I really wanted to like Malamud; however, to me most of the stories fell short. If you like short stories, look no further than Stefan Zweig - he is the master. The stories by Malamud simply seamed to be lacking in all aspects.

I loved reading these stories. It was effortless to read them. I was interested in the characters and each story gave me something to mull over. An unalloyed pleasure.

A really great collection of tales. Star ratings by story:

1. Armistice 5*
2. Spring Rain 4*
3. The Grocery Store 5*
4. Benefit Performance 4*
5. The Place is Different Now 5*
6. Steady Customer 3*
7. The Literary Life of Laban Goldman 3*
8. The Cost of Living 3*
9. The Prison 5*
10. The First Seven Years 4*
11. The Death of Me 4*
12. The Bill 4*
13. The Loan 5*
14. A Confession of Murder 4*
15. Riding Pants 3*
16. The Girl of My Dreams 3*
17. The Magic Barrel 3*
18. The Mourners 4*
19. Angel Levine 5*
20. A Summer’s Reading 4*
21. Take Pity 4*
22. The Elevator 3*
23. An Apology 3*
24. The Last Mohican 5*
25. The Lady of the Lake 4*
26. Behold the Key 3*
27. The Maid’s Shoes 3*
28. Idiots First 3*
29. Still Life 4*
30. Suppose a Wedding 3*
31. Life is Better Than Death 4*
32. The Jewbird 5*
33. Black is My Favourite Colour 5*
34. Naked Nude 5*
35. The German Refugee 5*
36. A Choice of Profession 3*
37. A Pimp’s Revenge 4*
38. Man in the Drawer 4*
39. My Son the Murderer 5*
40. Pictures of the Artist 4*
41. An Exorcism 3*
42. Glass Blower of Venice 3*
43. God’s Wrath 3*
44. Talking Horse 4*
45. The Letter 5*
46. The Silver Crown 4*
47. Notes From a Lady at a Dinner Party 3*
48. In Retirement 3*
49. Rembrandt’s Hat 4*
50. A Wig 3*
51. The Model 5*
52. A Lost Grave 4*
53. Zora’s Noise 4*
54. In Kew Gardens 4*
55. Alma Redeemed 4*

Average rating: 3.9* rounded up to a solid 4. I’ll definitely be reading more by this author.

If you want to hear the cadence of Yiddish speaking American Jewry in New York before WWII, this is the book you need.

i tried i tried i really tried to understand why this is so good

Malamud is an extraordinarily fine writer.

His novels are solid, but his short stories are transcendent.

It's so difficult to write a short story that works,and, of course, since few people read short stories anymore, it's a lost art form. Malamud is one of the best. I suppose because of his subject matter -- Judaism with occasional forays int magic realism -- he is often classified with Isaac Bashevis Singer. I always think of him as the literary male equivalent of Alice Munro, though. Deep insights mined from what many would consider a very narrow strata.

It took me two months to read this book, reading a story a night before I went to sleep. Some of the stories I read twice. I've shortlisted The Magic Barrel for my coveted (smiling... NOT) Best Short Story Evah!!!! award.

For the fact, when it was written, it is amazing how good the stories still are. Interesting twists and turns. Fun read.

Excellent! Malamud brings the extraordinary out of the ordinary. With this on the back of my toilet, I always looked forward to my morning privacy time.

Some of the early stories didn't really grab me, probably because I'd just read The Assistant and they were obviously early attempts at the themes and situations of that novel. But it picked up, and there are some very funny, insightful, and engaging stories about urban Jewish life, Italian tourists, art, and relationships. Mostly well written, although Malamud occasionally experimented with form and wasn't always successful.

Mostly read @ Salt Lake City Library. Malamud is one of the more accessible, clear writers on human character.

This is a large collection. Some stories were winners, some were not. Even the good ones seem a little dated now, but Malamud really is a wonderful writer of short stories. I think it might be his near perfect framing of a situation.

Malamud is one of the best writers America has ever produced. If you only have time for a few, read "The Magic Barrell," "The Jewbird," and "The Silver Crown."