The Museum of Doubt

by James Meek

The Museum of Doubt is a new collection of surreal and unnerving short stories from award-winning writer James Meek. The array of characters who populate Meek's vague and elusive worlds are driven by paranoia and doubts, as well as hopes and fears of things only half-glimpsed.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction

304 pages, Paperback

First published August 3, 2006

Reviews

[El · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this a lot more than I actually did. It's well written, but it just didn't resonate with me, and often felt clunky. I'd read something else by James Meek, but don't think I'll be revisiting this collection

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this guy might be the British Chuck Palahniuk. The first half of the book consisted of short stories similar to those in Palahniuk's 'Haunted'. I had the same problem with them- when the characters act in a way that's completely outside the norm and there's no reason given for why, I have a hard time relating to them and, therefore, no real investment in the story.

The second half of the book was a novelette that I enjoyed much more than the short stories. The reader gets to know the main character a little better and his actions, while sometimes still strange, aren't so inexplicable.

My favorite part was the fact that it was British popular fiction. Not only do you get the contemporary British slang, but everything is just a little different. I love that!

[David Kenvyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not sure why I did not like this book. It is by James Meek, and he writes beautifully. The stories were interesting, even exciting. But it did not strike a chord, and I have to be honest about that.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Damn strange, amazingly well written though. Overall pretty good even if it did confuse me a lot!