**Decepción**

I must say that I was rather disappointed.

Out of all the stories, only one really appealed to me, and that was “Una rosa amarilla”.

The rest simply did not do it for me. Some of them were even downright unbearable.

I had high hopes when I started reading, but unfortunately, those hopes were quickly dashed.

It seems that not all stories are created equal, and in this case, the majority failed to capture my interest.

Perhaps it was the writing style, or maybe the plots were just too predictable.

Whatever the reason, I was left feeling unsatisfied.

I guess I’ll have to keep looking for those truly great stories that can transport me to another world and make me forget everything else.

Until then, I’ll have to make do with the few gems that I manage to find.

I must say that I had a rather mixed experience with this piece of writing.

I did enjoy 'The Blue Wallet' to some extent, but unfortunately, the overall writing seemed to lack discipline.

It felt a bit haphazard and unstructured, which made it a bit of a struggle to fully engage with.

However, I did manage to learn some interesting facts within these pages.

For example, I now know how to blow up a car by dropping ping pong balls filled with Draino into the gas tank.

That's definitely a rather unique and unexpected piece of knowledge.

Overall, I would rate this writing as two stars instead of one.

While it had its flaws, the interesting facts did add a bit of value to the experience.

I just wish the writing itself had been more polished and organized.

Perhaps with a bit more attention to detail and a more disciplined approach, this could have been a much better read.

This is truly a masterpiece.

It has left a profound impression on me with its unique charm and outstanding qualities.

The details are meticulously crafted, and every element seems to fit perfectly into the overall composition.

The story or concept it presents is engaging and thought-provoking, captivating my attention from the very beginning.

I can't wait to write a detailed review to share my thoughts and insights about this remarkable work.

I believe that others will also be equally impressed when they have the opportunity to experience it for themselves.

Stay tuned for my upcoming review, where I will delve deeper into the various aspects that make this a true masterpiece.

Vollmann's a mess. There I said it. But he's our mess.

I grew up in the Haight. This is a book about the Haight. It's realistic and captures what the whole skinhead thing felt like.

Plus Vollmann will be like "in a Chekhov story the hero would find the blue wallet. But Chekhov's dead. The wallet remains missing."

Vollmann's work is often complex and chaotic, but that's part of its charm. It reflects the real world, which is also full of mess and confusion.

The Haight is a unique place, with its own history, culture, and subcultures. Vollmann's book does a great job of exploring this world and showing us what it was really like to be there.

The skinhead thing was a significant part of the Haight's history, and Vollmann captures its essence perfectly. He shows us the violence, the hatred, and the sense of belonging that these young people felt.

Vollmann's writing style is also very distinct. He uses long, convoluted sentences and a wide range of vocabulary to create a rich and detailed picture of the world he is describing.

Overall, Vollmann's book is a must-read for anyone interested in the Haight, in subcultures, or in great literature. It's a powerful and thought-provoking work that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it.

I do not often read short stories, which is something I need to work on in the future. However, this set of stories was truly terrific.

There was an abundance of feeling poured into each and every one of the stories. I suppose this is because Vollmann had learned so much in order to write them.

I enjoyed some stories more than others, as I'm sure some of my favorites would not be the same for others. I was particularly fond of "The Blue Yonder". It was such a descent into madness, and it had some truly beautiful writing within it, especially the autopsy that was conducted.

I would probably recommend this to someone who has never read Vollmann before because it contains a lot of what he writes about in many different ways. I think this would be a very good start to introduce him to others.

This is a must-read. "For X-rays see through the RED of our blood, the ORANGE and the YELLOW of our fatty tissues, the GREEN and BLUE of our intestines, the INDIGO of our dreams, the VIOLET of our preoccupations - and only the black and the white remain."

4.5 stars.

The only reason it's not a hard 5 is because I didn't enjoy a few stories. However, most of them were exactly what I wanted.

This book has truly left a lasting impression on me. I'm going to think about it for a long time.

I have a deep love for Vollmann's writing. His style is unique and captivating, drawing me in from the very first page.

The stories in this collection are diverse and engaging, each one offering a different perspective and experience.

Even the ones that I didn't enjoy as much still had their own merits and contributed to the overall richness of the book.

Vollmann's ability to create vivid characters and immersive worlds is truly remarkable.

I can't wait to explore more of his work and see what other literary treasures he has in store.

Overall, this is a highly recommended book for anyone who loves great writing and engaging stories.

Vollmann is truly way overrated. Here, he spends time with skinheads in San Francisco and endeavors to bond with them, attempting to shock the reader with their tales. However, anyone who grew up in the punk scene during the 1980s will be completely unimpressed. These skinheads and Vollmann's actions are simply not worthy of attention. It's a waste of time to engage with them or his work. We should focus on more meaningful and worthwhile things instead of giving any credence to such uninteresting and overhyped endeavors.

The good stories in this collection are truly excellent. They possess a certain charm and authenticity, whether they are of the more journalistic variety or those presented in a personal narrative mode.

However, the bad ones are a real struggle to get through. Take, for instance, that "Heideggerian" story about the Holy Ghost attempting to persuade a woman to become his martyr. It's just too much. This author really needs an editor to rein in some of these wild ideas.

I was sometimes left astounded by the tortured and convoluted nature of certain similes. They seemed more like attempts to show off rather than enhance the narrative.

I fail to see the comparisons to DFW beyond the wide range of subject matter. To me, Vollman appears to be guilty of many of the same faults that are often attributed to DFW, such as being overly obsessed with his own intellect and constantly trying to show off. It makes one wonder if he is more interested in impressing the reader than in telling a good story.

Overall, while there are some gems in this collection, there is also a lot of room for improvement.

Among a rather small number of tediously "modern" stories, there are actually several good ones within this book.

The very best of them are those instances where the plot does not overly intrude. Instead, Vollman has masterfully painted a vivid picture of a particular time, a specific place, and the unique lifestyle of a subculture of people.

He seems to have an uncanny ability to transport the reader into this world, allowing them to experience it as if they were right there.

These stories are not just about what happens, but about the atmosphere, the emotions, and the details that make up this subculture.

It is through Vollman's descriptive and evocative writing that we are able to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of this often overlooked aspect of society.

His work in this regard is truly remarkable and sets these stories apart from the more mundane offerings in the literary world.

A book that is without a doubt captivating enough to prompt me to attempt a full-length novel by the author.

I relished the insights into the diverse range of degenerates, oddballs, prostitutes, homeless individuals, and psychopaths that one could potentially come across in San Francisco, or indeed in any urban area.

Although I'm uncertain if other cities have comparable groups of introverted, familyless engineers who are just scraping by and are intent on constructing large contraptions designed to ensure mutual destruction and the destruction of dead animals in staged battles.

However, as they say, you never really know.

The stories were skillfully written and provided various perspectives and profound insights into those people whom the rest of us likely never give much thought to.

It made me realize that there is a whole other world out there, hidden beneath the surface of our daily lives, filled with these unique and often overlooked individuals.

The author's ability to bring these characters to life and make me care about their stories, even for a brief moment, is truly remarkable.

It has left me eager to explore more of their work and see what other hidden gems they have in store.

I truly adored "The Atlas." However, after plowing through 188 pages of "The Rainbow Stories," I had to throw in the towel.

The very first story led me to believe that Vollmann is somewhat like the Studs Terkell of the darker side.

Perhaps my infatuation with the seedy underbelly has come to an end, or is at least in a state of remission.

For some reason, I simply couldn't immerse myself in the story or develop any concern for the characters.

It's a pity, really. I'm sorry, Ero.

Maybe it's just that this particular work didn't resonate with me as deeply as "The Atlas" did.

Or perhaps my tastes have changed.

Whatever the reason, I have to admit that "The Rainbow Stories" didn't quite hit the mark for me.

But who knows? Maybe I'll give it another try sometime in the future and have a completely different experience.

One day in Berkeley, as I sat waiting for [Jenny] to return home from Korea, I decided to get ribs at Flint's Bar-B-Q. After all, one might as well do something while waiting. So, I ate. We are constantly waiting for something new to occur. As time passes, so do our opportunities.

I sat under a tree in Ho Chih Minh Park, enjoying my meal. Suddenly, two dogs came up to me. I told them to go away, but one remained. I kicked him, yet he looked at me very patiently. Finally, I decided to give him the bone I had just finished, as he was being so patient and dignified. Besides, it seemed a waste to throw the bone in the trash can, only for it to end up in a contaminated landfill. I threw the bone to him, and he picked it up quietly, hunkered down, and began to grind it in his mouth. Every now and then, he snarled, and I hypothesized that he was either pretending to kill it or engaged in an irregular war with the barbeque sauce. I had ordered the hottest kind they had. It occurred to me that even if Jenny kicked me and yelled at me, I would be satisfied with whatever bone she threw me, even if it hurt to eat. So, I made my peace with myself.

Vollmann's Rainbow Stories center around San Francisco in general, and the Tenderloin in particular. The photograph shows a rainbow over Manila, Philippines, arching over the city in almost a benevolent fashion. Or perhaps it provides a grim contrast of beauty compared with urban grit and grim.

Vollman has given us a rambling monster of a book that may or may not be based on true stories. As the author states in the afterward, he has not verified any of the claims, reminiscences, yarns, and anecdotes told to him, nor has he altered their content. He organizes these by the colors of the rainbow.

The different colors each have their own meanings and corresponding chapters in the book. For example, red is associated with powerful emotions and danger, and we have chapters on a terrorist and prostitution. Orange is a warm and happy color, and there's a story inspired by the Biblical tale of Mes'hach, Shad'rach, and Abed'nego. Yellow, the most luminous color, is related to the narrator's love affair with a young Asian woman. Green represents both life and envy, and the chapter here is ironic as the narrator envies his neighbor's dress. Blue, which usually represents peace and stability, has two chapters in the novel, one about a Neo-nazi bootwoman and the other about the schizophrenic mind of The Zombie. Indigo is the color of the midnight sky and is associated with deep thinking and spiritualism, and we have a strange futuristic chapter about the Indigo Engineers. Violet is linked to empathy and selflessness, and the chapter features the Holy Spirit in love with a mortal woman with violet hair.

This is a tough book to rate. It's dense writing, and it's easy to get a bit glassy-eyed and start skimming. However, there are good nuggets of prose to be found. The content can also be quite graphic. Overall, I give it a rating of 3 stars or "Good." It's recommended as a library checkout if you want a vacation read that will take more than a few days and can double as a good bludgeoning weapon.

There are also some interesting quotes in the book, such as "Here is a definition of an unfortunate profession: one whose practitioners become unfit for it in proportion to their practice of it." and "Alms for the poor!" intoned a tramp, stretching out his dirty palm, but nobody put a penny in it, so he called out, "Cadillacs for the poor!" Nobody gave him a Cadillac, either.

There are also further reading suggestions, such as an article on the meanings of the colors of the rainbow and the Wikipedia page on the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco.