This is a really snappy collection of eight stories.

The locales range from Haiti to Sierra Leone, offering a diverse backdrop for the tales.

I truly enjoy Fountain's writing style.

Although some of the situations that the characters encounter might seem a bit unlikely, they serve a theme that largely pervades the entire collection.

This theme is the thin line between good actors and bad actors, and how money can influence even the most seemingly pure motivations.

It makes for a great read, especially after Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk, which was one of my favorite books of the year so far.

The collection manages to engage the reader with its interesting characters and thought-provoking themes, leaving one with much to ponder after turning the last page.

Overall, it's a worthwhile addition to any bookshelf.

I have read 4 stories, which is approximately half of the book.

This collection of short stories presents an interesting perspective. It is an egocentric take on other cultures and countries from the eyes of an American man.

Each story seems to offer a unique glimpse into different worlds, as seen through the lens of the author's own experiences and biases.

While it may be interesting to see how an American views other cultures, it also makes one wonder if there is a certain level of cultural insensitivity or misrepresentation at play.

Nonetheless, the stories are engaging and thought-provoking, and they do offer some valuable insights into the human condition across different cultures and countries.

Overall, this collection of short stories is a worthwhile read for anyone interested in exploring different cultures and perspectives.

I discovered this book in the same way that I have discovered most of the books that mean the most to me: browsing a second-hand bookshop in an unfamiliar place. In this case, it was a charity bookshop in Covent Garden, London.

As I wandered through the aisles, my eyes were drawn to a particular shelf. There, among the countless volumes, this book seemed to stand out. Its cover was simple yet intriguing, and I couldn't resist picking it up.

The stories within are original and superbly written. They take the reader on a journey through different parts of the world, revealing different facets of the human condition against the volatile backdrop of revolution. From the diamond mines of Sierra Leone to the Bolivian jungle, the chosen settings are rich and evocative, adding depth and authenticity to the stories.

Each story is a gem, exploring themes such as love, loss, hope, and despair. The characters are vividly drawn, and their experiences are both heart-wrenching and inspiring. This book is a must-read for anyone who loves a good story and wants to gain a deeper understanding of the human experience.

For my second book of the year, I made a choice to explore stories as a means to unwind and immerse myself in narratives that I wouldn't typically encounter in the form of a novel. I selected this book without much prior knowledge, which I consider a rather risky endeavor. Sadly, my expectations were not met.

The manner in which the stories presented civil unrest was not only harmful to the countries they described but also seemed to romanticize the conflict. It came as no surprise when I discovered the author's background and learned that he had a "special interest" in visiting Haiti during the unrest, seemingly just because he felt like it. It was as if he was a tourist at an upscale resort in a third-world country, extracting every possible dollar-worthy experience and then safely returning home, secure in the knowledge that his American passport was a sort of "get-out-of-jail-free card."

Most of the stories felt hasty and, to be honest, amateurish. They gave the impression of a child attempting to explain to their immigrant grandparents what life was like in their country of origin. The privilege on display was astonishing, and unfortunately, the writing itself was not particularly strong. While short stories don't necessarily require a neatly wrapped resolution, it seemed as though most of the chapters were truncated, lacking something essential and perhaps yearning for the status of a full-fledged novel.

Ironically, the only story that I truly enjoyed was the last one, the only one that did not reference a current political conflict or exhibit white savior complexes. I found it difficult to sympathize with any of the "heroes" in the stories, mainly because I believe they should not have been involved in the first place.

These stories offer captivating and high-quality storytelling, with a remarkable sense of place and people. The author skillfully transports you into various settings, amidst struggles and diverse lives. The writing is smooth and engaging, and there are possible undertones of a Mark Twain-like humor in the social, travel, and moral aspects of the stories.

It is an excellent collection of short stories for reading, filled with interesting encounters within the world that revolves around Che Guevara and others.

Some of the eight stories are briefly reviewed here.

"Near-Extinct Birds of the Central Cordillera" presents a hostage situation where a scholar, mistaken for a spy, finds himself in a dilemma. The story is well-crafted, with a great use of material, a vivid setting, dark humor, and an excellent writing style. It takes place during a revolution in Colombia.

"Reve Haitien" tells the tale of two chess players who meet days after a Haitian coup and forge a deal to use art to aid a revolution. The story has a strong sense of place, people, and the grande struggles of the time.

"The Good Ones Are Already Taken" deals with a soldier returning home from a war in Haiti to his wife, only to encounter a strange case of a voodoo marriage.

"Asian tiger" follows a Texas man working at a golf resort in Burma who gets involved in high-stakes dealer brokering while escorting and coaching his budding golfers, who hold powerful positions in the business world.

"Brief Encounters with Che Guevara" begins with a southern man's attraction to a woman connected to Che. Later, he finds himself in Bolivia as a removal guy and has a discussion with a man who claims to be the killer of Che. The story takes you through his life in Haiti in his thirties, where he is married with children, and into his forties when Fidel is in power and the grave of Che has been located. It offers interesting insights into the world that surrounds Che.

Overall, this collection of short stories is a must-read for anyone who enjoys engaging and thought-provoking literature.

This is a brilliant collection of shorts that mainly focuses on some of the world's hot spots of misery, such as Haiti and Sierra Leone. It delves into the place of foreigners within these areas and the predicament of the local inhabitants. The stories in this collection are remarkable on multiple levels. On the beautiful sentence level, there are descriptions like "Bands of sunlight and shadow tiger-striped the narrow streets; the old houses had the slumped, encrusted look of shipwrecks lying at the bottom of the sea." These vivid sentences paint a detailed picture of the settings. Additionally, on the story and character level, they are filled with tension, with odd narrators doing unexpected things. The richness of the settings, along with their terror and horror, is brought to life in a way that feels authentic and not overly exoticized or exploitative. Overall, I truly loved this collection and found it to be a captivating and thought-provoking read.

This is an amazing series of short stories.

Each story can be easily digested within 40 minutes or an hour, transporting you to some of the darkest corners of the world.

Although none of them are overly mind-blowing, the writing, character development, and scenery descriptions are all extremely engaging and vivid.

The stories have the power to either put a smile on your face or keep you in a state of wonder and reflection.

In some strange way, they may even haunt you with their lingering ghosts.

Overall, this series offers a unique and captivating reading experience that is sure to leave a lasting impression.

Some of these stories I couldn't follow very well.

However, the last story was truly interesting and almost amusing.

It centered around a pre-Romantic era pianist who had an unusual trait - six fingers on his right hand.

He managed to amaze audiences with his rather gimmicky music.

In those times, pianists who relied on special effects to wow the crowd but possessed little or no genuine musical ability were often referred to as "charlatans".

Later on, a prodigy female pianist with the same abnormality emerged.

She endured great hardships due to the pressures of being abnormally good at something.

As a result, others had extremely high and unrealistic expectations for her.

I'll refrain from saying more to avoid spoiling the story for you.

It's a fascinating tale that delves into the complex world of musical talent and the burdens that come with it.

One can't help but wonder how these individuals coped with their unique circumstances and the expectations placed upon them.

Perhaps there are valuable lessons to be learned from their experiences.

I read this book with great eagerness after finishing Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk, which is truly one of the finest novels I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Consequently, my expectations were extremely high, perhaps even too high.

This book felt like a competent compilation of short stories, almost like a warm-up act for the real masterpiece, which is the novel. A few of the stories managed to stand out. The last one, which was about a pianist with 11 fingers, was particularly interesting, as were a few others. However, the majority of the stories were just fine, but they failed to truly captivate me.

Not a single story in the entire collection utilized language with the same level of mastery that Fountain demonstrated in Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk. I would rate this collection 3.5 stars - 3 stars for many of the stories and 4 stars for the few better ones. Seriously, just go and read his novel.

If you do decide to pick this up, I would recommend focusing on the stories towards the end. The earlier ones are relatively weaker and may not hold your attention as strongly.

Not a book solely about Cuba or Che Guevara, aside from the title story that provides the promised “brief encounters.” This collection of eight stories mainly focuses on gringos in foreign lands. These are places that are perilous, corrupt, and ravaged by civil wars. There is an ornithologist kidnapped by guerillas in Colombia, a man smuggling artwork out of Haiti, and a young aid worker dealing in black market diamonds in Sierra Leone.

Fountain’s characters are young and somewhat directionless. They are unsure of how they arrived at their current situations and don't seem to have a clear plan for the future. These are not counter-culture entrepreneurs with get-rich-quick schemes. Instead, they are motivated by conscience, an ill-defined sense of doing something to make things better in a place far from what is likely a more comfortable and safer homeland.

These characters ultimately end up where they began, but this doesn't mean that nothing happens in the stories. Although these pieces are short, they are filled with suspense. In many of them, Fountain's character development implies a much longer work. I was quite deeply engaged in most of these stories. There is a colorful cast of locals who define the settings.

As for the “brief encounters,” consider this one: The narrator finds himself in a moving van with a co-worker who was on the death squad that hunted down Che Guevara. The book concludes with a completely different tale, a story of anti-Semitism in late 19th century Germany, a place that couldn't be further from the jungles of Bolivia.

I absolutely loved it.

It was super interesting and really well-written.

Moreover, it was an easy read as it was a compilation of short stories.

The stories were loosely tied together by their focus on countries in a state of revolution or war such as Haiti, Sierra Leone, and Columbia.

Each story provided a unique perspective on the turmoil and challenges faced by the people in those countries.

The author's vivid descriptions and engaging narratives made it easy to imagine the scenes and empathize with the characters.

It was a thought-provoking and eye-opening collection that shed light on the often overlooked aspects of these conflicts.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about different cultures and the impact of war and revolution.

Overall, it was a great read that left a lasting impression on me.

I truly loved Fountain's writing. It had a certain allure that kept me hooked from the very beginning. I often had the distinct feeling that he had a unique ability to peek around the corner even before finishing a sentence. And with this uncanny talent, he would pull us along relentlessly, regardless of the consequences. It was as if we were on a thrilling journey that we couldn't escape.

When I read the last sentence of the Sierra Leone story, it literally sucked the breath right out of me. The impact was that profound. Ethical challenges seemed to lurk on every single page of this book. It made me question and reflect on so many things. Despite the presence of these challenges, or perhaps because of them, this book is truly excellent. It's a must-read for anyone who appreciates thought-provoking literature that doesn't shy away from the complex and often uncomfortable issues of our world.