scene familiar to most Americans. Having lived in D.C. for many years, I found his depictions of neighborhoods, streets, landmarks, stores, and people deeply familiar. They also enabled me to view the familiar aspects of my city in a new light. The characters are true and believable in their various responses to life in Washington.
Some of the stories I particularly enjoyed include the first, "In the Blink of God's Eye", and the final one, "Tapestries". Both are set in the rural South and Washington, D.C., the former at the turn of the 20th Century and the latter in the 1930s. They both illustrate the difficulties young married couples face with a change of place. "Old Boys Old Girls" describes the life of a young man who spends years in Lorton prison and his struggle to build a life upon release, contrasting his down-and-out existence with that of his wealthy and successful family. "A Poor Guatemalan Dreams of a Downtown in Peru" tells of a young poor girl who achieves great academic success but whose life has otherwise been filled with catastrophe and loss. "All Aunt Hagar's Children" is a complex story filled with themes of womanizing, murder, family, and wanderlust, offering a compelling portrait of African American life in the early 1950s in Washington D.C. and briefly touching on African American - Jewish relations.
My two favorite stories were "Root Worker" and "Bad Neighbors", both of which explore the themes of the search for love and finding it in unexpected places. In "Root Worker", the main character is a young successful woman doctor who abandons a planned vacation to travel South to consult a root doctor for her ailing mother, learning a great deal about herself in the process. "Bad Neighbors" tells the story of a large, poor family that rents a home in a middle-class black neighborhood, where they are shunned and feared by their more successful neighbors. As the story progresses, the main character, a young woman who has become a nurse, gains a deeper understanding of people, status, and love.
Jones' stories depict African American life with love and involvement, without polemics or blatant social criticism. They are firmly rooted in African American life but, in their treatment of love, sexuality, change, and character, speak universally. The stories are dense and thought-provoking, rewarding careful reading. I am glad that many of my fellow reviewers have enjoyed this outstanding book and provided insightful comments about it.
Robin Friedman

I got halfway through this book before realizing that I had already read it.

It was quite a strange experience. The short stories within the book are rather choppy. They seem to jump from one idea to another without a smooth flow.

Most of these stories do not have a proper resolution. It leaves the reader hanging, wondering what really happened or what the point was.

The theme that runs throughout all the stories is quite obvious. However, Jones, the author, did not do a good job of making it a cohesive book.

There is a lack of connection between the different stories and the overall theme. It feels more like a collection of random thoughts rather than a well-structured and unified work.

Overall, this book was a bit of a disappointment, especially considering that I had already read it once before.

I want to go ahead and review this so I can post it, even though I'm not done--and won't be for awhile.

I just don't have a great affection for this collection of stories. I feel a bit bad about this, considering it has received glowing reviews and won awards. However, it simply fails to capture my interest.

I managed to get through 5 and 1/2 out of the 14 stories. Among them, the one I've only read half of is the one that appealed to me the most. But it was so depressingly written that I couldn't bring myself to finish it. All of the stories have had a rather somber tone, and in most of them, I didn't have much sympathy for the characters. Additionally, there is a much stronger emphasis on characterization and description rather than plot. While I do like good characterization, I have to have an affinity for the characters to truly appreciate it. (What can I say? I have rather simple tastes.) Sigh.

I don't plan to completely give up on this book. It's still sitting on my nightstand. However, I've noticed that being pregnant has made me even less tolerant of depressing books than usual. So, I think I need to wait until the new baby arrives before attempting to finish it.

Finally, a note about my use of the word "depressing." I don't necessarily mean books where only bad things occur or that don't have a happy ending. (Although I will admit to having a soft spot for happy endings.) I understand that in real life, bad things happen and endings aren't always rosy, and it's reasonable for literature to reflect this. Nevertheless, that doesn't mean that people or characters can't and don't overcome the difficulties that life often throws their way. And unfortunately, I didn't feel like any of the characters in this collection did.

I'll reevaluate my opinion when I come back to the book.

3/2/20 I gave my copy away. I just don't have the desire to return to it. I'm officially declaring this one abandoned.

The stories I've read up to this point are truly outstanding. There's "Bad Neighbors," which presents a fascinating and engaging narrative. Then there's "Adam Robinson," another piece that holds the reader's attention from start to finish. And of course, the title story, which has its own unique charm and allure.

You have the opportunity to explore a wealth of his work in the New Yorker archives. It's really quite remarkable the depth and breadth of his writing.

He is most definitely worth taking the time to read and discover. His stories offer insights into human nature, relationships, and the world around us. Whether you're a fan of short stories or just looking for something new and interesting to read, his work is sure to satisfy. So don't hesitate to dive into the New Yorker archives and explore the wonderful world of his writing.

As a writer, the aspects I relish the most when reading Edward P. Jones are his remarkable specificity and his masterful handling of time and history.

Specificity is a hallmark of his work. He has the uncanny ability to incorporate the most peculiar, uncommon, or seemingly ordinary details into a character or a situation, thereby breathing life into the story. Jones's writing is more centered around the characters, and the plot is predominantly constructed around the ordinariness of their lives. This specificity significantly enriches the reading experience.

Regarding history and time, Jones frequently employs flash-forwards. When he delves into a character's backstory, it is often set within the framework of a broader black history, such as the Great Migration. This makes it feel as if Jones's characters are navigating the ordinary aspects of his stories while carrying the weight of all this history.

In "Spanish in the Morning," there is a little girl embarking on her very first day of school. As she readies herself for this novel experience, not only for her but also for her family, all the men in her life, both living and deceased, begin to visit her. It is a beautiful and evocative image. And I suppose this is yet another aspect I appreciate about Jones's work. The images he crafts, particularly for the endings of his stories, are truly captivating.

These stories are not only beautiful but also challenging.

The prose is华丽 throughout, yet I often had the sense that I couldn't fully grasp the meaning of a story, especially towards the end. However, I don't necessarily view this as a negative aspect; in fact, I kind of like the lack of resolution.

As you read on, the stories accumulate and gain momentum, so the quiet and loose endings don't feel like endings at all.

Jones recreates a century, a place, and a society that is almost extinct. As a resident of the DC area, I found that lost world utterly fascinating. But even if you don't live nearby, you will still appreciate Jones's vivid portrayal of African-American migration to cities further north and the profound impact of that migration on the migrants and their families.

I was only let down by one story, "Bad Neighbors." It had some compelling individual moments, but overall, I thought it was a bit heavy-handed.

This collection is not a quick or easy read. Jones includes an abundance of details in his "tapestry," sometimes within just a single paragraph, which requires you to read carefully. But a discerning reader will be richly rewarded with a remarkable portrait of a very large family - a family that endures racism, yet also experiences magic, mysticism, violence, hope, and love.

This awe-inspiring collection of stories

deals with generations of family living in the Washington DC area.

Many of these families are from the great northern migration,

which was a significant movement of African Americans from the southern United States to the north in search of better opportunities.

The author of this collection is also a Pulitzer Prize winner for The Known World,

a highly acclaimed novel that explores the lives of African American slave owners in the antebellum South.

With this collection of stories, the author continues to explore themes of race, family, and history in a powerful and moving way.

Readers will be drawn into the lives of these families and will gain a deeper understanding of the complex and often overlooked history of the Washington DC area.

This collection is a must-read for anyone interested in African American history, family stories, or simply great literature.

I truly adored this collection of short stories.

Despite consisting of fourteen tales, they were far from being formulaic or predictable.

Unlike some short story compilations that give the impression of reading the same story repeatedly, this one was refreshingly diverse.

The main characters were not only well-developed and strong, but the secondary characters also had significant and meaningful roles to play.

A couple of these stories have really stayed with me, leaving a lasting impression.

I believe this is the first work of Jones that I have had the pleasure of reading, and I am absolutely certain that I will explore and try other of his literary creations.

His writing style and the unique perspectives he presents in these stories have piqued my interest and made me eager to discover more of his works.

I look forward to delving into his other books and experiencing the same level of enjoyment and inspiration that I found in this collection of short stories.

These might be short stories, but they are truly remarkable in their scope.

Each one is filled to the brim with unforgettable characters who seem to leap off the page.

The vivid detail employed by the authors brings these stories to life in the most extraordinary way.

We can almost see the settings, feel the emotions, and experience the events along with the characters.

Despite their brevity, these short stories manage to pack a powerful punch and leave a lasting impression on the reader.

They are a testament to the skill and creativity of the writers who crafted them, and a joy to read for anyone who appreciates great literature.

Whether you're looking for a quick escape or a thought-provoking read, these short stories are sure to satisfy.

So pick one up today and discover the magic for yourself.

Jones has a remarkable way of seamlessly integrating history into the present. His short stories are incredibly dense, with each one seemingly containing multiple narratives within the main focus. I'm not entirely certain if I'm effectively conveying the essence of these stories. They each possess a certain weight, as if carrying the burden of time and experience. All of his characters not only bear the weight of their present moments but also carry their pasts and possible futures with them. Jones has an uncanny ability to make the reader feel this profound sense of depth and complexity.

For the most part, these stories revolve around perfectly ordinary moments. And this is the other aspect that I adored about the book. None of these ordinary moments or ordinary people come across as ordinary. Jones has a talent for finding the extraordinary within the ordinary, for揭示 the hidden layers and emotions that lie beneath the surface of everyday life. His stories are a testament to the power of the human experience and the beauty that can be found in the simplest of things.