A strong, cohesive set of stories!

My ranking:

Fantasy for Eleven Fingers

Rêve Haïtien

Near-extinct Birds of the Central Cordillera

Brief Encounters with Che Guevara

Bouki and the Cocaine

Asian Tiger

The Good Ones Are Already Taken

The Lion’s Mouth

Unfortunately, I think I’m realizing that short stories aren’t really my favorites. These were great, but I’d just like more depth than what’s possible with the word count. I feel that short stories often have to sacrifice detailed character development and in-depth exploration of themes due to their limited length. While they can be engaging and thought-provoking, I find myself craving a more immersive experience that longer works can offer. However, I still appreciate the artistry and skill that goes into crafting a good short story. It takes a lot of talent to convey a powerful message or tell a compelling story in just a few pages. Maybe I just need to find the right short stories that can truly resonate with me on a deeper level.

Passionate, funny, and sad - these are the emotions that are evoked by the stories that are presented.

They are stories that are steeped in a sense of authenticity and authority, as if the author has been there in some way or other.

The descriptions are wonderful, painting vivid pictures of the people and places that are being described.

There is a deep insight into how these people and places meet and influence each other, creating a rich and complex tapestry of human experience.

Whether it is a story of love and loss, of hope and despair, or of adventure and discovery, these stories have the power to touch the heart and soul of the reader.

They are a testament to the power of storytelling to bring people together and to help us understand the world around us.

So if you are looking for a collection of stories that will make you laugh, cry, and think, then look no further than this wonderful collection.

You are sure to be captivated by the passionate, funny, and sad tales that are waiting for you within these pages.

Fast read.

It is a collection of short stories that are set in various locations around the world.

This compilation of tales offers a unique perspective as it places you in the shoes of an American living abroad in developing countries.

As you read through these stories, it becomes evident that they have the power to truly open your thinking.

They shed light on the common stereotypes and indulgences that Americans often have, but they do so with grace and humor.

It is a refreshing and eye-opening experience that allows you to see beyond the surface and understand the complex dynamics at play.

Whether you are an American yourself or simply interested in learning about different cultures and perspectives, this book is definitely worth a read.

It will leave you with a newfound appreciation for the diversity of the world and the importance of keeping an open mind.

A solid collection of short stories indeed. I was initially drawn to it when it was mentioned in Malcolm Gladwell's "What the Dog Saw".

Overall, the writing is of high quality and at times, it can be truly gripping. It's quite astonishing that something as polished as this is Ben Fountain's first book.

The stories within this collection offer a diverse range of themes and perspectives. Each one is crafted with care and attention to detail, drawing the reader in and keeping them engaged from start to finish.

Whether it's the exploration of human nature, the examination of social issues, or the portrayal of unique characters and their experiences, Ben Fountain does an excellent job of bringing these stories to life.

Overall, this is a book that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys well-written short stories that have the power to move and inspire.

An excellent short story collection awaits the reader, and it is just as enjoyable as the first couple of times I delved into it.

"Near-Extinct Birds of the Central Cordillera" stands out as my favorite. The nerdy and endearing protagonist, along with the little gems of bird facts, make this story truly captivating. Moreover, there are some beautiful sentences within it, especially in the last two paragraphs, which add an extra layer of charm.

Closely following is "The Lion's Mouth," which features another killer protagonist, entirely different from the previous one. Ben Fountain demonstrates great skill in building characters within a short amount of time, making each one come alive on the page.

While there are several stories that I don't particularly like, I was almost inclined to give this collection five stars anyway. This is because of how much I thoroughly enjoyed these two outstanding stories and also "Asian Tiger." The overall quality and the engaging nature of these particular tales more than make up for the few that didn't quite resonate with me.

Thought-provoking.

Most of the stories presented deal with Westerners, specifically Americans or Brits, finding themselves in less developed foreign countries such as Cuba, Haiti, Sierra Leone, and others.

These accounts truly made me stop and wonder. How would I react if I were in those very situations? The environments described are often filled with numerous challenges and difficulties that seem almost insurmountable.

It also makes one question how much good a single individual can actually do in places where the problems are so overwhelming. Can one person's actions truly make a significant difference?

These stories serve as a reminder that the world is a diverse place, and there are many people facing hardships that we may not fully understand.

They encourage us to step out of our comfort zones, try to empathize with others, and perhaps even consider how we can contribute to making the world a better place, no matter how small our efforts may seem.

Overall, they are not only interesting reads but also have the power to inspire self-reflection and a desire for positive change.

Brilliant and elegant, this collection of stories is truly a masterpiece.

It has the power to transport the reader to a plethora of unlikely and enchanting places.

The author skillfully juxtaposes the brutality and futility that exist in the world with the beauty and fragility that can also be found.

This contrast serves to highlight the many mysteries of life and why things are the way they are.

Each story in the collection is a unique exploration of these themes, taking the reader on a journey that is both thought-provoking and emotionally engaging.

The writing is vivid and descriptive, allowing the reader to fully immerse themselves in the worlds that the author has created.

Overall, this collection of stories is a must-read for anyone who loves literature and is looking for a book that will challenge their perceptions and expand their understanding of the human experience.

A collection of short stories is presented here, which ultimately leads to an essay about the author's life. This essay retrospectively explains all the stories and their connection, yet it manages to do so without explicitly stating it.

Then, there is this final little historical essay about two eleven-fingered piano virtuosos who set all of Germany ablaze with furor and fervor. (It somehow felt related to the misadventures of Americans in the midst of revolutions they could never understand, and yet also not at all.)

Overall, the writing is beautiful and thought-provoking. It contains some of the best and funniest metaphors and similes that I've come across in a long time. However, the author does have a penchant for weaving in the words "sex" and "sexual" in places where I simply can't make sense of their relevance. That's really my one gripe, especially considering that the author is a white boomer.

Despite this small flaw, the work as a whole is engaging and值得一读 (worth reading). It offers a unique perspective and challenges the reader's thinking. I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys well-written and thought-provoking literature.

A truly fantastic collection of short stories awaits you. In my personal opinion, it poses the profound question of whether any good deed ultimately goes unpunished. This collection consists of 8 captivating tales. In each story, the characters embark on a journey of seeking, hoping to find something that will change their lives. However, what they discover is that most things remain stubbornly the same, despite their own efforts and changes. This realization is perhaps one of the greatest tragedies in life.

The stories are beautifully discouraging, yet hauntingly thought-provoking. They have the power to make you question the very nature of our existence and the futility of our pursuits. Despite their somewhat pessimistic tone, they are truly worth your time. Reading these stories will take you on an emotional rollercoaster, leaving you with a sense of both sadness and enlightenment. So, if you're looking for a collection of short stories that will challenge your thinking and leave a lasting impression, look no further than this remarkable collection.

Fountain's diverse stories delve into the intersection of youthful idealism, which is often equated with American naïveté, and the complexity of geopolitics. However, this description doesn't do justice to the collection's delightfully dark humor.

In "Asian Tiger," the standout story, a sociable American golfer participating in a low-level golf tournament in Myanmar visits a temple and has a moment of spiritual awakening - "a surrender that felt like wisdom's first glimmerings." His response is to hand out money to the monks. Later, after winning the tournament, he encounters a group of Myanmar generals and remarks that "they were weird little guys, homely men with pot bellies and wispy tinted hair and all the liquid charm of formaldehyde." Fountain portrays both the familiar and the exotic parties as equally absurd and, therefore, equally human.

For his beleaguered characters, there are no easy choices, yet he still shows them narrative kindness, enabling them to navigate their fates while maintaining their humanity.

What an odd but wonderful group of short stories!

The writing within these tales is truly a remarkable blend. It is lyrical, as if the words dance and sing on the page, painting vivid pictures in the reader's mind. It is also humorous, bringing smiles and even laughter at unexpected moments. The playfulness of the language adds a lighthearted touch, making the reading experience all the more enjoyable. And yet, there is a serious side too, delving into deeper themes and emotions.

The best part of each story, however, is the accumulated depth. Fountain has a remarkable ability to maintain an integrity of meaning even while describing the seemingly mundane. But trust me, there is very little that is truly mundane in these selections. Each story is a treasure trove of hidden meanings and insights.

Highly, highly recommend this collection, especially the stories "Near Extinct Birds of the Central Cordillera" and "The Good Ones Are Already Taken." After reading this book, I was so captivated that I wanted to call Fountain up, invite him to lunch, and dive into his wonderful and quirky mind. I can only imagine the wealth of creativity and inspiration that lies within.

In the great spirit of Paul Theroux and Graham Greene, Ben Fountain takes us to little-visited parts of the world with this collection of stories. Set in Haiti, Colombia, Sierra Leone and Myanmar, it offers a unique perspective on these diverse regions.

I was excited to read it, having thoroughly enjoyed his novel, Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk.

The good aspects are truly remarkable. The descriptions are fantastic, painting vivid pictures in the reader's mind. The literary style is crisp, with really, really clever phrases that add depth and nuance to the stories. It also provides depictions of countries that most people might not otherwise have the opportunity to experience.

However, there are some not-so-good points. I had difficulties with a white American man attempting to describe life through the eyes of a poor Haitian fisherman or a Viennese Jewish female child prodigy with eleven fingers. It seemed overly audacious and presumptuous. In this age of #ownvoices, I really questioned the authenticity of these voices. I constantly felt as if I was reading a white guy trying to inhabit the minds of various other people. On the other hand, his depictions of white American males abroad, whether they were natural scientists or golf pros, were much more credible.

Despite these concerns, consider the beauty of these brief excerpts:

"I suppose there's no point in withholding the fact that he was quite insane. He'd turn up several times a week, usually in the mornings for a cup of coffee; in his guayabera and slacks and white patent-leather loafers, carrying his zippered portfolio under one arm, he looked every inch the tropical man of affairs, but as soon as he opened his mouth you wanted to run for the doors."

"Throughout my thirties I kept going to Haiti, convinced that I'd found ground zero for all the stupidity, waste, and horror inflicted on the hemisphere since Columbus and the Spaniards set up shop."

These excerpts showcase Fountain's talent for creating engaging and thought-provoking stories, even if there are some areas that may require further examination.