A Perfect Stranger: And Other Stories

by Roxana Robinson

In Roxana Robinson’s lucid and elegant prose, her characters’ inner worlds open up to us, revealing private emotional cores that are familiar in their needs, their secrets, and their longings. These people tell us the truth–not only about themselves, their relationships, and their lives, but about ourselves as well. A Perfect Stranger powerfully and affectingly examines the complex, intricate network of experiences that binds us to one another. These stories are tender, raw, lovely, fine–and they reaffirm Roxana Robinson’s place at the forefront of modern literature.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Family, Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Literary Fiction, Female Authors

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Roxana Robinson is the author of eight works of fiction, including the novels Cost and Sparta. She is also the author of Georgia O’Keeffe: A Life. A former Guggenheim Fellow, she edited The New York Stories of Edith Wharton and wrote the introduction to Elizabeth Taylor’s A View of the Harbour, both published by NYRB Classics. Robinson is currently the president of the Authors Guild.

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

No one tackles human complexity like Roxana Robinson. Crafting stories and characters that are multifaceted, gems that incite introspection on the part of the reader seems to be second nature in her collection of short stories entitled A Perfect Stranger. Raw and yet gracefully written each story in this collection focuses on how a stranger can affect the individual. From the frantic mother in At the Beach, whose observed actions led to the reconciliation between a husband and wife, to the newborn grandchild, whose unexpected presence causes a rift within a family in Choosing Sides, the presence of a stranger in the lives of Robinson’s characters gives rise to self examination, often revealing the flawed but human emotions that define the human condition. Superbly written and demonstrating realistic and unflinching insight into what makes us human these stories will satisfy even the reluctant short story reader. A Perfect Stranger is an insightful and remarkable collection that deserves wide readership.

[Margaret Hutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever since Robinson published her story, "King of the Sky," in the Atlantic Monthly some 15 years ago, I've thought she was brilliant. But I haven't necessarily been a dutiful fan--after digging up some of her earlier work that didn't quite measure up, I failed to follow her as closely as I should have, and I'm sure I've missed some extraordinary writing (please tell me what I need to catch up on!). But when Cost came out a few years ago, I was as hooked on it as one becomes on the heroin that is its subject. Sometime before that I'd picked up her collection of stories, A Perfect Stranger, but let it languish on my shelf. I turned to it recently when I felt the tug of my old favorite form, the short story. I wasn't disappointed. The collection gets off to a slow start, but here I differ with others, because the first two pieces won awards. For me, the standouts include: "Choosing Sides," "The Football Game," "The Perfect Stranger," and, one of the very best, "Assez." I can imagine that this last one is a consolation to any woman who's suffered the infidelity of her husband and hoped to forgive it; Robinson's strokes are that deft, that piercing."Blind Man" is another gem. Surely it served as a starting place for Cost, given that the father in "Blind Man" is suffering the loss of his daughter to drugs. It's interesting to me--and awe-inpsiring--that she chose to invent an entirely new family affected by substance abuse rather than continue mining this one for a longer work. But that's just another sign of her stores of remarkable talent.

[Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so glad to have discovered Roxana Robinson! While it's marvelous to be engaged by her longer works, this short story collection is still a solid read. Read the novels first though: a much tastier meal.

[Robin Cayce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robinson writes with realism and her ability to beautifully capture the human experience, both ordinary and extraordinary is a strength. She writes of mortality, aging and the humanness of the day to day with a rich vocabulary which I really appreciate. This collection of short stories includes those often set in Europe and I enjoy reading her rich cultural references. The title story, A Perfect Stranger, captures a weekend in the life of a couple in upstate NY with a house guest and the influence that a relatively ‘normal’ experience can have on all 3 characters. Loved it!

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had been sitting on my nightstand for several months since I thought it would be easy to read a short story and then turn out the light. I remembered the stories that I had read - they are written the way people talk and converse. Many different relationships - women and women, women and men and in different locations - mostly Europe.
For me Choosing Sides is the one that sticks with me as conversation that could go on forever.
I do not think I would read any of the stories again but will donate to a free bookstore and hope someone will pick it up and really listen to the words.

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't always like short stories as much as full-length novels, but I really enjoyed Roxana Robinson's writing style. Her characters are true-to-life and she makes you feel like you're there with them.

[Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great collection of stories from Roxana Robinson — one of the strongest but sadly (and mysteriously) overlooked writers of the 21st century.

[Carrie Cantalupo-Sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I wrote fiction, I would sure be influenced by her. She’s a masterful storyteller.

[Snickerdoodle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roxana Robinson has said that of novels and short stories, "the short story form is the much more demanding of the two. It only has room for the essentials—the crucial words, descriptions, characters, actions—there’s no room for anything extra in a short story."

I've read short stories by enough authors now to know that not everyone can do this well. I will be looking for more by this author.

- - - - -
“A writer is like a tuning fork: We respond when we’re struck by something. The thing is to pay attention, to be ready for radical empathy. If we empty ourselves of ourselves we’ll be able to vibrate in synchrony with something deep and powerful. If we’re lucky we’ll transmit a strong pure note, one that isn’t ours, but which passes through us. If we’re lucky, it will be a note that reverberates and expands, one that other people will hear and understand.”
― Roxana Robinson

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to be honest, when I started this book, I thought I was reading a book by a different author - Valerie Martin. However, I quickly realized that Robinson's style is very different. I don't know why I had them confused.

I found these stories very intriguing. I felt like I was seeing the tiniest slice of the character's lives. A moment, when for them, everything came together. Often this coming together was not the best place in their lives, but these moments seemed to be watersheds. The kind of places, that in our real lives we may not notice until much later. Small decisions, small acts - places where life turned.

I am going to look for more books by Robinson. I like the way she uses the English language.

[Candy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent- like biting into a slice of lemon when you were expecting lemonaid- alive, fresh, immediate, memorable. My particular favorite short story involves a middle aged daughter visiting her parents who have dementia. The author totally captured how the parent can make you crazy too.
Like the time my mom convinced me to tell the maintenance man in her new apartment that overnight, an underground river sprang up and wet the hall carpet. She's my mom, so I told him what we thought. Bless his heart, he just listened and said well, we might first look at something inside the apartment. Turns out the dishwasher, on the other side of the wall in her kitchen, was leaking. Well, it did make it like a river in the hall!!!!

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robinson's descriptions cut so deep, I wanted the short stories to go on and on. These well-educated characters are trying to figure out their lives, as they travel, go to boarding school, receive chemotherapy. I can't believe I missed these before

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

i never enjoy books of short stories (unless they are king) yet i fall to the lure of checking them out. . . ugh. one of these, 'at the beach', was very good. the rest were mediocre. but i tend to enjoy getting to know characters and diving into the story, so who am i to judge?

[Lori]

It's on my list, so I know I read it ... but I literally couldn't tell you a single thing about it. Whoops.

[Paul Vidich · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Beach" one of the stories in the remarkable collection, is a near perfect story.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need to find this book so I can re-read it. I remember really liking the stories and how she wrote them.

[Althea · Rating 3 out of 5]

She writes a beautiful short story with lovely images but the stories are always depressing.

[Rachel]

I enjoyed her straightforward prose and wonderful story telling. Wow, a lot of drama though!

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Capturing the moments when something clicks - and understanding fills you up, at least for the moment

[Jeanne Sheridan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't actually rave about this one but hard to complain too. It is a book of short stories - some good, some not so good. My favorite was one called The Beach. Brought a tear to my eye.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this because it was recommended for fans of John Cheever, and it delivered on that promise.