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"Short fiction is not my long suit." - John Barth, Foreword to LITF
Got that right, John. Okay, so there's no fun to be had in this collection of stories. It seems as if Barth woke up one Tuesday morning and randomly decided, "I think I'll write experimental short stories today." Then he went on to haphazardly attach experimental fiction clichés and accessories - those that a mainstream writer who doesn't truly understand experimental fiction might imagine - to his otherwise mainstream and banal fiction. He摆弄着形式元素，却根本不知道如何运用它们。If you happen to read this book, you'll see what I mean right away. Pass. It's truly a disappointment. The stories lack the depth and innovation that one might expect from an experimental work. Instead, they come across as forced and contrived. Barth's attempt to blend the mainstream with the experimental falls flat, resulting in a collection that fails to engage or inspire the reader. It's a shame, really, as there was potential here that was unfortunately not realized.
Got that right, John. Okay, so there's no fun to be had in this collection of stories. It seems as if Barth woke up one Tuesday morning and randomly decided, "I think I'll write experimental short stories today." Then he went on to haphazardly attach experimental fiction clichés and accessories - those that a mainstream writer who doesn't truly understand experimental fiction might imagine - to his otherwise mainstream and banal fiction. He摆弄着形式元素，却根本不知道如何运用它们。If you happen to read this book, you'll see what I mean right away. Pass. It's truly a disappointment. The stories lack the depth and innovation that one might expect from an experimental work. Instead, they come across as forced and contrived. Barth's attempt to blend the mainstream with the experimental falls flat, resulting in a collection that fails to engage or inspire the reader. It's a shame, really, as there was potential here that was unfortunately not realized.
