The magnanimity of these pieces demands what we all severely lack in the present day: patience, focus, and slowness. However, as numerous great actors have discovered in the past, there are astonishing rewards when these are read aloud. For this is that great and rare occasion where written literature transforms into oral tradition and, as such, has better chances of persevering into the future, which globally appears extremely precarious and uncertain.

Treat yourself and attempt reading Beckett aloud. The bipolarism speaks at least two languages. It offers a unique experience that can open up new dimensions of understanding and appreciation for the written word. By taking the time to read aloud, we engage with the text on a deeper level, allowing the words to come alive and resonate within us. It is a practice that can enhance our connection to literature and perhaps even provide a sense of solace and inspiration in these fast-paced and often chaotic times.

Honestly, I simply couldn't make it through all of this. Even though I had a great appreciation for Waiting for Godot, unfortunately, the majority of these other stories seem to be just far too disjointed. As a result, they fail to bring me any sense of enjoyment or convey any real meaning. It seems that despite my initial interest in Beckett's work, perhaps he just isn't the author for me after all.

I find myself struggling to connect with the fragmented nature of these tales. The lack of a coherent narrative makes it difficult for me to engage with the stories on a deeper level. While I understand that Beckett's style is unique and experimental, it just doesn't resonate with my personal literary preferences.

Maybe I'll have to explore other authors who can offer me a more straightforward and engaging reading experience. It's a shame, really, as I had hoped to discover more of Beckett's genius. But sometimes, you have to accept that certain works just aren't meant for you.

More than most great writers, Samuel Beckett dedicated his life to refining and redefining his art. This collection offers a concise and lucid portrayal of his artistic evolution, commencing from his earliest short prose and extending to his very last works. Throughout this journey, one can observe the intricate process of his transformation and the unwavering power of his writing.

Beckett can never be accused of adhering to traditionalism. It is quite palpable the precise moment when he abandoned relatively conventional modernism in favor of a new literary language that was uniquely his own. The process is evident: the shedding of superfluous language, narrative, and even character, in an attempt to achieve almost pure psychological expression. While the middle period does encompass what we would term as'stories', Beckett discards all narrative anchors in his later works. What remains is akin to an inner monologue or a state of mind. His primary concern and the overarching theme that pervades all his works is a profound meditation on being, the cruelty, despair, and loneliness inherent in human existence, and, throughout it all, the indomitable will to persevere.

This is by no means an easy read. At times, I found it almost incomprehensible. However, when it does resonate, it can be as potent as anything I have ever encountered. It demands to be read and re-read slowly, and I often struggled to maintain the thread of the work throughout its entirety. Nevertheless, I generally discovered that Beckett is at his most expressive and lucid in the final page of most of his works. I found the later works, such as 'The Lost Ones' and 'Lessness', to be more cohesive than some of his earlier experiments, although I cannot precisely articulate why. I will undoubtedly have to re-read the entire collection again at some point.

I admit that I'm just a schmuck who reads a lot of books and not an intellect or scholar of literature. So, my opinion doesn't really matter.

However, I really don't like Beckett's writing. I understand that he is one of the most revered writers. But to me, much of his writing seems incoherent and meaningless. And the stories that do make sense often appear pointless.

Maybe if I had taken some literature appreciation classes while in college, I would have learned what I'm missing when I read him. But as it stands now, I just don't get it.

I struggled through this book of prose, trying my best to see the greatness of his writing. But unfortunately, I totally failed. It seems that Beckett's works are just not for me.

Perhaps with more study and exposure, my perspective might change. But for now, I remain unimpressed with his writing style and the content of his works.

Unique writing and intense tone. It touches on themes that all of us have struggled with at times, but it can also "hide" behind a torrential rhythm of thought expression. A small reflection of our daily thinking and the way our mind struggles to think of everything... together. Generally a difficult book, since Beckett takes care once again not to give us "mashed food", but seemingly scorpion stings that concern all of us.

This work by Beckett presents a challenge to the reader. The intense tone immediately grabs our attention and draws us into a world of complex thoughts and emotions. The unique writing style forces us to slow down and carefully consider each word and phrase. It is not an easy read, but it is one that rewards careful study. The themes explored are universal, yet presented in a way that makes us see them from a new perspective. Beckett's use of language is masterful, creating a sense of mystery and intrigue that keeps us engaged from beginning to end. Overall, this is a book that demands to be read and reread, each time revealing new depths and insights.

Those who believe that the Proverbs of the Holy Bible can be read just once and be done with it will be disappointed. It takes time, patience, often courage, and then starting all over again. But in the end, you are worthy.

The recommended dose of the Proverbs should be one page a day and always before sleep, not in order to be able to fall asleep, but as an indication of gratitude to Existence.

Reading the Proverbs is not a task to be rushed through. It is a journey of discovery and reflection. Each proverb holds a wealth of wisdom and guidance that can transform our lives if we take the time to truly understand and apply it. By reading one page a day, we allow ourselves to slowly soak in the teachings and let them penetrate our hearts and minds.

And reading before sleep has its own benefits. It helps us to calm our minds, let go of the stresses of the day, and enter a state of peace and tranquility. It also allows the words of the Proverbs to work their magic on us while we sleep, guiding our thoughts and actions in the days to come.

So, if you want to experience the full power of the Proverbs, take the time to read them slowly and deliberately, one page at a time, every day before sleep. And remember, it's not about how much you read, but how much you understand and apply.

Samuel Beckett is the kind of writer who has the power to revolutionize the way you perceive literature entirely.

His works are so profound and unique that they have the ability to make you question and reevaluate your understanding of what literature can be.

I consider myself truly blessed to have been born after his passing. This has given me the opportunity to access and purchase remarkable collections such as "The Complete Short Prose."

With this compilation, I can immerse myself in the full range of Beckett's literary genius, exploring his diverse styles, themes, and ideas.

It is through reading his works that I have come to appreciate the beauty and complexity of literature in a whole new light.

Beckett's writing challenges me to think outside the box and to look at the world from different perspectives.

His words have the power to move me, to make me laugh, and to make me cry.

I am grateful for the chance to experience his literature and for the impact it has had on my life.

When you finish it and feel like a weight is lifted off you, it must mean something.

I can't and don't want to rate this particular book because I simply don't know how.

I started reading it this summer with great enthusiasm and the first 2-3 stories are really wonderful. Gradually, problems started to arise. There were stories for which I didn't understand anything at all. Absolute emptiness! This has never happened to me with a book before. They were mainly those that described only body movements as if you were clearing them in your mind and the words were excessive. I'm sorry, but I haven't reached such intellectual levels.

But again, I can't rate it badly because although I felt mentally exhausted, I would go to the next one and there I might be stunned by two words, literally two, that left my mouth open.

So, what grade could I give? It doesn't matter between us. There are 2 things worth keeping in mind: 1) It is a book that requires a lot of time and patience. 2) In the end, it will reward you.

Previously, all I possessed were merely half-a-dozen collections of Beckett's short fiction.

So, having them all neatly compiled in one volume is indeed a significant advantage.

For students and scholars alike, this edition is truly remarkable. It features excellent notes on the texts of these corrected versions, along with a comprehensive and useful bibliography.

Editor S. K. Gonroski's introduction delves deep into the essence of what Beckett's short prose truly is. Are they prose poems? Drama fragments? Incomplete novel fragments? Or perhaps even revolutionary short stories? The answer, as Gonroski argues, is all of the above.

He further elaborates on Beckett's proposed stagings of the prose works, which provides a fascinating and stunning insight into Beckett's artistic vision.

Gonroski makes a crucial point that anyone who has witnessed the plays being performed would likely concur with. He writes: "Actors, then, have intuited what literary critics have too often failed to articulate, that even Beckett's most philosophical and experimental short fictions have an immediacy and emotional power, 'the immediacy of the spoken voice,' which makes them accessible to a broad audience and places them firmly within a tradition of Irish storytelling." [xviii]

The introduction then proceeds with a breezy analysis of Beckett's evolution as a short prose stylist, with a particular emphasis on his use of disembodied voices as narrators and his anti-character techniques. It sums up by stating: "Taken together the stories suggest the intertextual weave of a collaboration between Rorschach and Escher." [xxx] This is a highly apt description.

Because in a large sense, Beckett defies easy description. You simply need to pick up the volume and start reading, immerse yourself in these disembodied voices, and surrender to the affective quality of the work. Truly, a Beckett story a day keeps the doctor away.

You’re not supposed to read this front to back.

Doing so robs the vital situating of time and its context.

The growth from the first page on is truly astonishing, but it is the accumulative result of a lifetime.

As part of my larger Sam Project, I read things interstitially between novels, an approach I highly recommend.

Most of the contents are found in the number of Calder/Grove collections that were released roughly around the time of their writing and with Sam’s blessing.

But, come on, it has “Ping” in it; what am I going to say?

Well, here’s how it is: it ain’t shitty and then some.

It has a certain charm and depth that makes it worth exploring.

The way the words are arranged and the ideas are presented can give you a new perspective on things.

It’s not just a random collection of thoughts; there’s a coherence and a flow to it.

So, don’t be afraid to dip in and out, and see what you can discover.

You might be surprised at what you find.

A narrative that is a negation of the narrative itself, especially in the stories written from the 1960s onwards where it begins to experiment dramatically, culminating with "Dead Imagined Imagination". Sparse, sterile images, reduced to the bone, repeated, immobilized, (and yet) of a staggering evocative power. An essential contribution to the narrative of human nature, one of the few possible.

This kind of narrative challenges our traditional understanding of storytelling. It strips away the unnecessary frills and presents us with the bare essentials. The repeated and immobilized images create a sense of stasis, as if time has stopped. However, within this stillness, there is a powerful evocative force at work. It makes us question our own perception of reality and the role of imagination in our lives.

"Dead Imagined Imagination" is a prime example of this new form of narrative. It forces us to look beyond the surface and explore the deeper recesses of our minds. It shows us that sometimes, the most powerful stories are the ones that are told in the simplest and most direct way.

Adorno, who had the intention of dedicating Aesthetic Theory to Beckett, has Minima Moralia unfold beneath a banner that is also Beckett's: "When things are bad, it's good to know the worst."

Beckett represents the worst. The fact that I extract some poisonous joy from reading him validates that things are likely even worse than I had imagined. Anguish, confusion, futility, impossible desires, irrepressible obsessions, failure, compulsion, delusive certainties that are laid bare yet still tenaciously clung to, disgust, obscure punishments, unremitting bewilderment, frustrated intelligence, debilitated communications, all signs but no directions, a life intelligent enough to think about what could be, mourning the stupidity of what has become, hope that loathes itself for not sensibly surrendering - that is my review of Beckett, to the extent that I am sententious enough to fabricate one.

"Texts for Nothing" is a miserable masterpiece, a tombstone on The Age of Man. I don't understand why I read anything else or why people bother to continue writing after that. Oh, right, because if we have learned anything from Beckett (a valid question), it is that we have no choice AND we must go on. His work is breathtaking, with sigh after sigh, to the point where you would rather just stop breathing altogether. It is soul-crushing, and good riddance. It is ultra-realistic, there is an overwhelming amount of reality here, and you cannot escape it. It is brilliant and horrible, like a demiurge of extinction. Now you know. Read it soon so that you will be glad you did just in time. The 20th century was a lit fuse and Beckett the warning smoke.