You may have read The Sheltering Sky and might be aware of Paul Bowles' association with the Beats (even though he wasn't one himself).

But many readers are probably less familiar with Bowles' unrivaled mastery of the short story.

A common theme, recognizable from The Sheltering Sky, is that an American or European finds themselves in an exotic place and everything goes wrong quickly, before they even understand what's happening.

Living in Morocco for most of his life, Bowles set many of his most fantastical stories there. However, Latin America is also a frequent setting.

It has been said before, but Bowles' stories are not for the faint of heart. He doesn't hold back, and the innocent don't do well.

Many times, the protagonist is no longer alive after just a few pages.

Nevertheless, it is the way he tells the stories, the wild twists and unpredictable endings, that make them so remarkable.

Everyone is aware of the great beat writers, Kerouac, Ginsberg, Kesey.

However, few are hip to Paul Bowles, an expatriate American who lived in Mexico, Morocco, and Europe.

He and his wife Jane wrote some of the greatest novels that have never been read.

As a writer, Bowles has a unique style. He uses setting and circumstance to unsettle the reader.

Typically, he describes nothing of the characters' physical appearance, which forces the reader to actually use his or her imagination.

This creates a more engaging and personal reading experience.

Moreover, Paul Bowles offers a different perspective on Beat writing.

He is like an outsider looking into America, providing a fresh and unique view of the country and its culture.

His works are a valuable addition to the Beat literature canon and deserve more recognition and appreciation.

My god, there are truly some captivating and spine-chilling tales within these pages.

Like a series of viral snippets of unadulterated terror, they are relentlessly slipped in one after another. It's as if they are on the sharp end of a knife blade, piercing into your consciousness with such acuity that initially, you're left wondering whether you've been stabbed or merely brushed by the feather of a bird.

But then you look down and there is the wound, insidiously infecting your thoughts until they fester, mutate, and grow into tumours of unexpected, perhaps unwanted, yet strangely familiar sensations.

From this collection of shadowy and devilish stories, streams of light and clarity coil out, seemingly washing the imagination in an emotional mineral liquid. This leaves the reader both aware and far-seeing, yet simultaneously petrified by the ghosts that are caught in fleeting glimpses, just out of reach and only discernible from the corner of one's eye.

In these writings, what you will inevitably discover is the foundation for a fascination with the intricacies and beauties of certain alluring forms of hard-edged and well-defined ambivalence.

If any part of this review feels relevant or makes sense, then the only other piece of sensible advice I can offer is to tread with caution when traversing this author's heavily mined territory. His palette does not overflow with merriment; it contains no promises of light pastels or cheery tones painted with broad or comforting strokes.

Some of the latter stories may be a little uneven and have less impact, but the majority of the stories representing "stranger in a strange land" experiences are of very high-quality writing.

"A Distant Episode" is truly one of the most astonishing (and mind-bogglingly effed up!) stories that I have perhaps ever come across. Just like all of his works, it is characterized by vivid descriptions that bring the scenes to life right before your eyes. The surreal elements add an otherworldly charm, making it feel as if you have stepped into a different dimension. The menacing atmosphere lingers throughout, keeping you on the edge of your seat, constantly on guard for what might come next. And yet, despite all of this, it is utterly captivating, drawing you in and refusing to let go until you have reached the very end.

It is a story that will stay with you long after you have finished reading, making you question your own perceptions of reality and the power of the written word.

For class, I had to read 4 stories.

Interestingly, all of them seemed to have a common theme - men being bad.

In one story, a man was portrayed as a greedy and selfish individual who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted.

He cheated and lied to those around him, causing great harm and pain.

Another story showed a man who was abusive towards his family.

His violent behavior not only scared his wife and children but also had a lasting impact on their lives.

The third story was about a man who was unfaithful to his partner.

His actions led to the breakdown of their relationship and left his partner heartbroken.

Finally, the fourth story depicted a man who was simply irresponsible.

He failed to take care of his responsibilities and instead chose to live a life of leisure, causing problems for those who depended on him.

These stories made me realize that while not all men are bad, there are unfortunately some who exhibit negative traits.

It is important to be aware of these behaviors and to strive to be a better person ourselves.

This guy is said to leave out all sentiment.

However, in his own unique way, he manages to create a brand-new sentimentality that pertains to traveling and the human condition.

His work offers a fresh perspective on these aspects, presenting a different kind of emotional connection that might have been overlooked before.

It's an important read as it challenges our traditional notions of sentiment and forces us to consider the various ways in which we can experience and express emotions through the act of traveling and our understanding of the human condition.

By leaving out the obvious and expected sentiments, he opens up a new realm of possibilities for us to explore and discover within ourselves.

So, don't miss out on this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of these complex and fascinating topics through his work.

Paul Bowles is an extremely under-rated writer. You truly ought to read him.

These short stories serve as an excellent entry point. Some of them are rather grim, yet few of them lack wonderful passages. There are several chilling tales here, not dissimilar to the feeling one gets with a great Poe story.

I also enjoyed his The Sheltering Sky, which I read prior to these stories. If I had the opportunity to do it over again, I would read the short stories first as they provide a better sense of his broader prose style.

His works are filled with unique characters and settings that draw the reader in and keep them engaged. The vivid descriptions and the way he weaves his narratives make his stories come alive.

Despite being under-rated, Paul Bowles has left a lasting impact on the literary world. His works are well worth exploring and experiencing.

Whether you are a fan of short stories or novels, his writing is sure to captivate you and leave you with a new appreciation for his talent.

These stories had such a profound impact on me during the first read that I simply had to set the book aside. The intensity of Bowles' writing was overwhelming, and I felt unable to fully absorb it at that time.

However, ten years later, I found myself drawn back to these tales. By then, I had grown and perhaps become more attuned to the depth and complexity of his work.

These are not ordinary stories; they are metaphysical and mystical in nature. They possess a quality that makes them read like vivid dreams experienced while wide awake. They seem to inhabit a realm that exists between different worlds, a place that is both haunting and strangely seductive.

Their power lies in their ability to transport the reader to a different plane of existence, to make us question the boundaries of reality and the mysteries that lie beyond.

As I delved into these stories once again, I was amazed by how much I had missed the first time around. The details, the emotions, and the underlying themes all came to life in a new and profound way.

Bowles' writing is truly a masterpiece, and these stories continue to captivate and inspire me with each reading.

Paul Bowles' stories possess an air of terminal estrangement.

They are exquisitely written and highly effective in achieving their intended purposes. However, the nihilism they convey can become somewhat monotonous after a certain point.

In omnibus form, one can quickly grasp the essence, but it takes a bold reader to persevere.

I abandoned ship after the story where the murderer/thief/rapist is buried up to his neck and left in the sand.

How many such disturbing images can one afford to have floating around in their head?

It makes one question the value of continuously exposing oneself to such bleak and unrelenting themes.

Perhaps a more diverse range of emotions and perspectives would make the reading experience more engaging and fulfilling.

Nevertheless, Bowles' writing skills are undeniable, and his works have left a lasting impact on the literary world.

It is just a matter of finding the right balance between the powerful and the overwhelming.

Because of The Sheltering Sky, I initially thought Bowles was primarily a novelist who dabbled in writing stories. However, after delving into this collection, my perspective has shifted. I now view him as a short story writer who just happened to pen novels as well.

Typically, I find myself more successful in reading short story collections when they are relatively concise, perhaps around 200 pages. But this particular collection extends to over 600 pages, and yet, the pages seemed to flip effortlessly.

Why is that? For me, it's a combination of factors. Firstly, Bowles is a natural storyteller. His narratives flow with such ease that it appears almost effortless, or at least gives that impression. Then there are the exotic settings. Many of the stories are set in Morocco, featuring Muslim characters and occasionally interspersed with "Nazarenes" (as the Christians are referred to).

Once you've grown tired of the typical Suburban American navel-gazing stories or those revolving around the usual themes of divorce, alcoholism, drug addictions, crime, and abusive relationships, you'll渴望for a change like this. These stories are now part of history, yet they offer something novel and full of paradoxes, which is rather cool.

But what can we glean about Bowles himself from these tales? Many of the stories are simultaneously refined and twisted. Some are even downright violent. Those who prefer neatly wrapped story endings need not bother. Just like in life, a lot of these adventures conclude with a fizzle. We shrug our shoulders and life goes on, much like it will when we all pass away (despite our supposed leading roles, ha-ha).

As for the concept of happily ever after, that's best left to fairy tales. There's none of that here. Just ordinary people living ordinary lives and somehow getting themselves into some rather precarious situations. Many of them venture into places they shouldn't, learning that curiosity can indeed kill more than the cat. Then there are stories that struggle to define the line between "civilized" and "uncivilized" (proving that neither is easily definable). Or the stories where characters smoke excessive amounts of kif. Or even, on occasion, transform into an animal or a reptile.

You know. Just those kinds of everyday stories, one after another.

I have a profound affection for the stories that possess an almost palpable mystery. The world created by Bowles is both foreign and yet strangely intimate.

His language is nothing short of immaculate, crafted with precision and elegance. The intrigue within the stories is, without a doubt, captivating, drawing the reader in and keeping them on the edge of their seat. The characters he populates his world with are equally fascinating, each with their own unique quirks and personalities.

What amazes me the most is his ability to truly get under the skin of foreign characters. Perhaps the picture he presents seems convincing to me as a foreigner, but in reality, it may be far from the truth, far from the actual reality. After all, his forays into, for example, a woman's psychology, might not always be entirely accurate and may not sound entirely convincing.

On the other hand, who really cares about accuracy? In the end, it's the magic that matters. The magic that Bowles weaves with his words, the magic that transports us to a different world, a world that is both familiar and foreign, a world that leaves us spellbound and longing for more.

This collection of short stories by Paul Bowles is truly a diverse mix.

Most of the stories are indeed short and can be quickly devoured. As one would anticipate, the majority of them are set in what were formerly regarded as exotic locales, such as North Africa or South America.

From my vantage point, some of the stories are truly outstanding, with vivid descriptions and engaging plots. However, others are merely average, lacking that certain spark.

In general, I have a genuine fondness for Paul Bowles' stories and his unique writing style. His ability to create atmosphere and bring the settings to life is remarkable.

Nevertheless, none of these stories managed to make the same profound impression on me as "The Sheltering Sky" did. That particular work was truly a masterpiece, leaving a lasting imprint on my mind.

So, in conclusion, my overall impression of this collection is rather lukewarm. It has its亮点, but it doesn't quite reach the heights of his other works.